Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) helda teleconference with Samsung Vietnam and its suppliers on October 14,affirming that the ministry’s top priority now is assisting businesses inVietnam to achieve the “twin targets” of ensuring safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic andmaintaining production to avoid disruptions to supply chains.

The event gathered representatives of the Korean-invested company andmore than 20 suppliers in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and the provinces of BacGiang, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai.

Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai said the MoIT is committed to continued coordinationwith other ministries, sectors, and localities to assist businessesand tackle bottlenecks to production activities by increasing manpower for production,easing restrictions on travel among provinces, boosting vaccination, and reducinginput costs, expense and taxes.

The ministry will serve as a bridge linking businesses with theGovernment so as to update them about new support policies and incentives and dealwith difficulties facing them in a timely manner, he added.

Hai expressed his hope that Samsung will keep working with the MoIT tobuild and implement larger and more intensive training programmes to promoteVietnamese firm’s engagement in its supply chain, as well as global supplychains.

Choi Joo Ho, General Director of Samsung Vietnam, said the stability ofsuppliers plays a highly important role in global production chains, includingthat of Samsung Vietnam.

Noting the firm’s efforts in the face of the recent complex COVID-19situation, he expressed his belief that with timely and active support from theMoIT, the difficulties facing enterprises will be tackled quickly, thus helping consolidate the business community's trust in the Government and creating a momentum for them to jointhe Government’s efforts to realise the twin targets.

At the meeting, Samsung Vietnam and its suppliers pointed outsome problems they are facing amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Deputy Minister Hai directed agencies under the MoIT to promptly handle the isssues raised by the firms, saying the ministry will work more closely with localitiesto create favourable conditions for suppliers of Samsung to maintain operationsand gradually raise their output.

The MoIT and Samsung Vietnam shared the view that they will continue working together in joint programmeson training human resources, improving businesses, strengthening Vietnamesefirms’ competitiveness, and increasing the number of Vietnamese enterprisesserving as tier-1 and -2 suppliers of Samsung, thereby helping develop local supporting industries./.