Businesses in Quang Ninh determined to surmount pandemic

Quang Ninh’s success in protecting “green zones” from the latest COVID-19 outbreak has created an impulse for businesses based in this northeastern province to recover operations and flexibly and safely adapt to the pandemic.

Quang Ninh’s success in protecting “green zones” from the latest COVID-19 outbreak has created an impulse for businesses based in this northeastern province to recover operations and flexibly and safely adapt to the pandemic.

Quang Ninh posted an estimated economic growth rate of 8.6 percent in the first nine months of 2021, much higher than the national average, which was mainly driven by the processing and manufacturing industry.

The province’s contribution to the State budget topped 33.5 trillion VND (1.47 billion USD), equivalent to 93 percent of the sum collected in the same period last year, while total investment in society approximated 64 trillion VND, up 7.8 percent.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Tuong Van attributed the achievements to local businesses and entrepreneurs’ proactiveness in implementing various solutions such as adopting flexible work hours, arranging on-site Tet celebrations for employees, cutting down production costs, seeking alternative material sources, expanding markets, seizing new business chances, and applying digital technology to production and business activities.

To adapt to and safely operate amid the pandemic, enterprises, including FDI firms, have exerted enormous efforts and changed their mindsets and methodologies, he noted.

Phung Ky Luan, General Director of the Tonly & Pully Vietnam company in the Dong Mai Industrial Park in Quang Yen town, said in the most intense moments of the pandemic, his company made arrangements for workers to stay at the factory so as to meet delivery deadlines. It has also moved to minimise production costs, seek new sources of material supply, and expand the market.

He thanked local authorities for accompanying enterprises, voicing his hope that the business community’s expansion of operations will contribute to local economic growth.

The Viet Long Investment and Construction JSC, headquartered in Ha Long city, specialises in construction, agriculture, and environment.

Le Quang Thang, Chairman of its Board of Directors and General Director, pointed out the difficulties facing his firm during the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, including material and labour shortages due to travel restrictions and surging expenses.

Facing that fact, the firm has had to seek every possible way to maintain jobs and income for nearly 500 employees. It has changed its governance methodology, organised virtual meetings, and installed more cameras at the production zone to issue timely instructions, he added.

Though the nine-month GRDP growth, at 8.6 percent, is higher than the national average, it is still 1.1 percentage points lower than the target of 9.7 percent set at the start of 2021.

To achieve this year’s growth target of 10.5 percent, the rate must be 15.3 percent in the fourth quarter, which means Quang Ninh and the local business community will have to make stronger efforts.

Tourism, a major sector of the local economy, earned only more than 5 trillion VND in revenue between January and September, plunging 59 percent year on year. Given this, the industry - construction sector is expected to remain the driving force for local growth in Q4.

Authorities have pledged maximum support for industrial businesses to increase productivity and output.

Pham Van The, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Business Association, said more than 2,000 companies were established or resumed operations during the nine months, up 19 percent from a year earlier, which is a positive figure showing the strong will and efforts by businesses and entrepreneurs in the province.

He recommended the local administration consider a particular aid package for the tourism and service industries so that they can survive the pandemic.

To realise the “twin targets” in 2021 and the following years, Van said Quang Ninh will continue striving to keep “green zones” safe and develop the province in the “new normal” status. It will step up activities of the special working groups established under the Prime Minister’s order to deal with problems facing pandemic-hit businesses and people while tackling obstacles and promoting investment projects.