Agribank Hai Duong: Helping Hand to Hai Duong Agriculture

Identifying agriculture and rural development as traditional markets and farmers as partners, Agribank Hai Duong has helped change the economic structure. As reported by the Branch, in the first 6 months of 2015, the total funds mobilised amounted to VND13,082 billion, up 18.7 percent over 2014, accounting for 24.77 percent of the share capital of the province. In which deposit has high growth rate, reaching VND12,323 billion; liquidity is guaranteed and redundant. Total loans reached VND9,487 billion, up 5.2 percent compared to 2014. Private loans for rural agriculture accounted for high proportion with 88.5 percent of total loans and increased by 5.22 percent compared with 2014. The NPL ratio of Agribank Hai Duong is 0.23 percent lower than the overall area.

Mr Phung Tuan Kiet, Director of Agribank Hai Duong said: Recently, the Branch actively participated in the programme for agriculture and rural development: Lending Project supporting farmers to invest in mechanisation of agricultural production in the 2012-2015 period with a total 472 machines, and outstanding debt of VND22,501 million; Project Focused Livestock Development, improving quality, scale and ensuring environmental hygiene in 2011-2015, with 11 districts involved, the cumulative pigs number is 37,630 for the loan, the outstanding debt of VND15,911 million; Loans for agricultural development and rural development loans is VND8,398 billion, accounting for 37.3 percent market share in outstanding loans to agriculture and rural areas throughout the province; National target programme on new rural construction period 2010 - 2020, outstanding loans VND2,076 billion, accounting for 21.9 percent of total loans; Lending through the organisation of the (Farmers, Women, Veterans), with a total of 646 groups of borrowers, 19,919 households still outstanding, outstanding loans of VND709 billion.

From the capital of Agribank Hai Duong, farmers, and business owners here have had opportunity to foster the development of strong industries and sectors. Many economic models supported by the Branch have gained effectiveness such as: model fish farming, home economic development model of Nguyen Huu Hoan and his wife Nguyen Thi Tam in Tan Ky, Tu Ky district (Hai Duong). From VND800 million loan from Agribank Hai Duong, so far the family has over 20 acres with 13 fishing ponds. Each year the family harvests two crops; each crop benefit is VND600-700 million / pond. Or the case of family Cao Van Lam (Van Xa village, Ngo Quyen commune, Thanh Mien district) has developed agricultural machinery investment model locally. With the loan of VND200 million with no interest from the branch and the equity of the family, Mr Lam has invested VND2 billion purchasing a machine chain (tractors, harvesters, sowing machines) under Japanese technology to serve agricultural production activities at local and surrounding areas.

Besides performing business tasks, building effectively economic models, Agribank Hai Duong has also been recognised as a leader in promoting social corporate responsibility towards the community. The branch has closely cooperated with organisations in educating and teaching staffs to complete business tasks, building a united and friendly working environment, well organising cultural activities and sports; active response to the social and charity activities: Giving 380 gifts to the poor people in the province with the total amount up to VND190 million; giving VND3.6 million to 6 disabled children of Agribank Hai Duong staff ; visiting Vietnam’s heroic mothers and family members of wounded martyrs on the occasion of Tet. The branch also funded the Department of Education and Training to award students in academic year 2014-2015 with the amount up to VND50 million. Agribank Hai Duong also supported VND3 million to the fund "whole society to care for promoting the role of the Elderly" in 2015; sponsored VND5 million for the Fund for disabled and orphaned children in Hai Duong province in 2015. The branch also supported funds for building houses for soldiers with difficult situations on duty at Border Station Lung Cu District, Ha Giang Province at the request of Chairman of Gia Loc district, Hai Duong province with the amount up to VND20 million and signing a cooperation programme with the provincial Red Cross to perform charity work, continuing regular support for 91 individuals with difficult situations in the province of VND200,000 / month / individual.

Sharing about business investment environment of the province, Director Kiet also said the investment environment of Hai Duong has significantly improved, contributing to investment capital attraction for development. In the future, the province still needs the more drastic efforts; has regular dialogues with businesses to resolve difficulties and obstacles; issues many policies to support farmers and agricultural Industry; simplifies administrative procedures and transparency; prioritizes projects with modern technology, clean technology, not polluting the environment, consuming less energy and natural resources projects with high technology content.