The northern port city of Hai Phong held a dialogue with local businesses last week that attracted some 600 representatives from over 26,000 enterprises.

Entitled “Hai Phong businesses stay united, proud, resilient and sustainable”, the dialogue offered local authorities the chance to hear of the concerns as well as the recommendations of city-based enterprises, focusing on key issues such as investment, bidding, tourism, administrative procedures, and social security.

Of note, matters that reportedly pose many challenges for businesses relate to land, construction, transportation, finances, taxes, and credit.

Other issues such as logistics services, digital transformation, human resources training, and environmental protection were also raised.

Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee Le Tien Chau said he basically agrees with the responses from local authorities and heads of departments and sectors to questions raised by participating companies, which should be regarded as political and legal commitments that must be seriously taken into consideration and implemented.

The dialogue aimed to highlight the role and contribution of the local business community in the construction and development of Hai Phong. Local authorities pledged to support businesses and immediately deal with appropriate requests and proposals from businesses.

Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nguyen Quang Vinh spoke highly of the initiative by Hai Phong authorities to hold the dialogue, urging local businesses to continue overcoming the difficulties, transforming supply chains, and attaching greater importance to environmental protection while pushing for economic development.