Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan has urged enterprises, especially those wholly owned by the State, to strengthen links for mutual development.

At an April 17 meeting with representatives from departments, agencies and State-owned businesses in the locality, the mayor suggested enterprises focus on human resources development, particularly high-qualified staff.

As banks are reducing lending rates, business players should have specific plans to access loans for investment in equipment and technology, he noted.

Local firms were also asked to work together for both extensive and intensive restructuring and stay proactive to cope with more severe competition.

According to the municipal Finance Department, Ho Chi Minh City is home to 108 State-owned companies, 15 of which are making procedures for merger, acquisition dissolving and bankruptcy.

In the first quarter of this year, these enterprises raked in 15.6 trillion VND (733 million USD) in total revenue, down 18.73 percent against the same period last year.-VNA