On April 27, 2021, the Ho Chi Minh City Industrial Park Business Association (HBA) held its annual meeting to implement its 2021 work program and sign cooperation agreements with strategic partners. In its role of connecting and supporting businesses, HBA, together with businesses, donated 2 billion VND to the Vietnam Fatherland Front in 2020 for COVID-19 prevention and control efforts and 2 billion VND for employee welfare.
The meeting was also attended by leaders from various departments and agencies; representatives from more than 200 businesses in Export Processing Zones, Industrial Parks, and High-Tech Zones (EPZs, IPs, and HTCs); and strategic partners in various fields such as digital technology, rooftop solar power, and members, who listened to HBA share its challenges and activity program for 2021.
Over the past year, nearly 1,500 factories in 18 industrial parks, export processing zones, and high-tech industrial parks, employing over 300,000 workers and 10,000 domestic and foreign experts, have faced numerous challenges in production, business, investment, and import/export activities. Domestic and international trade has been severely hampered, with nearly 501 businesses in these parks and high-tech industrial parks experiencing production and business disruptions. Some businesses have had to temporarily close, and their workforce has been reduced in various ways. The government, along with the entire political system and the concerted efforts of the people and businesses, has basically contained and controlled the domestic epidemic.
2021 promises a dramatic shift in the manufacturing economy, driven by the development of smart technologies such as IoT and AI, the acceleration of 5G networks, and Industry 4.0. This presents both opportunities for integration and challenges for many businesses, as digital transformation involves numerous factors: human resources, budget, and the global economic instability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Hua Quoc Hung, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Industrial Parks and Export Processing Zones Management Board, Head of the Management Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Industrial Parks and Export Processing Zones, gave a speech outlining the direction for the Ho Chi Minh City Industrial Parks and Export Processing Zones: "This is the first time I have had the opportunity to interact and participate with the Executive Board and businesses in the Industrial Parks and Export Processing Zones, including high-tech businesses. We have more than 1,600 businesses and about 200 members. This is a good opportunity for us to listen from the perspective of a summary conference, helping managers gain a good perspective to advise the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City.".
Statistics show that during interactions with businesses in export processing zones and industrial parks in 2020, only 4 businesses temporarily suspended or completely halted operations and terminated projects due to Covid-19. The remaining businesses were affected, but by the fourth quarter of 2020, they gradually recovered, stabilized production, and achieved good growth, demonstrating the resilience and proactiveness of Vietnamese businesses in pandemic prevention and control. FDI businesses highly appreciated our pandemic prevention efforts and felt reassured by the support from local leaders and the government, confident in continuing production and shifting their manufacturing structures from other countries to Vietnam.
To date, the Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks have attracted $237 million, approximately $281 million compared to the same period in 2020, with both foreign and domestic investment increasing. I suggest that businesses focus on the following key issues: Firstly, from the perspective of state management, we hope that businesses and entrepreneurs will support and contribute to the completion of legal documents. Businesses still face many difficulties regarding administrative procedures and the implementation of legal documents. For example, circulars regulating the environment and labor limit the authority of the Management Board. The Ho Chi Minh City leadership has facilitated Hepza to re-implement the one-stop mechanism on-site. Secondly, in 2021, Ho Chi Minh City set a goal of improving the investment environment. From the Management Board's perspective, we are developing a plan for the Ho Chi Minh City leadership and industry leaders to conduct a program of dialogue with businesses in the Export Processing Zones, Industrial Parks, and High-Tech Parks.
In its role as an association, HBA has provided detailed guidance on the implementation of the Digital Enterprise Development Program for the period 2021-2024 in export processing zones, industrial parks, and high-tech industrial parks. Through this, it has communicated, raised awareness, disseminated knowledge, provided training, and offered consulting services on digital transformation to the entire society. It has developed training programs to support digital transformation and business analysis for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), collaborated with the Ministry of Information and Communications to develop and implement a project to support SMEs in carrying out digital transformation, participated in providing feedback and critical analysis on state policies and laws regarding digital transformation, participated in evaluating and ranking digital transformation, and organized workshops and forums.
The event also discussed the development of solar power in industrial parks, export processing zones, and high-tech industrial parks. Businesses, factories, and workshops benefit greatly from installing rooftop solar power systems, such as generating profit from unused roof space, protecting the roof, reducing roof temperature (contributing to lower indoor temperatures), reducing CO2 emissions, and obtaining relevant certifications related to sustainable development and environmental protection, which are beneficial for commercial operations. Furthermore, for industrial parks, export processing zones, and high-tech industrial parks, the application of green energy in production is also a driving force for development and innovation in the trend of integration.
Source: nhipcauthuonghieu
