Specific Solution Groups for SMEs Classified by Enterprise Size


Develop a tight and feasible business plan and investment project because the industry often borrows capital mainly through production and business plans/projects.

Have a periodic debt repayment strategy to always be proactive in borrowing capital, avoid having a bad credit history that causes the business to have a poor credit rating, which will affect access to capital.

Joint ventures and associations with large enterprises in supplying input factors and consuming products of large enterprises. Thanks to that, there is a connection of interests between the two parties, increasing profits for enterprises, creating prestige for commercial banks when opening loan applications.

c. For SMEs operating in trade and services

Maybe you are interested!

Although the number of SMEs operating in the trade and service sector in Thai Nguyen that can borrow capital is the largest, the loan value is not high, mainly depending on the value of collateral. Therefore, in the coming time, enterprises need to improve their business capacity and look for more suitable credit packages such as:

Actively apply information technology in service provision, especially 4.0 technology in the future. This will save costs while still ensuring business efficiency.

Specific Solution Groups for SMEs Classified by Enterprise Size

Diversify sales channels: traditional, non-traditional. Currently, online sales are very popular, following that general trend, commercial and service enterprises also need to focus on investing in website systems, consulting, marketing... to promote their goods and services. In addition, choosing quality goods at reasonable prices helps enterprises gain the trust of customers.

Due to the nature of the industry, in case there is no collateral or the collateral value is small and does not meet the demand, SMEs operating in the field of trade and services can conduct bank loans through business contracts, in which all transactions of the economic contract must be carried out through the bank to increase the security of the loan.

5.3.2.3. Specific solution groups for SMEs classified by enterprise size

a. For small and micro enterprises

According to statistics from the socio-economic census, the number of micro-enterprises in 2017 increased by 65.5% compared to the previous year, accounting for 74% of the total number of enterprises in Vietnam. However, the number of micro-enterprises accessing bank credit is very limited due to the fact that the enterprises do not have collateral. In fact, micro-enterprise owners often tend to borrow personal credit for business purposes. With


In this way, the “door” for businesses will be wider because the bank is not too strict about documents and procedures. However, that also means that businesses will suffer when this loan is not included in operating costs, and income tax is not deductible due to borrowing under the name of an individual. Therefore, in the future, small and micro businesses need to look to many other forms of borrowing to increase capital sources and promote development. To do that, businesses need to pay attention to the following issues:

Enterprises diversify their loan forms such as: overdraft, credit card loans, invoice financing. Proactively source loans, seek other capital support channels besides banks.

Improve the qualifications of employees and managers. Realizing that investing in training for employees incurs costs, small and micro enterprises often do not spend money on training and improving the qualifications of employees. This has limited access to capital for enterprises in particular and the development of enterprises in general. Enterprises should send employees to attend short-term and long-term training courses related to their professional expertise, which will help them in their work when they gain more knowledge and skills. It is necessary to have a specialist employee who regularly transacts at the bank to help enterprises promptly grasp changes in the bank and new preferential credit packages.

There is a connection between micro enterprises according to the chain model to support each other in production when the output products of the company are the input factors of other enterprises. This will limit the capital needed in a short time. If the connection and cooperation between enterprises are developed in both breadth and depth, it will be a favorable condition for SMEs to promote their role, increase their reputation, management capacity, and competitiveness, thereby increasing access to loans from banks.

b. For medium-sized enterprises

There are many advantages over small and micro enterprises in accessing bank credit sources, but not all medium-sized enterprises can borrow more capital and borrow from preferential credit packages. Therefore, innovating and perfecting enterprises is the right direction in the future. To do this, enterprises need to focus on the following contents:

It is necessary to develop long-term business plans and strategies to have directions at each time, so that businesses can proactively manage their capital.

SMEs must also improve themselves, comply with legal regulations and proactively provide complete and honest information to enhance their reputation with credit institutions.


Conducting independent audits annually to increase transparency in accounting books and financial reports, creating prestige for banks. Moreover, independent audits will help businesses recognize unreasonable expenses to make adjustments to avoid losses. Then the process of reviewing and evaluating loan applications will be simpler, loan approval will be easier and increase the amount of loan capital.

Organize the accounting apparatus to be both professional and compact, the chief accountant must be professionally trained, promptly grasp changes in accounting activities to improve the quality of financial statements.

Invest in human resources in planning and developing business projects to shorten the time to receive loans and increase loan limits.

5.4. Recommendations

5.4.1. Recommendations to the Government

5.4.1.1. Building an information network between the Government and SMEs

A problem that arises now is that the Government does not have an official information channel to receive feedback from enterprises during their production and business activities, and when enterprises encounter difficulties, they do not know which agency to go to to present their problems and how to solve them. In addition, to assess the creditworthiness of enterprises, banks need to, in addition to directly learning from enterprises, collect information from intermediary channels such as industry associations, tax authorities, and credit information centers. However, banks can use very little information from these organizations because the role of the Association is very vague, there are many overlapping associations, and many enterprises themselves do not trust the role of the Association. Therefore, the Associations have almost no information, or if they do, it is not accurate, and cannot provide clear figures and addresses for information such as: the number of SMEs, the business situation of the enterprises, the market, the main products produced... On the other hand, credit information from the Credit Information Center has not been updated, and does not accurately reflect the credit relationship between enterprises and banks at the time when banks need to appraise loan applications for customers. Although there have been guiding documents related to the provision of information between banks and tax authorities, in reality, in the past, this cooperation has been very vague and ineffective, and banks have almost not exploited the desired information from this channel. Therefore, in the coming time, the Government needs to introduce a number of measures to support information for the Government, banks and SMEs such as:


- Building an electronic information portal between the Government and enterprises, with the coordination of ministries and branches, to quickly update and resolve difficulties of enterprises in their operations in general and in the financial sector in particular.

- Strengthen the information and dialogue mechanism between Government agencies and enterprises, promptly reflect the current situation, recommendations from the business community to the Government and information on the Government's policy orientation towards enterprises, creating consensus and trust in the market. Currently, the information system on enterprises is quite scattered and not well updated. It is recommended that relevant ministries, first of all the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance pay more attention to this.

- It is necessary to apply 4.0 technology in State management to minimize negativity, group interests, and minimize "relationship enterprises". All State policies must be transparent and fair for all economic sectors, thereby building an e-State according to the Government's expectations. Build a two-way electronic information page between the Government and SMEs, which updates legal policy information for the SME sector, business support content, procedures, etc.

5.4.1.2. Perfecting the legal system to support and protect the maximum rights of SMEs

The market economy is a law-based economy, so a favorable and positive legal environment will support SMEs more than preferential policies of the Government. Currently, Vietnam's political system is quite stable in which the executive and legislative bodies are always connected to each other, so building a complete legal system from the central to local levels will help financial institutions and SMEs feel secure in doing business - this is the foundation for economic development.

Specify legal documents issued by the Government in recent times such as: Law on supporting SMEs, Decree No. 34/2018/ND-CP on the establishment, organization and operation of the Credit Guarantee Fund for SMEs... to help management agencies have a basis for implementation, promptly adjust issues arising when implementing State regulations to remove the maximum difficulties that enterprises encounter, especially in the financial sector. Moreover, each province and city needs to have specific instructions suitable to the characteristics and business situation of SMEs in the area to help enterprises gain the most benefits from the policy. Accompanying enterprises in the production and business process because that is also a way to help develop a sustainable economy.


Increase the participation of enterprises and industry associations in formulating policies related to the development of production and business activities of enterprises in general and capital support policies for enterprises in particular through seminars, conferences, and discussions with the participation of many relevant ministries and departments...

Organize training courses to disseminate knowledge about financial management and accounting so that enterprises can apply accounting standards, make financial information transparent, audit financial reports, and create more favorable conditions for enterprises to complete loan applications at commercial banks.

Providing support services on financial consulting, investment management and other support services such as: law, information technology, project planning... for SMEs to help them more easily update legal documents and access more diverse sources of loans.

5.4.2. Recommendations to Thai Nguyen province

In addition to the groups of solutions proposed by the Government, the role of direction and planning of the People's Committee of Thai Nguyen province is extremely important for increasing access to bank credit capital for SMEs. The thesis would like to propose some specific solutions as follows:

Direct and coordinate with the State Bank branches to launch SME capital support programs suitable to the socio-economic situation of the province as well as the characteristics of enterprises in the province. Flexibly use financial resources from foreign sources, the Government, the province and the people to supplement the amount of loans for enterprises. There is a connection of information between the leaders of the province, the city, the bank and SMEs through the website, seminars, conferences... So that the three parties can exchange, resolve arising issues, disseminate legal documents as well as provide advice to help SMEs access loans more easily.

There is a mechanism for close coordination and cooperation between commercial banks and the provincial State Bank, the Department of Planning and Investment, the Tax Department and Business Associations... in searching for and introducing SMEs with good financial capacity for banks to consider granting credit. The Thai Nguyen provincial branch of the State Bank needs to continue to organize and promote the results achieved in the program connecting businesses - banks, further mobilizing the participation of bank branches and businesses in the area. At the same time, widely propagate to all SMEs so that businesses can grasp information about the program. The provincial State Bank should organize


Quarterly business - bank connection program to promptly resolve capital needs of SMEs.

Strengthening the propaganda and dissemination of policies to support SMEs widely on mass media so that enterprises know and promote their rights; Periodically organizing dialogues between local leaders, departments, branches and sectors with representatives of SMEs and business associations to listen to feedback from enterprises and promptly handle difficulties and obstacles in the business process of enterprises.

5.4.3. Recommendations to the State Bank

The State Bank plays a role in directing and guiding commercial banks through legal documents and conducting supervision so that the financial market develops according to macroeconomic goals. Therefore, increasing access to bank credit for SMEs requires regulation from the State Bank through the following measures:

The State Bank of Vietnam has resolutely implemented the Action Plan of the banking sector, contributing to improving the business environment and enhancing national competitiveness; Implementing proactive and flexible monetary policy to help curb inflation, control exchange rates and stabilize the macro-economy to create a favorable business environment for enterprises.

Actively advise the Government to have timely policies to support enterprises in removing difficulties in business capital, first of all, directing relevant units to quickly handle collateral assets, helping banks to release collateral assets soon, increasing liquidity for the economy.

The State Bank should continue to adhere to its policy of restructuring to build a healthy banking system. Direct credit institutions to continue reviewing and improving lending procedures, creating maximum convenience for customers, and implementing solutions to remove difficulties in credit relations between credit institutions and enterprises.

Actively implement the program of connecting banks and enterprises to work with local authorities to directly and synchronously resolve difficulties and obstacles in all different fields, so that enterprises have conditions to access bank credit capital. Enhance the autonomy of commercial banks while still complying with the regulations of the State Bank.

Actively manage interest rate policy, lead the market and closely follow macroeconomic developments to achieve the goal of gradually reducing interest rates, contributing to


part of unblocking capital sources for the economy, prioritizing capital sources for the SME sector. Directing credit institutions to implement interest rate exemptions and reductions, restructuring debt repayment terms, increasing unsecured lending, piloting lending under the linkage model, applying high technology in agricultural production, etc.

Enhance the role of the Vietnam National Credit Information Center - one of the important information channels considered as the "information bank" of banks. In particular, information related to procedures, credit policy regulations, and credit support needs to be updated regularly and clearly by the Center. Regarding issues related to SMEs, the Center needs to build a connection network between commercial banks to have a common information system to help banks easily assess the creditworthiness of enterprises, thereby serving as a basis for deciding on loans for enterprises. It is necessary to note that information channels are reliably censored related to credit granting and use activities (such as monitoring customers' operating and borrowing history through standardizing information regulations as well as digitizing information) to avoid inaccurate information affecting banks and SMEs.

The State Bank needs to strengthen inspection and examination of the operations of credit institutions in the area, proactively work with enterprises, detect existing problems and direct credit institutions to resolve them.

5.4.4. Recommendations to the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises

Thai Nguyen Provincial Association of SMEs has been in operation for more than 20 years with a network of businesses in localities and business sectors, so it plays an important role in developing SMEs as well as solving capital problems for businesses if it organizes consulting and support activities for SMEs in the following areas:

- Participate in giving opinions, making comments and proposals to the Provincial People's Committee and state agencies on policies and guidelines related to the activities of SMEs, especially policies related to financial support for SMEs to protect the legitimate rights and interests of SMEs, creating conditions for SMEs to develop sustainably.

- Support SMEs in financial and credit activities, especially in guaranteeing loans for SMEs, and at the same time support SMEs in improving their capacity.


Develop projects and business plans to meet the requirements of the Fund and financial institutions when evaluating loan applications of SMEs.

- Strengthen cooperation, be the focal point with agencies, organizations, associations and other domestic and foreign enterprises for the development of SMEs in particular and the business community in general.

- Exchange information on policies, laws, science and technology, domestic and foreign production and business with SMEs.

Comment


Agree Privacy Policy *