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| Production activities at Earth Corporation Vietnam Co., Ltd. Photo: Pham Ngon |
Export turnover soars
In the first nine months of 2021, complicated developments caused the supply chain of raw materials to face many difficulties, affecting production and export activities of enterprises across the country in general and Binh Duong in particular.
However, exports still have positive signs, showing the efforts of enterprises to overcome difficulties along with the participation of authorities at all levels in pandemic control, timely support to remove difficulties, ensure fast customs clearance of goods, facilitate import and export activities of enterprises.
As a result, in the first nine months of 2021, Binh Duong’s export turnover is estimated at more than US$24.5 billion, up 26.7% over the same period last year, reaching 79.8% of the yearly plan. In which, the domestic economic sector reached US$4.68 billion, up 31.3%, the foreign-invested economic sector gained more than US$19.84 billion, up 25.6%, over the same period last year. Most of Binh Duong’s key export products still maintained a decent increase.
Especially, overcoming the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic, the export turnover of the wood industry in nine months was estimated at more than US$4.98 billion, up 28.1%, accounting for 20.3% of the total export turnover; the textile and garment industry achieved an export turnover of nearly US$2 billion, up 10.5%; leather footwear industry is estimated at more than US$1.4 billion, up 14.4%, compared to the same period last year.
Nguyen Manh Ha, Head of Logistics Department and Chairman of the Union of Perfetti Van Melle Vietnam Co., Ltd (Song Than 2 Industrial Park, Di An, Binh Duong), said that during the outbreak, especially the peak period in August, although facing many difficulties in travel, reducing export orders, and increasing costs by three times, the company still tries to maintain production and avoid supply chain disruptions.
The company has organized a safe production through the “3 on-site” and “a road with 2 destinations” models, proactively sourcing input materials, flexibly producing products for domestic and export markets. At the same time, there are policies to take care and encourage employees to participate in “3 on-site” such as providing full meals, daily necessities, supporting each worker with VND4 million/month. Thereby, production activities of enterprises are still maintained, export goods still reach about 1,500 tons/month.
Similarly, Phan Thi Phuong Linh, Human Resources Administration Director of Earth Corporation Vietnam Co., Ltd (Nam Tan Uyen Industrial Park), said that the company has a distribution system and imports materials from many countries around the world, including many customers in Southeast Asia.
Despite facing challenges from the pandemic for many months, with the “3 on-site” model and drastic pandemic prevention solutions, the company still maintains 100% capacity. Thereby, the global supply chain with partners from Thailand and Malaysia is maintained, the export of goods takes place steadily.
Le Thu Huong, Head of Import-Export Department, Southern Rubber Industry Joint Stock Company, said that during the peak months of pandemic prevention and control, two of the company’s five factories in Binh Duong have implemented the “3 on-site” model.
Despite facing difficulties in human resources involved in production and costs incurred, the company still maintained and stabilized export orders to the main markets of the US, EU, and Southeast Asia. On average, in four months of social distancing, the export revenue of enterprises is about VND160-170 billion/month. These are positive signals that contribute to helping Southern Rubber Industry Joint Stock Company stabilize production and business activities, making up for the decline in the domestic market due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Helping businesses accelerate
According to businesses, currently European countries and the US are gradually lifting or completely lifting social distancing measures, the demand for goods on the world market is recovering, this is an opportunity for businesses to boost exports.
However, according to a representative of Binh Duong Woodworking Association, the pandemic in the world is still complicated, import and export activities of enterprises still face many barriers, especially the transportation of goods is difficult.
Currently, although the wood industry has many orders, there is a shortage of labor and production materials, many businesses are trying to restore and speed up all activities to meet customer requirements and maintain incomes for workers. Accordingly, businesses want to continue to receive support and create favorable conditions to restore production in the new situation.
Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Duong province, said that enterprises have made great efforts to adapt production activities in very difficult conditions and together with the province take care and support workers to stabilize their lives.
Currently, the pandemic is basically under control, enterprises have just started to restore production and are still facing many difficulties. Therefore, from now until the end of 2021 and in 2022, the provincial leaders will continue to direct the strict implementation of pandemic prevention and control measures, and at the same time always accompany and have supportive solutions, together with the business community in the province to recover and develop as quickly as possible.
Director of Binh Duong Customs Department Nguyen Phuoc Viet Dung said that the unit also determined that the main task in the last months of 2021 is to give priority to supporting enterprises to restore production and business, through facilitating customs procedures, clearance of goods, flexibility in minimizing administrative procedures.
Accordingly, Binh Duong Customs Department will continue to effectively operate a support team to handle problems related to customs procedures for import and export goods; regularly monitor and communicate to grasp the situation of enterprises, promptly handle arising problems, and support businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.