Newly-elected Chairman of Hà Nội's People's Council Nguyễn Ngọc Tuấn delivers a speech at the session which wrapped up on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The 15th tenure Hà Nội People’s Council adopted a resolution on a small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) support project in the capital city from 2021 – 2025 during its 18th sitting on Wednesday.

The project will provide support to SMEs and help those converted from business households play a part in sectoral links and supply chains.

It aims to accelerate public administrative reforms and delivery of Level 3 and Level 4 public administrative services, to improve the city’s Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), and to achieve an average annual growth of 10 per cent and record about 30,000 newly-established enterprises annually.

The project also sets for the local SMEs to create 1.5 million new jobs and to make up more than 25 per cent of Hà Nội’s total exports, more than 40 per cent of the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) and 30 per cent of the local budget.

It is expected to benefit at least 500 SMEs in manufacturing and processing in the areas of information technology, electronics, mechanics, high-tech, food and agricultural preservation and processing.

To do the work, the city will need more than VNĐ957 billion (US$41.3 million), including about VNĐ832 billion to be funded by the city’s budget.

According to a report from the Hà Nội People’s Committee, the capital city is estimated to rake in about $4 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) and VNĐ145 trillion in domestic investment this year. It has more than 26,000 new businesses this year, accounting for 20 per cent of the country’s total and raising the number of local firms to around 303,000.

On the same day, the meeting elected Nguyễn Ngọc Tuấn as the chairman of the Hà Nội People's Council for the 2021-26 term and five vice chairs of the Hà Nội People's Committee. 

The Hà Nội People’s Council wrapped up its three-day 18th meeting on Wednesday during which it adopted 20 reports and 16 resolutions, laying a basis for the city to mobilise resources for socio-economic development in 2021 and beyond.

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city has maintained its economic growth, with GRDP expanding around 3.98 per cent this year, 1.5 times higher than the national average.

Hanoi’s budget collection totalled VNĐ280 trillion, exceeding the estimate by 2 per cent, and up 3.5 per cent year-on-year.

The city seeks to raise its GRDP by 7.5 per cent next year, social investment is projected to increase by 12 per cent, and inflation is expected to be kept below 4 per cent. — VNS