Attending the conference were Mr. Nguyen Van Loi - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Delegation of National Assembly Deputies; Mr. Mai Hung Dung - Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the PPC; Mr. Nguyen Van Danh - Vice Chairman of the PPC and leaders of departments, committees and branches.
On the Japanese side, attending were Mr. Ono Masuo - Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Mizushima Kozo - Chairman of the Japan Business Association in Ho Chi Minh City and representatives of Japanese enterprises in the province.
Japan is the second largest investor in Binh Duong
The conference informed Japanese enterprises about the socio-economic development situation, foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction and investment attraction orientations of Binh Duong province in the coming time.
Accordingly, in the first 9 months of 2023, besides basic advantages, the world context continues to have complicated and unpredictable developments. Right from the beginning of the year, the PPC has issued plans and documents to implement Resolution of the Government, directions of Ministries, Central branches, Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Council on the socio-economic development plan for 2023, therefore, production and business activities recovered relatively positively, social security was guaranteed; the socio-economic situation in the first 9 months of 2023 achieved many positive results, political security, social order and safety were maintained and stable.
The index of industrial development (IIP) increased by 4.2%; gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is estimated to increase by 4.9% over the same period in 2022; total retail sales of goods and service revenue in 9 months is estimated at 226,318 billion VND, up 13.4% over the same period. Export turnover of goods reached 23.2 billion USD, import turnover reached 16.3 billion USD, and trade surplus was nearly 7 billion USD.
Overview of the dialogue
As of October 15, 2023, the province has attracted 1 billion 306 million USD of FDI capital including 101 new projects, 31 projects to adjust capital increase and 112 projects to contribute capital to buy shares.
Binh Duong currently ranks 2nd in the country in attracting FDI capital, after Ho Chi Minh City. Accumulated as of October 15, 2023, the whole province has 4,185 investment projects from 65 countries and territories with a total registered capital of more than 40 billion USD.
In particular, Japan currently ranks 2nd among 65 countries and territories with investment projects in Binh Duong province with 351 projects, total capital of 5 billion 929 million USD. The main investment fields are the production of electronic components, electronic circuits and chips, automobile assembly, iron and steel, supporting industries, commercial services, etc.
The conference listened to recommendations and proposals from enterprises and associations; thereby finding solutions to promote the production and business activities of enterprises to develop more smoothly, effectively and sustainably.
Enterprises have raised problems related to amendments to regulations, import and export customs clearance regimes, and upcoming trends related to value-added tax (VAT) refund regulations; new regulations on fire prevention and fighting in factories, and on granting work permits to foreigners; traffic jam along My Phuoc - Tan Van road, etc.
Relevant departments and branches have specifically responded to the comments, suggestions and problems of enterprises.
Japanese enterprises attend the conference
Representatives of Japanese enterprises mentioned that amendments to regulations and import-export customs clearance regimes will easily lead to disturbances and confusion in transactions with foreign enterprises. Enterprises hoped that the authorities will assist in handling difficulties and problems related to the amendment of this regulation, limiting damage to enterprises.
Representative of the Department of Industry and Trade, Ms. Phan Thi Khanh Duyen - Deputy Director of the Department said that for customs clearance procedures for import and export goods, the Customs and Industry and Trade branches commit to always create favorable conditions and regularly carry out information, propaganda and guidance on legal regulations, especially the newly issued legal regulations on customs procedures to support the enterprise community in knowing and complying with the provisions of Vietnamese law. Therefore, in case a Japanese enterprise encounters difficulties or problems in the process of carrying out customs clearance procedures for import and export goods, it is requested that the enterprise provide more detailed and specific information about difficulties and problems directly to the Binh Duong Customs Department or the Department of Industry and Trade or the province's hotline 1022. The Department of Industry and Trade will coordinate with the Customs Department to advise the PPC on solutions. In case it exceeds its authority, the Department will advise the PPC to make recommendations to relevant ministries, branches and the Prime Minister to find solutions to remove difficulties for enterprises.
Regarding this content, the representative of the Provincial Customs Department said that the Department always thoroughly monitors the entire unit to uphold the spirit of serving enterprises, creating favorable conditions for import and export activities of enterprises, and at the same time strengthening inspection and supervision of civil servants in implementing procedures for enterprises. In addition, the Department also proactively organizes consultations with import-export enterprises and business associations as soon as they receive reports of problems and inadequacies when implementing import-export regulations and related regulations; synthesizes and proposes recommendations to the General Department of Customs, ministries and branches in the direction of removing difficulties for enterprises in the current difficult period.
Representatives of the Police Division of fire prevention and fighting and Rescue, Provincial Police Department answers questions from enterprises
Some enterprises also expressed questions about fire prevention and fighting (FPF) regulations in the province so that enterprises can proactively respond and comply. The representative of the Provincial Police said that administrative procedures related to the field of FPF and rescue have been publicly listed by the Ministry of Public Security on the website https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn, administrative procedures are specifically regulated in Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP dated November 24, 2023. Currently, the Ministry of Public Security is coordinating with ministries and branches to adjust and supplement legal documents, standards and regulations on FPF such as Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP dated November 24, 2023, Viet Nam Technical Regulation 06:2022/BXD aiming to solve difficulties and obstacles for organizations and individuals related to the field of FPF and rescue.
Continue to create the best conditions for investment enterprises
Talking with enterprises, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Van Loi highly appreciated and basically agreed with the frank, sincere, open sharing opinions and valid proposals of Japanese business associations, investors, and partners. This has shown the interest, trust, and goodwill of enterprises towards Binh Duong province.
In the context of many difficulties and challenges after the Covid-19 pandemic, with inflation and supply chain disruptions causing significant impacts on the current speed of economic recovery and development, the provincial leaders are very understanding and deeply share with the enterprise community in general and Japanese enterprises investing in the province in particular.
Based on the opinions and suggestions of enterprises, the Provincial Party Secretary requested the PPC to fully receive and direct urgent research to find solutions to remove difficulties and problems of enterprises; boldly propose adjustments and overcome limitations and inadequacies in guidelines and policies under the province's authority and propose and coordinate with Ministries and Central branches on issues under Central Government's authority; focus on implementing solutions to improve the quality of the business investment environment; further promote administrative procedure reform.
Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Van Loi speaks at the conference
As for the Japanese association and enterprises, the Provincial Party Secretary hoped that enterprises will continue to maintain trust, uphold the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation, overcome difficulties and overcome challenges, and continue to accompany Binh Duong in the direction of promoting the construction and application of new management models, towards green business, green technology and sustainable development; strengthen digital transformation and apply science and technology to improve productivity, quality, and competitive efficiency of enterprises.
Binh Duong province is committed to continuing to create the most favorable conditions for Japanese enterprises to invest effectively and for long-term success in the province.
Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Van Loi emphasized that with the motto "Taking people and enterprises as the center, the subject and the driving goal", the provincial leaders are always consistent in their viewpoint of encouraging, supporting, and creating all favorable conditions for foreign investors to develop effectively and long-term in the province.
Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Van Loi exchanges information with enterprises
Speaking at the conference, Vice Chairman of the PPC Nguyen Van Danh affirmed that the results that Binh Duong has achieved in socio-economic development are thanks to the positive contributions of the people and enterprise community, including the contributions of Japanese enterprises.
In the coming time, the province will continue to focus on improving the investment environment, enhancing competitiveness and promoting support for the development of investment enterprises in the province in general, especially the community of foreign investment enterprises in particular. The province will focus resources to invest in completing socio-economic infrastructure systems such as transportation, water supply, electricity and environmental treatment; conduct planning to expand industrial parks, creating clean land funds to attract investment; deploy human resource training, build social housing, housing for workers, and promptly provide adequate labor resources for enterprises to invest in the province.
Vice Chairman of the PPC Nguyen Van Danh speaks at the conference
The Binh Duong provincial government commits to continue promoting administrative procedure reform to ensure openness, transparency, simplicity, creating the most favorable conditions for enterprises to invest, focusing on developing high-quality services to meet the enterprise's production and business requirements and the province's urban industrial development needs. In addition, strengthening direction at all levels and sectors to focus on ensuring political security, social order and safety so that enterprises can feel secure in investing in production and working in Binh Duong.
Vice Chairman of the PPC Nguyen Van Danh thanked the Consul General, the Association and the enterprise community of Japan for their good feelings and practical contributions to the province's industrialization cause during the past time. At the same time, he hoped that in the coming time, Japanese enterprises would continue to accompany and share with the Binh Duong provincial government to resolve difficulties and obstacles in the production and business investment process.