Receiving and working with the delegation were Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phan The Tuan; representative leaders of the Provincial People's Committee Office; a number of related departments, sectors and businesses.

The delegation surveyed two businesses including Ha Phong Garment Export Joint Stock Company (Hiep Hoa district); Vietnam Lens Company Limited, Quang Chau Industrial Zone (Viet Yen district-level town).

Ha Phong Garment Export Joint Stock Company was a large garment enterprise in Bac Giang province, in the Top 50 largest garment enterprises in Vietnam, Top 1000 enterprises paying the most income tax in Vietnam. The company's main export markets were the US and Europe. In 2023, the company achieved revenue of more than 1,597 billion VND and export turnover of nearly 240 million USD. The company created jobs for over 7,500 workers, with an average income of over 11 million VND/person/month.

Lens Vietnam Co., Ltd., part of Lens Science and Technology Group, was established in 2017 with an investment of more than 200 million USD on an area of ​​8,200 m2 in Quang Chau Industrial Zone, Viet Yen district (now Viet Yen district-level town). The company specialized in researching, manufacturing and selling products such as optical glass, tempered glass products, components, and phone screens. Revenue in 2023 reached more than 10.3 trillion VND. Currently, the company was employing more than 4,700 workers, including 4,201 Vietnamese workers.

At the meeting, businesses frankly discussed with the delegation about difficulties, and at the same time proposed solutions for businesses to promote production and business.

Ha Phong Garment Export Joint Stock Company proposed that Bac Giang province create conditions to attract businesses to invest in Ha Thinh industrial cluster with industries such as weaving, yarn, finishing textile products, and other industries textile support; from there, creating a local fabric source, perfecting the textile and garment ecosystem to meet strict standards for export. At the same time, proposed tax incentives for new businesses investing in Ha Thinh industrial cluster in the first years.

In addition, businesses also expressed difficulties related to corporate income tax finalization activities when overtime costs that businesses actually paid to employees were not included in expenses; on-site import and export procedures, etc.

Lens Vietnam Co., Ltd. requested the authorities of the Central Government and Bac Giang province to have a plan to shorten administrative procedures related to projects in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report group, helping businesses save costs, shorten the time for the project to go into operation, quickly produce to meet the needs of large orders.

The company's representative leader said that the business was in a period of rapid development, with large recruitment needs, so it was hoped that Bac Giang province would have policies to support recruitment and connect businesses with the system of occupation training schools in the province, thereby linking and cooperating to ensure a high-quality labor supply. At the same time, there would be solutions to ensure electricity supply for businesses, and policies to support businesses in implementing green energy projects.

The company's representative leader also said that the company was trying to find qualified Vietnamese businesses to cooperate and provide high-tech components suitable for the company's production needs. However, the product cost of Vietnamese businesses was still a big barrier for the company. Therefore, he hoped that Vietnamese businesses would soon improve technology, enhance competitiveness, reduce product costs, thereby opening up many opportunities for cooperation between the two sides.

Responding to the opinions of leaders of Lens Vietnam Co., Ltd. on the issue of electricity supply, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phan The Tuan said that Bac Giang province has been implementing projects to upgrade electricity transmission and copper infrastructure. At the same time, closely coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to ensure that businesses meet the production electricity needs.

Regarding labor resources, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that Bac Giang province recognized the problem of labor shortage early on and was implementing many synchronous solutions. Recently, the Provincial People's Committee organized labor promotion delegations in 4 northern mountainous provinces. In the near future, Bac Giang would organize the workshop with the participation of businesses, training facilities and experts to discuss and find long-term solutions to the issue of training and labor supply in the province.

Speaking at the working session, Deputy Head of the Central Economic Commission Nguyen Duc Hien said that the Party continued to determine that human resource development, especially high-quality human resources, was a strategic breakthrough and the most important competitive advantage, ensuring fast, effective and sustainable development. For businesses with high technology content such as Lens Vietnam Co., Ltd., he encouraged the company to cooperate with schools and facilities to train high quality human resources, suitable to the requirements of the business in the following ways: A number of large FDI enterprises were collaborating to open training centers with universities.

Regarding licensing procedures for projects requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment Report, he said that in the process of completing the Project, he would propose that the Government improve administrative procedures for cases with special and new technology to save costs and create convenience for businesses.

He also requested the two businesses to pay more attention to accommodation as well as cultural institutions and schools for workers' children, ensuring the health and spiritual life of workers.

He said that the delegation would receive and synthesize proposals from businesses to report to competent authorities for consideration, research and resolution./.