On the afternoon of April 7th, the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Association of the province organized its 3rd congress for the 2023-2028 term. The event was attended by Mr. Nguyen Van Than, Chairman of the Vietnam SMEs Association; Mr. Le Ngoc Khanh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Mr. Tran Van Tuan, Secretary of the Ba Ria Municipal Party Committee; leaders and former leaders of the Central SMEs Association, provincial leaders, departments, and representatives of SMEs associations from various provinces and cities nationwide.

Reporting at the congress, Mr. Bui Ngoc Diep, Vice Chairman of the provincial SMEs Association, stated that there are currently over 12,000 active enterprises in the province, including more than 400 foreign-invested enterprises. Among them, SMEs account for 98.5%, playing an important role in the province’s economic and social development.

Currently, the provincial SMEs Association has more than 400 members operating in various fields such as trade, services, and industry.

During the previous term, as a bridge between the government and enterprises, the association assigned a task force to monitor the difficulties and challenges faced by enterprises. In doing so, they successfully protected the legitimate rights and interests of the members, participated in the development and improvement of mechanisms and policies, provided information and support for market connections both domestically and internationally. The association also organized cultural, social, charitable activities, and commendation programs.

In the 2023-2028 term, under the motto “Connect – Integrate – Develop,” the provincial SMEs Association aims to attract an additional 1,000-1,200 local enterprises to join the association. This will help classify industry sectors and promote mutual support and utilization of each other’s products and services, fostering cooperation for development.

Attending and delivering a speech at the congress, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, Mr. Le Ngoc Khanh, emphasized that enterprises are the center and main drivers of production and business activities, contributing significantly to the development and prosperity of the economy. Therefore, in line with the national policies, the province is always committed to promoting entrepreneurship, creating favorable conditions for the development and success of enterprises within its jurisdiction.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements made during the previous term, while also proposing the continuation of certain tasks and responsibilities. These include strengthening the role as a bridge, disseminating and promptly updating new policies to the members, especially effective implementation of the Law on Support for SMEs and related guiding documents; enhancing collaboration and support for stable production and business activities, promoting strong application of science, technology, and innovation; strengthening labor supply and demand connections; training and fostering human resources, especially high-quality personnel.

During the congress, the Vietnam SMEs Association awarded the “For the Development of Vietnam SMEs” commemorative medal to 5 individuals, and certificates of merit to 1 collective and 12 individuals who achieved outstanding results in building and developing the Vietnam SMEs Association and Ba Ria – Vung Tau province.

The provincial People’s Committee presented certificates of merit to 3 collectives and 2 individuals for their excellent contributions to the construction and development of the provincial SMEs Association.