Enterprises look for a path of sustainable development

To overcome existing difficulties, many solutions have been applied by enterprises to find new orders, retain the workforce, guarantee basic income for workers... But this is also the time when businesses need a more sustainable path and take advantage of supportive policies.

Garment enterprises in the province continue to maintain production and seek new orders

 Flexible, proactive

Facing difficulties, many businesses in the province have actively and flexibly found ways to adapt to create jobs and guarantee income for workers. According to Phan Le Diem Trang, Vice Chairman of Provincial Textile and Apparel Association, the difficulty of enterprises in this industry is retaining workers, because when orders come back, it will be difficult to find skilled workers. However, besides enterprises that operate effectively, Binh Duong still has many enterprises that are facing difficulties. According to the Provincial Textile and Garment Association, currently only 72% enterprises have orders until the end of the first quarter of 2023, the rest are running out of orders, some enterprises only produce in moderation or cut capacity.

Phan Le Diem Trang informed that the association is trying to find all ways to support businesses with orders. "For businesses, they also take advantage of this time to restructure production by improving value chains and expanding export markets," Trang said.

Dao Van Vy, General Director of Hai Bien Garment Joint Stock Company (Thuan An City), said that the company specializes in clothes design and making. During the past two years, the company has faced many difficulties, many orders were delayed. However, since the beginning of 2023, the company has signed many new orders, including two large orders from Japan and Germany. Therefore, the company ensures jobs and stable income for nearly 3,000 employees; the number of workers who quit accounts for only 2%.

To wood furniture industry, depending on each segment, there are businesses that still keep orders, but there are segments that only receive 40-50% orders, even empty orders. Currently, many businesses, instead of working 3 shifts, only work 1.5-2 shifts to keep the basic salary and, more important, to retain workers.

Huynh Quang Thanh, General Director of Hiep Long Wood Co., Ltd. in Thuan An City, said that businesses entering the niche market, some products of the high-end segment are not affected by the general situation of the market, hence their production is still stable. Experiencing 4-5 times of order crisis in recent years, Thanh said that from the end of the second quarter, orders will improve.

Nguyen Liem, Chairman of Binh Duong Furniture Association (BIFA), said that although inflation in many markets is widespread, the demand for furniture of the international market is high. Vietnam has only captured a very small share in this large market. Development opportunities od this industry are still great if the works of approaching customers and expanding the market are well organized. For wood furniture industry, consumers will demand more from quality to differences in design. Businesses that invest a lot in the design and development of their own products will attract international customers.

Take advantage of support

Recently, at a conference between enterprises, localities, and overseas trading systems, Do Thang Hai, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, directed trade counselors in markets, especially in export markets of Europe, America, Canada, Australia..., to actively seek orders, organize promotion activities to connect domestic and foreign enterprises. A good point of the solutions is the connection, which is also the first time appearing in the business community. Business associations have been proactive in organizing promotion and trade activities to increase opportunities to access orders.

Efforts on their own, five associations, including Vietnam Wood and Forest Products Association, Ho Chi Minh City Handicraft and Woodworking Association, Binh Duong Furniture Association, Dong Nai Province Wood and Handicraft Association, Binh Dinh Timber and Forest Products Association, and related associations jointly held an fair for furniture interior export in Ho Chi Minh City. This exhibition not only helps businesses find export orders but also increases trade opportunities between domestic enterprises.

Not being pessimistic, Nguyen Liem said that although inflation is widespread, the demand for furniture of the international market is high. Vietnam has only captured a very small market share. If the work of approaching customers and expanding the market is well organized, the industry's development opportunities are still great. Accordingly, the association sets the main task that is to promote trade for the industry.

 Nguyen Anh Duc, General Director of SaiGon Co.op, said that currently, SaiGon Co.op and Satra retail systems are trying to support domestic enterprises to strengthen signing or sharing orders with each other, expanding the domestic consumption market, and improve quality standards to increase exports. “We have cooperated with farmers and businesses to standardize from the process of planting, breeding, selecting production materials to perfecting packaging standards and product quality to bring Vietnamese goods to the world market. And with the synergy between farmers - businesses - distributors, Vietnamese products will surely gradually create a solid position," emphasized Duc.

Reported by Tieu My - Translated by Ngoc Huynh