SME-PC - Companion of Small Businesses

SME-PC - Companion of Small Businesses

In order to promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs), on January 7, 1995, the VCCI President decided to establish the Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Centre (SME-PC) as a consultative body of the VCCI Standing Committee on the promotion of SMEs in Vietnam.

SME-PC started with a three-member staff at its Hanoi headquarters. It has now 50 staff members working in the network of VCCI branches and representative offices. Over the past 10 years, SME-PC has performed its function of organising conferences on SMEs, advising the State on policies relating to SME business environment and development, co-ordinating with other VCCI bodies and related organisations in training and consulting services.

The programme Starting and Intensifying Your Business (SIYB) launched by SME-PC five years ago has greatly helped the development of SMEs in Vietnam. Currently, the programme has spread to 42 provinces and cities. According to participants, the programme has not only upgraded their skills base but also the productivity and turnover of the enterprises. SME-PC has also organised “SME Weeks” in various localities, “Business Services” and recently “Golden V for Creative Products” to increase the competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises.

At the 10^th anniversary ceremony of SME-PC, VCCI President Vu Tien Loc said that the policy of the Party and State can be successfully implemented with the activities of more supporting organisations such as SME-PC. Since its establishments, SME-PC has mobilised resources, developed networks of experts and lecturers and assisted localities in upgrading business skills. The centre has also developed co-operation with international organisations to support SMEs in Vietnam.

UNIDO representative, Ms. Nilgun F. Tas said that in co-ordination with SME-PC she was impressed by the special assistance of VCCI in supporting SMEs. For her part, Ms. Pham Thi Thu Hang, Director of SME-PC said that SMEs will receive even greater support from SME-PC and other related organisations.

• Huyen Nhi