Conference discusses experience in supporting SMEs

HCM City (VNA) – Orientations for support industry development and experience in supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were focused at the Business Partner City (BPC) 2016 conference which took place in Ho Chi Minh City on September 7.

In his speech at the event, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong stressed that the city has made active contributions to the activities of BPC Community since it joined the network 19 years ago.

The conference offered a good chance for the network’s member cities to enhance links, especially in support industry, thus promoting bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation, he said.

Informing participants about measures to develop support industry and business opportunities for SMEs, Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Pham Thanh Kien said the municipal authorities should pay special attention to building mechanisms and policies facilitating support industry development.

HCM City needs to actively attract foreign direct investment to help improve the support industry’s production capacity, he added.

Koh Ching Yu, director of an international relations centre of Singapore in HCM City said there are many opportunities for Singaporean companies to develop in the city, especially in manufacturing, tourism, petroleum, electricity and energy if they can fully tap advantages from free trade agreements signed between Vietnam and partners.

Meanwhile, Phairush Burapachaisri, Vice Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce revealed that his country is focusing on developing a digitalization era and startup movements with many new industries. It is also creating opportunities for SMEs to develop infrastructure in various fields such as interprovincial rail routes, public transport networks and highways connecting with neighbouring countries.

Chairman of Australia’s Melbourne Economic Development Portfolio Kevin Louey said his city, which boasts sustainable economic development and skilled labour, has encouraged SMEs to promote innovation and creativity and boost exports.

Participants to the event discussed measures to boost development of support industry and SMEs.

A seminar to directly connect 100 enterprises in HCM City and those from BPC member cities was arranged in the framework of the conference.

The BPC network, grouping Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul, Shanghai, Mumbai, Melbourne, Tianjin, Osaka, Jakarta, Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City, helps promote business interaction within the Asia–Pacific region, contributing to economic development of each member city.

Its aim is to create opportunities for SMEs to establish links with their counterparts in the network.-VNA