CIRCULAR

GUIDING DECREE NO. 80/2021/ND-CP DATED AUGUST 26, 2021 OF THE GOVERNMENT ELABORATING LAW ON PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Pursuant to the Law on Provision of Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises dated June 12, 2017;

Pursuant to Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP dated August 26, 2021 of the Government elaborating Law on Provision of Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises;

Pursuant to Decree No.86/2017/ND-CP dated July 25, 2017 of Government on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministry of Planning and Investment;

At request of Director of Enterprise Development Agency;

The Minister of Planning and Investment promulgates Circular guiding Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP dated August 26, 2021 of the Government elaborating Law on Provision of Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises.

1. Scope: This Circular guides Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP dated August 26, 2021 of the Government elaborating Law on Provision of Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as “SME”) regarding technical assistance (not including Clause 5 Article 11 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP); counseling; human resource development (not including Clause 4 Article 14 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP); assistance for business startup of SMEs; assistance for participation of SMEs in industrial cluster and value chain; management of assistance provided for SMEs.

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a) Enterprises established, organized, operating in accordance with laws on enterprises, and meeting regulations under Chapter II of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP regarding criteria for identifying SMEs.

b) Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities (hereinafter referred to as “provincial People’s Committees”).

c) Agencies and authorities providing assistance for SMEs.

d) Providers of SMEs’ assistance products and services. In case the provider is an organization, the organization must be established and operated in accordance with Vietnam’s laws.

dd) Agencies, organizations and individuals relating to the provision of assistance for SMEs.

Article 2. Definition

1. “number of employed employees participating in social insurance in accordance with Clause 1 Article 7 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP” refers to the total number of employees signing indefinite term employment contracts and employees signing fixed-term employment contracts under 36 months of SMEs participating in social insurance. In which, employees signing fixed-term employment contracts under 36 months may have their social insurance paid by SMEs or other entities.

2. “SMEs manager” refers to an individual managing an enterprise in accordance with Clause 24 Article 4 of the Law on Enterprises No. 59/2020/QH14.

3. “SMEs in area with extremely disadvantaged socio-economic conditions” refers to an enterprise whose head office is located in any area under Appendix III of Decree No. 31/2021/ND-CP dated March 26, 2021 of the Government elaborating and guiding implementation of the Law on Investment.

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5. “startup investment fund" refers to a fund created by donations of private investors in Vietnam, foreign countries, and established in accordance with Vietnam’s laws to finance business startup.

6. “electronic document" refers to a document in electronic form that is created online or from a physical document and adequately reflecting the contents of the physical document.

7. “agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs” refer to agencies, entities, and public service providers affiliated to ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, provincial People’s Committees, and public service providers affiliated to agencies, entities affiliated to ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, provincial People’s Committees conducting activities relating to provision of assistance for enterprise development.

1. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall prioritize funding for SMEs owned by women, SMEs employing a lot of female workers, and SMEs that are social enterprises.

2. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall rely on Article 5 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP to choose criteria for identifying micro, small, and medium enterprises in order to provide the most beneficial assistance for SMEs.

3. Agencies and organizations providing assistance SMEs shall identify scale of SMEs, SMEs owned by women, SMEs employing a lot of female employees based on declaration under Appendix 1 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP. If information declared by SMEs needs to be cross-checked, agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall rely on the following documents:

a) In order to verify scale of SMEs:

- Balance sheet and income statement in financial statement.

- List of employees employed by SMEs together with respective proof of social insurance payment. In case of employees who have their social insurance paid by other entities, SMEs shall issue written confirmation regarding these employees’ social insurance payment.

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c) In order to verify that SMEs are owned by women: Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall look in capital contribution percentage of female enterprise managers on National Business Registration Portal or shareholder register in case of joint stock company.

4. SMEs may propose multiple types of assistance in the same application for assistance. SMEs are only allowed to submit application for one type of assistance to one agency or organization providing assistance for SMEs at any given time.

5. SMEs are not limited in terms of number of assistance instances or number of assistance contracts for types of assistance calculated by million VND/year/enterprise or million VND/year as long as maximum assistance percentage, quota under Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP.

6. Agencies, organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall disclose SME assistance information as follows:

a) Register accounts on National information portal for SME assistance (hereinafter referred to as “Web portal”) at https://business.gov.vn and declare information in accordance with Point d Clause 5 Article 28 and Clause 6 Article 29 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP.

b) Disclose information under Point a of this Clause and detail information on focal point, methods of receiving and resolving assistance request of SMEs on website of their agencies, entities; lists of SME assistance products and services provided by their entities; database on SMEs provided with assistance and relevant details.

7. Documents relating to request of SME assistance under Point b Clause 4 Article 32 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP submitted to agencies, organizations providing assistance for SMEs that are uncertified copies of original copies. If necessary, agencies, organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall request SMEs to provide original copies for cross-checking.

8. Forms, schedules attached hereto, and application for assistance submitted by SMEs to authorities can be in physical form (in person submission) or electronic form (online submission) and be accompanied by original copies for cross-checking at request. Electronic documents shall be stored in accordance with regulations and law on storage and presented when necessary.

9. SMEs shall only receive counseling mentioned under Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP and this Circular when they use counselors within counselor network.

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3. Regarding types of assistance under Clause 2 Article 11; Clause 1 Article 22; Points b and c Clause 3 Article 22; Points b and c Clause 4 Article 25; Clause 5 Article 25 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP: conform to field-specific legislative documents guiding technical, economic standards and norms. If the aforementioned regulations are not available, rely on work items specified under quotation of suppliers on the market to ensure legitimacy, adequacy, effectiveness, and fulfillment of SMEs’ demands.

Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall assistance SMEs in accordance with Article 32 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP, to be specific:

1. Compositions of written application include:

a) Declaration using form under Appendix 1 attached to Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP, which specifies budget amount requested and quotation of the suppliers (if any).

b) Documents relating to the requested assistance: Documents verifying startup SMEs under Clauses 1 and 2 Article 14 hereof; verifying SMEs’ participation in industrial cluster, value chains in manufacturing, processing sectors of Article 16 and Article 17 hereof; other relevant documents (if any).

2. Regarding assistance for human resource development for SMEs in accordance with Clauses 1, 2, and 3 Article 14 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP: agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall conform to Section 2 Chapter II hereof.

3. Regarding technology, counseling assistance, assistance for SME startup, assistance for SMEs' participation in industrial cluster, value chain under Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 Article 11, Clause 2 Article 13, Article 22, Article 25 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP: agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall conform to Clause 3 Article 32 Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP (contract sample under Appendix 1 hereof).

4. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall review application, consolidate SMEs’ request for assistance, approve SME support plan on an annual or quarterly basis. The selection of suppliers for executing SME assistance plan shall conform to bidding laws.

Article 6. Management of assistance for SMEs

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a) General management activities include: conducting communication activities regarding assistance and types of assistance provided for SMEs; organizing seminars, conferences guiding, concluding SME assistance operation; organizing groups for assessing implementation of SME assistance; surveying SME assistance demand to produce assistance plans and estimates for the planning year.

b) Ministry of Planning and Investment shall receive no more than 1% of total annual expenditure of central government budget on SME assistance to finance general management of SME assistance on a nationwide scale.

c) Contact point authorities of ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies (entities assigned to take charge and cooperate with relevant entities in developing policies, organizing implementation, assessing, consolidating reports on implementation results of SME assistance) and Departments of Planning and Investment of provinces and cities shall receive no more than 2% of total annual expenditure of state budget on SME assistance to finance general management of SME assistance within their management.

2. Direct management

Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall receive no more than 5% of annual state budget on SME assistance to finance direct management of SME assistance, including:

a) Activities that assistance SME: going on business trip; working overtime; communicating; organizing meetings, conferences; hiring experts; conducting surveys at enterprises; other activities directly serving SME assistance.

b) Activities of Council for selecting startup SMEs under Clause 3 Article 21 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP: reviewing documents of startup SMEs; hiring experts; working overtime; communicating; organizing review meetings; appraising selection result of startup SMEs; conducting other activities related to activities of the Council.

c) The selection of suppliers shall be made in accordance with bidding laws.

SMEs shall receive technology assistance in accordance with Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 Article 11 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall provide assistance in accordance Article 4, Article 5 hereof and the following regulations:

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2. SMEs shall assess level of digital transformation readiness to make appropriate assistance propositions. SMEs shall utilize digital readiness assessment tools uploaded on https://digital.business.gov.vn or https://dbi.gov.vn or issued by agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs.

3. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall use digital readiness assessment results of SMEs to consider and provide assistance depending on accessibility of SMEs.

1. Counselors mentioned under Point a Clause 1 Article 13 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP include:

a) Individual counselors who are Vietnamese nationals (not including officials and public officials under Law on Officials and Public Officials) and foreigners working in Vietnam.

b) Organization counselors which are juridical persons, established, and operating in accordance with Vietnamese laws, specialized in counseling enterprises.

2. Apply for participation in counselor network:

a) Organization, individual counselors shall submit application to respective ministries, ministerial agencies. Documents in foreign languages will require certified Vietnamese translation.

b) Counselors shall access the Web portal, register, and be issued login accounts by Ministry of Planning and Investment in order to update information on counselor network. Counselors are legally responsible for accuracy of information disclosed on the Web portal.

3. Update counselor’s information:

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b) In case provided information is found to be incorrect but capacity of counselors in terms of training level, professional, and counseling experience is not altered, counselors shall adjust on the Web portal while requesting ministries, ministerial agencies where the counselors are accredited to adjust.

4. Counselors are allowed to participate in training courses for counseling skills, procedures, and knowledge organized by ministries, ministerial agencies free of charge in accordance with Clause 3 Article 9 hereof.

1. Establish counselor network

a) Ministries, ministerial agencies shall promulgate a decision or decisions (using form under Appendix 2 hereof) regulating field of counseling, criteria for accrediting counselors, cases in which counselors are removed from counselor network upon violating the law or cases in which counselors are removed from counselor network according to regulations of ministries, ministerial agencies.

Criteria for accrediting counselors must specify training level, professional level, counseling experience, and conditions according to the laws and rules of presiding authorities.

b) Ministries, ministerial agencies shall accredit or authorize affiliated entities to accredit counselors participating in the counselor network (hereinafter referred to as “counselor accrediting bodies”) and review cases in which counselors are removed from counselor network.

- Accreditation of counselors participating in counselor network includes: reviewing application for participation in counselor network; contacting and guiding counselors to complete their profile; accrediting counselors in counselor network; guiding counselors to register accounts and update information on database on counselors on the Web portal; verifying and allowing counselors to appear public on the Web portal.

- Removal of counselors from counselor network includes: reviewing profile of counselors in the network; contacting and notifying counselors about being removed from the network; producing lists of counselors removed from the network; withdrawing counselor profile from the Web portal.

c) Counselor accrediting bodies shall publicize field of counseling, criteria for accrediting counselors, list of counselors in the network, list of counselors removed from the network on websites of ministries, ministerial agencies, or websites of counselor accrediting bodies.

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2. Management, operation, and maintenance of counselor network

a) Procurement, software development for managing counselor network; procurement, upgrade, and maintenance of hardware, services, servers, and other services on a regular basis to archive and operate counselor network; develop, maintain, and update counselor network data.

b) Organization of conferences, seminars, conclusion, and assessment of establishment, management, operation, and maintenance of counselor network.

c) Accreditation and removal of counselors from counselor network under Point b Clause 1 of this Article. Expenditure on accrediting counselors or removing counselors from counselor network shall not exceed 300 thousand VND/counselor and paid to counselor accrediting bodies.

3. Improvement and training for development of counselor network

a) Counselor accrediting bodies shall organize or cooperate with suppliers in organizing training courses for skills, procedures, and knowledge of counselors in their network.

b) Details of training courses for counselors:

No.

Training course

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Training duration

Minimum number of learners/course

training organization

1

Short-term

Standardize counseling skills, procedures, and knowledge depending on requests of counselors and field-specific development objectives of counselors

3 to 5 days (consecutive or not). In which, may use up to 40% of the duration to allow learners to practice (if necessary).

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Section 7

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2

Long-term

6 to 60 days (consecutive or not). In which, may use up to 40% of the duration to allow learners to practice (if necessary).

SMEs shall receive counseling assistance in accordance with Clause 2 Article 13 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall provide assistance in accordance with Article 4 and Article 5 hereof.

Section 2. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

Human resource development assistance under Clauses 1, 2, and 3 Article 14 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP refers to training assistance provided for SMEs. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall provide assistance in accordance with Clauses 1 and 2 Article 5 of this Circular and the following regulations:

1. Training units refer to agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs (if they directly provide training services) or the suppliers (if agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs do not directly provide training services).

2. In-class training courses for enterprise administration mentioned under Point a Clause 1 Article 14 of Decree no. 80/2021/ND-CP include basic enterprise administration training courses and advanced enterprise administration training courses.

3. Online training courses via available online teaching tools such as Zoom Cloud Meeting, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, and other similar tools:

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b) If tools and specialized equipment are purchased or rented for each course, rent and purchase cost shall be included in additional costs of each course. In case service bundles are purchased or rented on a quarterly or annual basis, rent and purchase cost shall be distributed over costs for organizing each training course.

4. Training units may organize training courses under Clause 1 and Clause 3 Article 14 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP by combining both in-class training and online training via available online teaching tools (hereinafter referred to as “combined training method”) with unchanged financing from state budget only if at least 30% of total learners participate in in-class training, to be specific:

a) 100% of learners participate in in-class training: lecturers shall provide full online training or combine in-class training and online training.

b) From 30% of learners participate in in-class training while the rest participate in online training: lecturers shall provide full in-class training, or full online training, or a combination of in-class training and online training.

c) Upon selecting combined training method under Points a and b Clause 4 of this Article, training units shall develop respective expenditure estimates.

Assistance for in-class training under Clauses 1 and 3 Article 14 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP shall conform to the following regulations:

No.

Training course

Training topic

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Target learners

Minimum number of learners/course

training organization

1

Business startup

Section 1 Appendix 3.1

From 1 to 2 days; In case of 2-day classes, up to 40% of the training duration can be used to facilitate practice of learners (if necessary).

Employees, managers of specialized departments, managers of SMEs. In which, SMEs are enterprises converted from household businesses or SMEs established within 5 years prior to the year in which training course is organized

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Appendix 3.2.

2

Basic enterprise administration

Section 2 Appendix 3.1

From 2 to 5 days. Up to 40% of duration of classes that last at least 3 days can be used to facilitate practice of learners (if any).

Employees, managers of specialized departments, managers of SMEs.

30

Section 2

Appendix 3.2.

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Advanced enterprise administration

Section 3 Appendix 3.1

From 5 to 28 days (consecutive or not). In which, may use up to 40% of the duration to allow learners to practice (if necessary).

Managers of specialized departments, managers of SMEs.

20

Section 1

Appendix 3.2.

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Section 4 Appendix 3.1

Employees, managers of specialized departments, managers of SMEs.

10

Section 4

Appendix 3.2.

Assistance for online training under Clause 2 Article 14 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP shall conform to the following regulations:

No.

Online training

Training topic

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Target learners

Number of learners

training organization

1

Online training system of Ministry of Planning and Investment and provincial People’s Committees (hereinafter referred to as “E-learning system”)

Section 5 Appendix 3.1

Each lecture video lasts up to 20 minutes Each lecture comprises of multiple videos.

Employees, managers of specialized departments, managers of SMEs

No restrictions

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Appendix 3.2

2

Online training courses via available online teaching tools

Similar to training courses under Clauses 1, 2, and 3 Article 13 hereof.

Section 5

Appendix 3.2

1. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall choose startup SMEs to provide assistance in accordance with Clause 1 Article 21 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP based on the following documents:

a) Certificates of national, international awards for business startup or startup products, projects. The certificates must be awarded within 5 years prior to the date on which SMEs apply for assistance;

b) Patent of inventions or science technology enterprise certificates or hi-tech enterprise certificates as long as these documents are still effective at the time SMEs apply for assistance.

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a) Capital contribution agreements or documents verifying minimum investment of startup investment fund of 1 billion VND; investment must take place within 5 years prior to the date on which SMEs apply for assistance;

b) Written commitments of startup investment funds for a minimum investment of 500 million VND; the commitment must be produced within 1 year prior to the date on which SMEs apply for assistance;

c) Written confirmation or contracts indicating ongoing assistance for startup SMEs of common workspaces, business startup enterprises, service providers, incubation facilities, business promotion facilities, business startup centers; or written commitments or contracts indicating incoming assistance for SMEs. assistance must be confirmed, guaranteed within 6 months prior to the date on which SMEs apply for assistance.

3. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall choose startup SMEs in accordance with Clause 3 Article 21 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP on the basis of decision of the Council regarding eligibility of SMEs for assistance.

Startup SMEs shall receive assistance in accordance with Article 22 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall provide assistance in accordance with Article 4 and Article 5 of this Circular and the following regulations:

1. Assist learners of SMEs to participate in advanced training in Vietnam and foreign countries under Clause 2 Article 22 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP, including: tuition, materials, accommodations, meals, travel (including plane tickets).

Short-term advanced training courses in foreign countries include: developing products; commercializing products; developing e-commerce; attracting investment; developing market; connecting startup network and other details depending on demands of startup SMEs.

2. Assist learners to maintain accounts on e-commerce platforms under Point c Clause 6 Article 22 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP, including:

a) Regarding e-commerce platforms in Vietnam: payment fees, fixed fees, and service fees paid by the sellers to e-commerce platforms.

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3. Assist SMEs to participate in international competitions regarding business startup in accordance with Point dd Clause 6 Article 22 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP, including: fees for participating; staying in host countries; travelling (including plane tickets); transporting documents, products, and equipment serving competitions.

Article 16. Selecting SMEs in industrial cluster in manufacturing and processing

1. Forms of connection between SMEs and other enterprises in industrial cluster under Clause 2 Article 23 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP include:

a) Connection in form of contracts for shared purchase of input materials: SMEs and at least another enterprise in industrial cluster enter into contract for purchase of input materials from the same suppliers.

b) Connection in form of contracts for shared sale of products: SMEs and at least another enterprise in sector connection enter into contract for selling products to the same buyers.

c) Connection in form of contracts for purchase, sale, and cooperation refers to:

- SMEs enter into contracts for product purchase, sale with at least another enterprise in industrial cluster;

- SMEs enter into contracts for cooperation with at least another enterprise in industrial cluster.

d) Connection in form of joint connection, use of brands refers to:

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- SMEs and at least another enterprise in industrial cluster produce goods, commodities (not including community based tourism services and tourist attractions) and have products ranked at 3 stars or higher under the One Country One Product Program (OCOP).

2. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall select SMEs in industrial cluster under Clause 1 of this Article to provide assistance based on:

a) For Point a Clause 1 of this Article: at least 1 contract for purchase of input materials between a SME and the supplier and the confirmation (or contract) of the supplier regarding ongoing supply of input materials for other enterprises in industrial cluster.

b) For Point b Clause 1 of this Article: at least 1 contract for sale of products between a SME and the buyer and the confirmation (or contract) of the buyer regarding ongoing purchase of products from at least another enterprise in industrial cluster.

c) For Point c Clause 1 of this Article: at least 1 contract for ongoing product purchase or sale or cooperation between the SME and another enterprise in the industrial cluster.

d) For Point d Clause 1 of this Article: collective mark or certification mark or geographical indication or brand of the OCOP product currently used by the SME.

dd) Apart from cases under Points a through d Clause 2 of this Article, agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall cooperate with the suppliers or the buyers in determining lists of SMEs that are purchasing input materials or selling products and services in order to choose suitable SMEs for assistance.

Article 17. Selection of SMEs for participation in production, manufacturing value chain

1. Forms of participation of a SME in value chain according to Clause 2 Article 24 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP, including:

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b) The SME is executing the contract for product and service purchase, sale or cooperation with chain leading enterprises.

c) The SME is considered a prospect supplier for chain leading enterprises by chain leading enterprises or agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs.

Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall use prospect SME assessment tool publicized by Ministry of Planning and Investment or refer to the list of prospect SMEs uploaded on the Web portal to choose SMEs.

2. Agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs shall select SMEs for participation in value chain according to Clause 1 of this Article based on:

a) For Point a Clause 1 of this Article: documents verifying the eligibility of SMEs.

b) For Point b Clause 1 of this Article: at least 1 contract for product sale or purchase or cooperation with chain leading enterprises.

c) For Point c Clause 1 of this Article: confirmation of chain leading enterprises.

SMEs participating in industrial clusters and value chains shall receive assistance in accordance with Article 25 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP. Agencies and organizations providing support for SMEs shall provide assistance in accordance with Article 4 and Article 5 of this Circular and the following regulations:

1. Assist training at enterprises according to Point a Clause 1 Article 25 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP: conform to Clause 4 Article 12 hereof.

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Details of training courses shall conform to Section 3 Appendix 3.1 hereof.

3. Assist SMEs to maintain accounts on e-commerce platforms according to Point d Clause 3 Article 25 of Decree No. 80/2021/ND-CP: conform to Clause 2 Article 15 hereof.

Section 5. DEVELOPMENT, CONSOLIDATION, AND ASSIGNMENT OF SME ASSISTANCE PLANS; ASSESSMENT AND REPORT ON SME ASSISTANCE

1. Ministry of Planning and Investment shall

a) Guide ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, and local governments to develop plans and central government budget estimates for SME assistance (using form under Appendix 4 hereof); consolidate SME assistance demands of ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, and local governments where budget is not adequate; request Ministry of Finance to propose plans and estimates of central government budget for SME assistance of the planning year.

b) Develop solutions for assigning SME assistance tasks utilizing central government budget to ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, and local governments which are not able to balance the budget based on total central government budget estimates for SME assistance; request Ministry of Finance to report to competent authorities in order to allocate budget estimates.

c) Notify ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, and local governments which are unable to balance the budget about SME assistance tasks utilizing central government budget.

d) Take charge and cooperate with relevant authorities in organizing assessment of SME assistance; consolidate and report to the Government, Prime Minister.

2. Ministries, ministerial agencies, and governmental agencies shall

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b) Develop solutions for assigning SME assistance tasks utilizing central government budget for affiliated agencies and organizations providing assistance for SME; copy and send to Ministry of Planning and Investment for cooperation.

c) Organize implementation of SME assistance adequately; inspect, assess, and be responsible for implementation of plans for SME assistance under their management; submit reports on SME assistance results to Ministry of Planning and Investment.

3. Provincial People’s Committees

a) Assign Departments of Planning and Investment to:

- Develop plans and estimates for central government budget (for provinces that have not been able to balanced the budget) and local government budget for SME assistance; report to provincial People’s Committees and Ministry of Planning and Investment; send to Departments of Finance for consolidation in budget estimates for the provinces;

- Develop solutions for assigning SME assistance tasks utilizing central government budget (for provinces that have not been able to balanced the budget) and local government budget (on the basis of local government budget expenditure estimates) to agencies and organizations providing assistance for SMEs in provinces and request provincial People’s Committees to decide; send to Ministry of Planning and Investment.

b) Implement tasks under Point c Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 20. Entry into force

1. This Circular comes into force from June 25, 2022.

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3. In case documents referred to in this Circular expire and/or are replaced by other documents, the new documents shall prevail.

Article 21. Transition clause and organization for implementation

1. SME assistance approved before the effective date hereof shall continue to be implemented according to their approval or be submitted to competent authorities for re-approval (if necessary) from the effective date hereof.

2. Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, and provincial People’s Committees shall provide assistance for SMEs in accordance with this Circular and applicable laws. Difficulties that arise during the implementation of this Circular should be reported to the Ministry for consideration./.

PP. MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER




Tran Duy Dong