Provincial mergers are both a challenge and an opportunity for business development.

Dr. Tran Khac Tam - Chairman of Soc Trang Province Business Association: The business community agrees and supports the policy of merging the province.

The merger of provinces and communes, without organizing at the district level, is a major and correct policy of the Party and State, and it can be said that this is a revolution in the history of the country's development. This major policy and decision is even more meaningful when it takes place at the exact time of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025). Obviously, if we want to enter a new era, an era of national growth as affirmed by General Secretary To Lam, we must have major policies and decisions that are breakthrough and revolutionary.

Dr. Tran Khac Tam - Chairman of Soc Trang Provincial Business Association.

In particular, the business community of Soc Trang province strongly agrees and supports the merger of provinces and communes, not organizing the district level because it will bring many advantages to businesses. Firstly, businesses will reduce costs and time for administrative procedures. With fewer intermediaries, businesses can access decisions and administrative documents faster. Now, from communes and wards, they will go directly to the province without going through intermediaries.

Second, when merging provinces, businesses will have room to expand their regional markets. That is the expansion of both population, customers and economic development space.

Third, when merging provinces, it will be very convenient for planning economic zones, inter-provincial industrial parks, and businesses can easily expand production and business. Many small provinces merging will reduce the situation where each locality has "a different style" in policies on taxes, land, and investment incentives, so businesses will enjoy more consistent policies, reducing legal risks when investing and operating.

Fourth, it is very important that Soc Trang can take advantage of the regional infrastructure connecting Can Tho city with the system of seaports, airports, highways, etc. This is what the business community really wants, especially manufacturing, trading and import-export enterprises. Moreover, Can Tho is also the "locomotive" in the economic development of the Mekong Delta region.

Fifth, when the three provinces and cities of Can Tho, Soc Trang and Hau Giang are merged, it will attract more large investors and stimulate supporting businesses. A large province will be more attractive to foreign investors and large corporations. At that time, local businesses (transportation, trade, supporting services) will have more opportunities to become satellites and suppliers.

However, when merging provinces, the business community will also face fiercer competition in the market. Therefore, the business community must know how to turn competition into opportunities, change production and business methods to better adapt to the new situation. In particular, it is necessary to promote digital transformation and green transformation. Businesses that do not change and are not agile will certainly be eliminated by the market.

Ms. Ta Bich Phuong - President of Soc Trang Province Young Entrepreneurs Association: There needs to be policies to support businesses.

According to Chairman of the Soc Trang Province Young Entrepreneurs Association Ta Bich Phuong, the Party and State's policy of merging provinces is inevitable, because the revolution in organizing the public apparatus has happened in Vietnam before, but this time it is "determined to do it", implemented consistently from the Central to the grassroots level and received the consensus and agreement of the people.

Ms. Ta Bich Phuong - President of Soc Trang Province Young Entrepreneurs Association.

In fact, from the central to local levels in recent years, there has been a strong focus on digital transformation in all areas, and people and businesses have, are, and will continue to benefit and change their lives thanks to technology. In addition, the Party and State have paid attention to synchronous investment in transport infrastructure, creating the most favorable conditions for people's travel and businesses' trading of goods. Therefore, the policy of eliminating intermediate levels (district level), merging provinces and cities will help streamline the apparatus, make it more efficient, and reduce cumbersome for businesses and people, especially in handling administrative procedures. However, this reform of the public apparatus brings both opportunities and challenges, because this is not only a story of administrative changes but also directly affects many economic sectors. Certainly, the business community, especially small and medium enterprises, will be affected more or less. The most obvious are businesses in the fields of trade, services, real estate, etc.

Businesses must promote digital transformation and green transformation. Photo: HOANG LAN

When merging the three provinces and cities of Can Tho, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, the administrative area located in Can Tho city, services, trade and many other fields currently operating in Soc Trang will be affected. In addition, the merger and arrangement process may lead to delays in handling business procedures, investment, construction, land... and disruptions in policies and management systems. Therefore, the Party and the State need to have policies to support businesses in the transition process, in infrastructure development investment, calling for investment must ensure fairness for localities, promote digital transformation in handling administrative procedures, create the most favorable conditions for people and businesses in carrying out procedures... to avoid disruptions and have the lowest impact on people and businesses.

HOANG LAN

Source: https://baosoctrang.org.vn/kinh-te/202505/sap-nhap-tinh-vua-la-thach-thuc-vua-la-co-hoi-de-doanh-nghiep-phat-trien-06e62c7/