On April 16, Party Central Committee member, Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang chaired a dialogue conference with small and medium-sized enterprises across the city in 2026.

Attending the conference were Nguyen Xuan Luu, member of the Hanoi Party Committee Standing Board and Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee; Bui Anh Tuan, Director General of the Agency for Private Enterprise and Collective Economy Development under the Ministry of Finance; leaders of city departments and agencies; representatives of business associations and industry groups; and small and medium sized enterprises operating in the city.

Placing businesses at the center of development

In his opening remarks, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Luu said the conference took place at an important moment, associated with the success of the 14th National Party Congress, marking the beginning of a new era of national advancement.

The event also followed the successful election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. These events reaffirm public trust, consensus and support.

He emphasized that the conference is not only to provide updates on policies and developments but more importantly serves as a forum for the city to directly listen to the business community, thereby identifying difficulties, obstacles and bottlenecks that need effective solutions.

He added that the event also concretely implements major central policies on enterprise development, including Resolution 68 on private sector development and Resolution 79 on improving state economic efficiency.

Referring to the context of 2026, Luu noted that global and regional developments remain fast moving, complex and unpredictable, with prolonged geopolitical tensions affecting energy prices, global supply chains and the investment environment, creating significant pressure on businesses.

In that context, Hanoi has implemented comprehensive and decisive measures for socio-economic development and achieved positive results in the first quarter of 2026.

GRDP growth reached 7.87%, a high level compared to recent years. Budget revenue exceeded VND260.7 trillion ($9.9 billion), equivalent to 40.1% of the estimate, while local budget expenditure reached over VND52.2 trillion ($2 billion).

At the same time, foreign investment reached nearly $480 million. The city registered more than 9,000 newly established enterprises, with strong growth in registered capital. The trade and service sector continued to expand, with retail sales and consumer service revenue increasing by more than 11%.

"These results reflect the important contribution of the business community, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, which are dynamic and play a core role in the capital's economy," Luu stated.

He also expressed appreciation for the initiative, creativity and resilience of entrepreneurs. However, the Vice Chairman acknowledged that these results are only initial and have not yet met breakthrough expectations.

Some growth drivers have not fully realized their potential, while businesses still face difficulties in accessing capital, land and production premises, along with rising input costs.

In addition, administrative procedures in some sectors remain slow and implementation has not been sufficiently decisive, affecting production and business activities.

On that basis, the city is shifting from a management mindset to one focused on facilitation and service, placing businesses at the center of development and using service effectiveness as a measure of governance performance.

In the coming period, Hanoi will focus on improving institutions, developing modern infrastructure, mobilizing resources and promoting science, technology, innovation, digital transformation and high-quality human resources.

Notably, the revised Capital Law is expected to be passed by the 16th National Assembly during its first session, with some provisions effective from May 1 and full implementation from July 1.

The law will provide strong decentralization and authority for the city in governance and administration, he said.

The city encourages businesses to actively study and contribute feedback to ensure policies are practical and effective, especially in areas such as credit, finance, land and administrative procedures.

Luu also called on departments and local authorities to enhance accountability, directly engage with businesses and promptly address their concerns without passing responsibility or avoidance and to avoid requiring businesses to make repeated visits for a single procedure.

Leadership accountability will be assessed based on performance outcomes and business satisfaction.

For the business community, the city leadership expects continued initiative, innovation, improved competitiveness, stronger application of science and technology, legal compliance, transparency and active participation in policy development.

"The city looks forward to receiving candid and substantive feedback from businesses to improve policies and governance effectiveness," Luu emphasized.

Strengthening dialogue to remove business difficulties

Opening the dialogue session, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang emphasized that the city places strong focus on improving mechanisms and policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises, which are dynamic, numerous and play a vital role in job creation, livelihoods and economic growth.

He said that in line with Party and State policies on private sector development, Hanoi has introduced and implemented various practical policies to support SMEs and enhance their contribution to the economy.

Alongside administrative reform and digital transformation, the city has also developed a business support ecosystem, including access to land, human resources, credit policies and production support.

These efforts have gradually built a foundation for a favorable investment and business environment across sectors such as tourism, services, trade, industry, handicrafts and traditional craft villages.

However, Thang acknowledged that businesses face multidimensional challenges amid changing domestic and global conditions, particularly rising input costs and market volatility.

Therefore, continued listening, support and problem-solving for businesses remain urgent priorities.

"The city wants to hear directly from associations and SMEs about their difficulties and proposals to find solutions and create conditions for stable development," Thang stated.

He affirmed that city leaders and departments are ready to openly discuss and address issues within their authority at the conference, while also recording and synthesizing proposals for future policy improvements, especially as the business environment remains volatile.

On that basis, Thang called on delegates to focus discussions on specific and practical issues to help the city refine mechanisms and policies and better accompany businesses.

At the conference, city leaders directly listened to proposals from enterprise representatives, identifying real bottlenecks to support sustainable business development.

They also acknowledged practical and responsible contributions from associations and enterprises to improve governance and create a more transparent and efficient business environment.