Nghe An: Some indicators of comprehensive financial strategy achieved and exceeded

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Financial Inclusion. Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP Nhat Bac.

Afternoon of August 6,Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh chaired the meeting of the National Steering Committee on Financial Inclusion. Also attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong, leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies and several localities including: Hanoi, Ha Giang, Nghe An, Soc Trang, Khanh Hoa.

At Nghe An bridge, comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting, with representatives of relevant departments and branches participating in the meeting.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired at Nghe An bridge point. Photo: Thanh Phuc

With the goal of ensuring that all people and businesses have safe and convenient access to and use of financial products and services that suit their needs, at reasonable costs, provided by licensed organizations in a responsible and sustainable manner, the implementation of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy has clearly defined the scope of basic financial services and priority target groups, including people in rural, remote and isolated areas, low-income earners, vulnerable groups such as women, the elderly, people with disabilities, migrant workers, and small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises.

The strategy also sets out solutions covering all aspects of comprehensive finance, including: Completing the legal framework; developing organizations and supply channels; diversifying financial products and services; completing and increasing the efficiency of financial infrastructure; financial education and protecting financial consumers.

Payment via Internet banking is becoming more and more popular. Photo: Thanh Phuc

With the efforts to implement tasks and solutions, the level of access to banking and financial services of people and businesses has improved significantly. In addition, non-cash payments have also achieved remarkable results.

However, besides the achieved results, the implementationComprehensive financial policyThere are still shortcomings and limitations in the context of a developing and transforming economy. Accordingly, in cities and urban areas, access to financial products is quite easy, but a part of the population, especially in rural, remote and isolated areas, still faces difficulties and limitations in accessing finance; the situation of black credit still exists, causing social outrage; comprehensive financial policies cover many sectors, but coordination between agencies and organizations has not yet fully promoted synchronization and efficiency...

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee reported on the implementation of the National Comprehensive Financial Strategy of Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In Nghe An, after 2 years of implementationDecision 149of the Prime Minister on approving the National Financial Inclusion Strategy to 2025, with a vision to 2030, Action Plan No. 569 of the Provincial People's Committee on implementing the contents of the Financial Inclusion Strategy, Nghe An has integrated the goals into the 5-year socio-economic development plan programs 2021-2025 and annual programs of the province. At the same time, it is integrated into the national target program on new rural construction of the province.

Regarding the promotion of non-cash payments in the province, up to now, the banking service infrastructure has been fully developed and spread throughout the localities, creating conditions for the provision of banking services to organizations and individuals. In particular, there are a number of indicators that have reached and exceeded the national level, such as: The rate of communes/towns with financial service points/Total number of communes and towns in the area by the end of 2021 is 33.41% (This rate of the whole country is 32.13%); The rate of adults with bank transaction accounts by June 30, 2022 is 75% (while the national rate is 68.44%); The rate of outstanding credit for agriculture and rural areas is 45% (the whole country is 25%)...

Cashless payment is being promoted. Photo: Thanh Phuc

By the end of 2021, the whole province had 2.13 million bank cards in circulation, 2,643 units paid salaries through accounts; 87% of total electricity bill payments were made through banks; 47.6% of total water bill payments were made through banks; 87% of medical examination and treatment facilities in urban areas accepted payments through banks; 40.3% of educational institutions in urban areas accepted tuition payments through banks...

Up to now, the province has 5 branches of TYM microfinance organization; 1 VietED microfinance program; microfinance activities of the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Fund. The activities of these organizations and programs have contributed to improving the quality of life of low-income individuals and households in the province.

Attention is paid to and emphasis is placed on the dissemination and education of comprehensive finance; transparency in fee structure and service fees for financial consumers; measures to protect financial consumers.

Up to now, the banking service infrastructure in the province has been quite well developed, widely distributed from urban to rural areas. Photo: Thanh Phuc

At the meeting,Nghe Anmade recommendations and proposals on a number of issues: The banking sector is requested to accelerate the implementation of the national digital transformation strategy; Project on developing population data applications to promote and develop comprehensive finance; The Ministry of Public Security closely coordinates with banks and relevant ministries and sectors to integrate citizen data with citizen identification cards and bank accounts for people's convenience.