The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has proposed a financial support mechanism allowing businesses affected by the pandemic to access bank loans at interest rates 3–4% lower than market rates for one year.
The proposal is part of the draft Resolution on Business Support and Development for the 2021–2025 period, replacing Resolution No. 35/NQ-CP dated May 16, 2016. The Ministry recommends additional measures to help enterprises struggling due to COVID-19 disruptions.
Under this plan, the MPI suggests interest-rate subsidy policies for businesses in severely affected sectors, or those headquartered or operating in areas that were under Directive 16 social-distancing orders for over a month. These firms would be eligible for loans with preferential rates—3–4% per year lower than the market average—within a 12-month term.
With an estimated VND 3 trillion in budget support for interest subsidies, enterprises could gain access to a credit package worth around VND 100 trillion at favorable interest rates of only 3–4% annually, compared with the current market level of 7–8% per year.
For industries that have suffered the most from the pandemic but play a vital role in the wider economy—such as aviation, tourism, and education—the Ministry stressed the need for corresponding relief packages, following the example of many other countries.
Accordingly, the government is urged to consider a special credit program offering zero-percent refinancing loans for enterprises in these sectors, for a period of six months to one year.
For the aviation industry alone, the estimated loan package would total about VND 10 trillion.