Nghe An: Quickly remove obstacles for fishermen to borrow capital to build ships 67

(Baonghean.vn) - On July 7, the Steering Committee for the implementation of Decree 67/2014 of Nghe An province, chaired by Mr. Tran Huu Tien, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, worked with Hoang Mai Town and Quynh Luu District on the content of inspection and evaluation of 2 years of implementation of Decree 67/2014/ND-CP on credit policy in the area, and at the same time grasped the difficulties and problems in the implementation process to make timely adjustments.

The provincial Steering Committee for the implementation of Decree 67 worked with relevant sectors and fishermen of Hoang Mai Town.

In Hoang Mai town, up to now, the Provincial People's Committee has approved 29 fishing vessels to borrow capital to build new ones (3 steel-hulled vessels and 26 wooden-hulled vessels); 22 vessels have been built, of which 12 have been put into operation. With a total disbursed loan capital of 95.845 billion VND/101.366 billion VND. Currently, 11 fishing vessels have been appraised by commercial banks but have not signed credit contracts.

Fisherman Ho Xuan Manh, a resident of Quynh Phuong ward (Hoang Mai town), submitted a loan application to the bank nearly 2 years ago, requesting the bank to sign a loan contract soon to have the conditions to build a boat to go offshore.

In general, the vessels that have borrowed capital under Decree 67 and have been put into operation are all effective and profitable. Wooden-hulled vessels for purse seine fishing earn profits of 200-300 million VND per trip; wooden-hulled vessels for 4-sao trawl fishing earn profits of 150-200 million VND per trip; and for the steel-hulled vessels for sparsely-shrouded trawl fishing owned by Nguyen Van Phuong, Quynh Phuong ward, the profits of each sea voyage are from 300-400 million VND.

Mr. Cao Xuan Hoi, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Nghe An province, directed commercial banks to create favorable conditions for fishermen to borrow capital in a timely manner.

In Quynh Luu district, in 2015, 55 ships were approved (46 wooden ships, 9 iron ships). There were 9 projects implemented and signed credit contracts with banks in the first 6 months of the year, a total of 18 projects (15 wooden ships and 3 iron ships) with a total contract value of 137.47 billion VND, disbursed 88.07 billion VND, reaching 64%.

In addition, there are 4 projects that have been approved by the bank and implemented but have not signed credit contracts. There are 9 completed ships put into operation, all operating effectively, earning a profit of 200-700 million VND per month.

Leaders of Quynh Luu district and fishermen reported the results achieved and difficulties in the implementation of Decree 67 in the area to the Provincial Steering Committee.

At the meeting, many fishermen raised concerns about the difficulties in the process of borrowing capital to build ships. All opinions suggested that commercial banks create favorable conditions for signing contracts and disbursing capital promptly so that fishermen have funds to build new ships to soon go out to sea.

Quynh Lap Commune (Hoang Mai Town) has 13 ships approved for loans, of which 11 ships have been completed and put into effective operation.

During the working session, the Provincial Steering Committee highly appreciated the participation of local authorities at all levels in Hoang Mai town, Quynh Luu district and commercial banks in the area. It requested banks to create favorable conditions for fishermen to borrow capital to meet the needs of building ships according to Decree 67.

The Town and District Steering Committees must summarize the 2 years of implementing Decree 67. For ship owners who have been approved for loans but have not signed loan contracts with banks, they must not start building ships to avoid the situation where fishermen have built ships but do not qualify for loans, which will cause financial difficulties for them.

Quynh Lan