At the dialogue conference for enterprises in the fields of production, import-export and logistics in Da Nang organised by the municipal People's Committee on April 18, there were many opinions suggesting that the municipal government support to remove difficulties and accompany development to promote import-export activities.

Da Nang's goods have been exported to more than 120 countries and territories, with some markets having a large proportion of export turnover, including Northeast Asia (about 46%), America (25%), Europe (15%), and Southeast Asia (5%). In the photo: A corner of Da Nang’s Tien Sa port. Photo: MAI QUE

Need to increase support resources

As a key manufacturing and exporting enterprise in Da Nang with export markets in nearly 50 countries around the world, Da Nang Rubber Joint Stock Company (DRC) is facing many difficulties due to tariff policies as well as fluctuations in the world.

DRC General Director Le Hoang Khanh Nhut said that the enterprise aims to increase export growth in the US market by 2025 by 25-30%, however, with current fluctuations, this goal is very difficult to achieve.

Currently, DRC must change its main export markets, speed up the expansion of its market export network to Eastern Europe, South America, Southeast Asia in an effort to compensate for output from the main markets.

Faced with the above-mentioned situation, DRC proposed that the city’s administration develop appropriate support policies to reduce input costs, thereby reducing prices and increasing product competitiveness; at the same time, promoting trade promotion programme like the ‘Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods’. In addition, it is necessary to continue supporting businesses in digital transformation to convert to modern production methods.

Meanwhile, Deputy General Director of Thuan Phuoc Seafood and Trading Joint Stock Company Le Thi Minh Thao said that the US imposition of new tariffs will greatly impact key products such as shrimp and fish which are currently subject to high input costs.

Through research, the desire of the majority of seafood export enterprises is to find export directions to new markets and continue to wait for the Vietnamese Government's negotiations on the trade balance with the United States.

Regarding the proposal, businesses hope to soon have policies to support businesses to reduce the cost of manufacturing products. In 2024, electricity prices were adjusted twice, especially during peak hours, the price have increased dramatically, in addition, the cost of warehousing and port lifting increased steadily over the past years, causing many difficulties facing businesses.

Chairman of the Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Pham Bac Binh highly appreciated the city's great efforts over the past two years to promote industrial parks and industrial clusters to come into operation soon, creating conditions for businesses to rent land for production. The business community also hopes that when the city expands its administrative boundaries, there will be room for industrial development.

With regard to the proposal, Mr. Binh said that the city's export promotion programmes in the past have seen the participation of quite a few small and medium-sized enterprises, mainly because the resources of these businesses are limited, so they cannot spend much on trade promotion. Therefore, businesses hope that the city will continue to increase resources for business support programmes; increase infrastructure investment, promote public investment, and soon put the Lien Chieu port into operation to attract large shipping lines and attract cargo flows to Da Nang.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong (middle), Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department (the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade) Tran Thanh Hai (right) and Director of the Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade Le Thi Kim Phuong co-chair the conference. Photo: M.QUE

City administration accompanies businesses in development

As reported by Director of the Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade Le Thi Kim Phuong, Da Nang has up to now exported to more than 120 countries and territories worldwide. Some market areas with large export turnover include Northeast Asia at about 46%, America 25%; Europe 15%; Southeast Asia 5%. In particular, there are some countries with large export proportions such as Japan about 35%; the United States about 20%...

Da Nang sets a target of an export growth rate of 8 - 9% in 2025 compared to 2024. To achieve this ambitious goal, the city identifies promoting production and import-export enterprises as the most important issue that needs to be promoted, focusing on the following groups of solutions such as developing production and expanding markets; developing logistics; reforming administrative procedures; developing human resources.

As commented by Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade Tran Thanh Hai, Da Nang is gradually affirming its role as a high-tech, sustainable and modern production and export hub.

Specifically, Da Nang is considered a locality with outstanding development potential thanks to owning the Tien Sa port - one of the important seaports in Viet Nam’s central region, an international airport with large exploitation capacity and a strategic geographical location on the East-West economic corridor, connecting countries in the extended Mekong sub-region.

Mr. Hai proposed that Da Nang should soon form and deploy, attract investment in the free trade zone right after the Vietnamese Prime Minister decided to establish it, thereby synchronously connecting the port - airport - railway - road - logistics centre.

It is high time for the city to invest in and form modern logistics and distribution centres with a high level of automation and build specialized logistics centres to serve e-commerce logistics and high-value goods.

At the same time, it is necessary to build preferential mechanisms on tax, land and finance to attract investment in the logistics sector; improve the investment and business environment and remove difficulties facing enterprises operating in the logistics sector.

According to Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong, the city has been constantly making efforts to improve the investment and business environment to promote the strong development of the business community, especially in the fields of production, import-export and logistics.

The opinions at the conference were an important basis for the city to continue to supplement and perfect policies, remove barriers and create a more favourable business environment, said Vice Chairman Cuong.

After the conference, the Da Nang People's Committee will continue to direct relevant departments, branches and sectors to focus on reviewing and resolving issues raised by enterprises, especially in the areas of administrative procedures, tax policies, credit, logistics infrastructure, market expansion and improving the competitiveness of enterprises.

On the part of the business community, it is necessary to proactively exploit traditional markets; focus on developing traditional markets in tandem with exploring new ones to compensate for the decline in orders. In addition, it is a must-do to promote business restructuring, restructure production systems, train workers, pay attention to investing in machinery, equipment and create new products, environmentally friendly ones and achieve international standard certifications, thereby meeting the increasing demands of export markets.

Reporting by MAI QUE - Translating by ANH THU