Affirming the core role of enterprises in socio-economic development

(Baonghean) - Comrade Le Xuan Dai - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee gave an interview to Nghe An Newspaper

PV:In 2016, with the efforts of the entire political system and the efforts of the business community to overcome difficulties, Nghe An's budget revenue achieved outstanding results. Could you please tell us more?

Comrade Le Xuan Dai:In 2016, the socio-economic situation faced many difficulties due to complicated weather, storms and floods, environmental incidents in the central coast, which greatly affected the lives of people and businesses. Some key projects of the province in the investment phase are enjoying preferential policies and have not generated large revenues for the province. Some policy changes have affected revenue loss in the area...

Despite such difficulties, thanks to the timely leadership and direction from the Central to the local level, the close coordination of Party committees, People's Councils, People's Committees at all levels; departments, branches, sectors, and relevant agencies in the work of collecting the budget in the area. In particular, the efforts in production and business of the business community with the total budget revenue in the area reaching 11,005 billion VND (of which: Total domestic revenue calculated in balance reached 9,930 billion VND, equal to 112% of the ordinance estimate, 110% of the People's Council estimate and equal to 124% compared to the same period in 2015).

Comrade Le Xuan Dai and leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade visited the booths of the Cua Lo Trade Fair. Photo: Tran Chau

The achievements that the Party Committee and people of Nghe An have achieved in the past year have had extremely important contributions from enterprises and businessmen. This is the core force that creates material wealth for society, develops revenue sources for the state budget, solves social security, and contributes to the successful implementation of the province's socio-economic goals. Every year, hundreds of enterprises and business households have excellently fulfilled their tax obligations, are honored and listed, and are a vivid proof of the efforts of enterprises and businessmen in implementing the patriotic emulation movement.

PV:In recent times, Nghe An has provided much support to help businesses and entrepreneurs overcome difficulties. So what are the efforts of the Party committees and authorities on this issue, comrade?

Comrade Le Xuan Dai:In the context of deep international integration, requiring institutional and administrative reforms at a new level, removing difficulties and creating favorable conditions for businesses to develop is an important political task of local Party committees and authorities, and is also assigned by the Central Government. The Provincial People's Committee has directed all levels and sectors to have specific and practical action programs for implementation.

The activities of business registration, business start-up, market entry, and investment licensing have always been directed by the Provincial People's Committee. Departments, branches, and sectors publicize administrative procedures on the electronic information portal and post them at the one-stop shop. Implement and support businesses to register online, return results to businesses by post, to help businesses reduce time and costs. Up to now, the rate of online business registration files in Nghe An province has increased dramatically, reaching 85%, higher than the national average (30%). The rate of online tax declaration reached 97%, departments and sectors actively directed to accelerate the progress of providing online public services at levels 3 and 4.

The province has issued a project focusing on attracting effective investment to the area by 2020 and solutions to improve the investment environment, enhance the provincial competitiveness index (PCI); attracting many large-scale, dynamic projects such as: VSIP Nghe An Industrial, Urban and Service Park Infrastructure Construction and Business Project, Hemaraj Industrial Park (Thailand), Vingroup Group's project, Cau Cau Tourist Area Project (Thanh Chuong), Hoa Sen Group's projects, greenhouse vegetable and flower projects of May Forestry Joint Stock Company, Nghia Dan MDF Wood Factory Project - the largest in Southeast Asia, Masan Food Center in the North... Foreign affairs activities are focused on and increased effectively. In particular, in January 2017, the Provincial People's Committee established the Investment Promotion and Support Center under the Provincial People's Committee to best serve investors with a single focal point.

In 2016, the province granted new and adjusted investment certificates (including approval of investment policies/issuance of investment certificates) to 141 projects, with a total registered investment capital of VND 35,441.2 billion. By July 15, 2017, Nghe An had granted business registration to 96 projects with a total registered capital of more than VND 10,000 billion.

Transporting goods at Royal foods factory. Photo: Tran Chau

Dialogue with businesses and direct resolution of business difficulties are also of interest to the province and are regularly implemented. In addition, sectors at all levels also implement dialogue activities and resolve difficulties and problems for businesses.

Every month, the Provincial People's Committee organizes a meeting between the Provincial People's Committee and representatives of Business Associations, VCCI Nghe An, and the Party Committee of the Business Sector to resolve difficulties and obstacles for businesses and investors. Every quarter, the provincial leaders directly dialogue with businesses to listen and resolve obstacles for major projects. These are very effective activities, demonstrating a high sense of responsibility towards the business community of the province.

With many efforts, up to now, Nghe An has achieved some results: The average time for establishing a business is 2.63 days/regulation is 3 days; the time for granting investment registration certificates is 5 days/regulation is 5 days; the time for handling administrative procedures on investment under the jurisdiction of the Provincial People's Committee is reduced by 30 - 50% compared to regulations; the rate of business registration via the electronic network has reached 85% so far; the rate of enterprises declaring taxes via the electronic network has reached 100%; 95% of taxpayers pay taxes via the Internet; 100% of state agencies in the administrative system at all levels, sectors in the province and localities have electronic information pages; 60% of public services of units in the province are provided online at level 3; 15% of public services of units in the province are provided online at level 4.

Nghe An also promotes the arrangement and equitization of state-owned enterprises; divestment of state capital in enterprises that the State does not need to hold, including enterprises that are operating effectively under market mechanisms.

PV:To further promote the effectiveness of tax management and increase budget revenue, what solutions does the Tax sector need to implement in the coming time, sir?

Comrade Le Xuan Dai:To further promote the effectiveness of tax management and complete the task of collecting state budget revenue that the 18th Provincial Party Congress set out by 2020 with 25,000 - 30,000 billion VND is extremely difficult. In addition to promoting production and business, attracting investment, to complete this heavy task, the Tax sector needs to implement the following measures:

Tax debt department staff discuss solutions to collect tax debt. Photo: Tran Chau

The first:Actively implement the Tax reform strategy until 2020 approved by the Government, aiming to build a modern, effective, efficient, transparent and professional Nghe An Tax sector.

Second: Continue to do a good job of advising People's Committees at all levels, closely coordinate with sectors and levels in the area in implementing the task of collecting state budget each year.

Third: Do a good job of administrative reform, cut down on tax administrative procedures to create the most favorable conditions for taxpayers; do a good job of propaganda and dissemination of tax laws and policies to taxpayers. Promote the collection of tax arrears and combat tax losses; strengthen the training and development of officials, build a team of civil servants who are proficient in professional skills, specialized, professional, and have clear ethics to meet the requirements of innovation and international integration.

PV:Thank you comrade!

Pearl(Perform)