Accounting for over 98% of total businesses nationwide, SMEs form an important force in the economy, contributing to about 50% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 35% of the annual state budget revenue. They also provide jobs for more than 50% of the workforce.

VINASME has expanded its network to the district level, even to communes and craft villages in some localities. It has actively helped to disseminate the Party and State’s policies, engaged in institutional and policy building, given advice, and assisted member businesses to access capital, apply technology, and approach markets. The association has also encouraged its members to participate in the campaigns launched by the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front, thereby helping strengthen the great national solidarity.

Lauding VINASME’s achievements and contributions to national development, General Secretary and President Lam emphasised that the Party and State always give special attention to and create the best possible conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to operate and grow.

He also expressed sympathy for the business community, including SMEs, over the difficulties and challenges facing them, especially the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic recession.

In that context, he noted, VINASME needs to keep improving the quality of its activities, fulfilling its role as the representative of enterprises’ voice and aspirations, enhancing solidarity among the business community, and fully bringing into play the spirit of self-reliance, confidence, resilience, and national pride to deserve its status as the one that gathers and nurtures Vietnamese SMEs during the country’s cause of industrialisation, modernisation, and integration into the world.

The top leader stressed that enterprises should proactively and continuously reform and restructure themselves, strongly promote digital transformation, improve competitiveness, build brands, and capitalise on opportunities generated by the Fourth Industrial Revolution as well as free trade agreements.

In addition, VINASME needs to set orientations for its member companies who must adhere to the law, adopt progressive business practices, ensure all the rights and interests of employees, protect the environment, and maintain the national brand and prestige, Lam went on.

As the combat against corruption and negative phenomena will continue to be promoted unceasingly, without limits or exceptions, the business community and entrepreneurs should support and contribute to this task, helping build the Party and State truly clean, strong, efficient, and effective for the sake of rich people and a strong, democratic, equitable, and civilised nation.

They also need to join hands with the Party and State to create more jobs, emphasise quality of life for workers, and actively take part in social activities to affirm the superiority of Vietnamese enterprises, he added.