Capital for high-tech agriculture

High-tech agriculture is a key direction for economic development. A credit package of US$4.4 million for high-tech and clean agriculture is considered a nudge for agricultural enterprises to expand production. But there remain obstacles to accessing the credit package.

Vietnam has 3 high-tech agricultural zones in Hau Giang, Phu Yen, and Bac Lieu. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has licensed 26 high-tech agricultural enterprises. 

The government issued Decree 30 in March to allocate a credit package of US$4.4 million to loan high-tech enterprises. The State Bank of Vietnam launched a loan program for high-tech enterprises with interest rates of 0.5% to 1.5%.

Nguyen Thi Hong, Vice Governor of the State Bank, said the number of high-tech enterprises is small and the incentive loan program has not been widely implemented. 

“Enterprises are still studying the program and have not yet submitted loan applications. They need to study the criteria of high-tech and clean agriculture according to the government decree. Commercial banks say they are preparing documents to instruct local branches to launch the program.”, noted Ms Hong. 

Enterprises say one problem is that their property and assets are not acceptable collateral for bank loans. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Tran Hong Ha said “High-tech enterprises have to invest large sums in their facilities. The Ministry has drafted a circular to acknowledge their asset values and will consult other ministries to finalize it.”

Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung said some localities have proposed incentives for local businesses. 

“The government has received proposals from the provincial Party Committees of Ha Nam and Thai Binh to allow them to rent land from farmers and lend it to enterprises. It will be a key policy to help high-tech agricultural enterprises”, Mr Dung noted.