HÀ NỘI — Tax deductions, land allocation programmes and the establishment of appropriate credit lines along with a comprehensive legal framework are among the tasks ordered by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc to effectively implement the Law on Support for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

His directive, issued last week, was meant to bring to live the highly anticipated SMEs law, which took effect at the beginning of the year.

SMEs, or enterprises with capital of less than VNĐ100 billion (US$4.36 million), account for 95 per cent of Việt Nam’s business community.

PM Phúc assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in collaboration with other concerned ministries and people’s committees, to speed up the issuance of the decree on the organisation and activities of the fund to promote SMEs.

He also asked them to issue a range of circulars on human resource development and establish a network of counsellors to help SMEs, as required in the SMEs law.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) was asked to revise the corporate income tax code, including to establish a specific income tax rate for SMEs as well as regulations for tax waivers or deductions for SMEs within start-up incubators, technical centres and common working spaces. Organisations that established a “production distribution chain” in which 80 per cent of SMEs within the chain completed manufacturing in Việt Nam will enjoy an exemption or reduction of their income tax.

The PM also asked for adjustments to tax reduction regulations for start-ups and SMEs which have transitioned from business households, in order to boost the businesses’ viability.

Aside from tax cuts, the PM also asked the finance ministry to issue guidelines on land use fee exemptions or reductions for SMEs, provide financial support for the network of counsellors to aid SMEs and elaborate on a basic accounting model for micro-sized enterprises to implement.

According to the Directive, the Ministry of Science and Technology shall assume the prime responsibility for issuing guiding policies to help SMEs study and adopt modernising technologies, as well as aid SMEs’ acquisition and mastery of new technologies through consulting, research and training activities.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in co-ordination with people’s committees of the provinces and centrally run cities, is tasked with guiding localities to allocate land funds for the formation and development of industrial clusters, agro-forestry, fishery and seafood processing plants for SMEs within the year.

The Government leader also asked the Ministry of Justice to amend the Government’s Decree on legal support for enterprises, with a deadline of December 12.

SMEs supporting projects urged

The planning ministry is charged with serving as the focal point to co-ordinate with other ministries and localities to identify the goals, recipients and priority support areas to build and implement policies and programmes to support SMEs as per the law.

To support SMEs across the country, a national information portal will also be opened, developed by the planning ministry, which will feature a diverse range of information, from expert guidance and policy news to science and technology documents.

The funds for the SMEs supporting programmes will be handled by the finance ministry and localities.

The State Bank of Việt Nam will hold the prime responsibility for setting up credit packages with preferential interest rates for SMEs as well as developing an interest rate subsidy policy regarding loans for SMEs, start-ups or enterprises participating in value chains.

Business community organisations such as the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Việt Nam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (VNASME) are asked to work together with relevant ministries and local authorities to intensify information dissemination on the Government’s legal support for their member enterprises. — VNS