Provincial Business Association: A 10-year journey

In October 2012, the Provincial Business Association (PBA) was established with nearly 200 member. After 10 years of operation, the association has affirmed its position and role in leading, orienting and supporting the activities of the business community and entrepreneurs in the province.

Assembling electric motorcycles and electric bicycles at DK Viet-Japan Co., Ltd., Hoang Dong commune, Lang Son city

Mr. Doan Ba ​​Nhien, Chairman of PBA, the 1^st term from 2012 to 2017, currently honorary chairman and advisor of the association, said: “Before the PBA was established, the members of associations were Small and Medium-sized Business Association, the Young Entrepreneurs Association, the Tourism Association and the City Women Entrepreneurs Association. Mostly, they worked separately with out any connection. Therefore, the need to establish a large enough, provincial-level professional association with methodical activities for business is very urgent. After being approved by the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee, the PBA recruited members and organized its first congress. With the efforts of the founding members, after just over a month of preparation, the association could hold the congress and officially went into operation, including 3 collective associations with nearly 200 member businesses.”

Lang Son is a mountainous border province with difficult economic conditions, therefore, most businesses are small and micro-sized with limited management and administration capacity and financial resources. The PBA has developed a plan to recruit more members; to operate investment consulting activities, to teach and train management skills; to coordinate with organizations providing legal service, to promote cooperation activities, to seek partners inside and outside the province… Its goal is to gradually improve the quality of the association’s activities, all towards the sustainable development of member businesses.

Up to now, after 10 years of operation, the association has 9 organizations and branches with nearly 600 member businesses. During the 10-year journey of establishment and operation, the association has built and implemented many practical programs and plans with spillover effect. Particularly, every year, the association cooperates with other organizations to carry out training programs, provision of knowledge and skills in business administration on average from 2 to 6 courses; organizes seminars and workshops on business financial management, business governance, start-ups, digital transformation, solutions to stabilize production and business activities to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, building business culture… At the same time, it signs agreements on coordination with departments and sectors in order to exchange information and remove difficulties for businesses; actively participates in criticism, contributes ideas to the development of mechanisms and policies. Contributions of the PBA always come from the practical activities of businesses, which are an important basis to help policy makers to be in line with reality, helping businesses to further develop.

Workers at Viet Bac Investment Construction and Development Joint Stock Company produce smart locks – Photo: TRI DUNG

During its operation, the PBA also plays a good role in protecting the legitimate rights and interests of member businesses; acting as a bridge between the business community and state management agencies. Through dialogue, hundreds of recommendations of member businesses have been listened and sent to Provincial People’s Committee, departments, sectors, and People’s Committees of districts and Lang Son city for settlement and solution.

In 2020 and 2021, the Provincial People’s Committee assigned the association to be the focal point for the implementation of the Department and District Competitiveness Index (DDCI in 2020 and 2021). With effort, the association has successfully completed the proposed contents, ensuring the truth and effectiveness. Additionally, its member branches also do well in social welfare with a total contribution of more than 100 billion VND.

Mr. Ho Phi Dung, Chairman of the PBA said: “In the past 10 years, the association has always received the attention and facilitation of the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People’s Council and Provincial People’s Committee. The association has well performed its role as a bridge between the business community and the departments, sectors, People’s Committees of districts and city in removing difficulties in production and business activities and been recognized by the business community. In the coming years, according to the direction of the province, the association will focus on building a number of key leading businesses, becoming pillars for the better development of satellite businesses. Since then, a production chain will be gradually formed, improving production and business efficiency, contributing to promoting the province’s socio-economic development tasks.

The 10-year journey of establishment and operation of the PBA is not long, but with the continuous efforts of the association, the business community and the attention of the province in improving the business and production environment, removing difficulties for businesses, there is no doubt that the association’s activities will achieve many new achievements and it will continue to be a strong support for the business and businessmen community of Lang Son, making a practical contribution to an increasingly prosperous Lang Son.