Figures on new businesses show that Hai Phong's private economic sector is undergoing many positive changes. In the first 7 months of 2026, the city had 4,827 new businesses, an increase of 19.69% compared to the same period last year. This result brings the city closer to its goal of 7,500 new businesses in 2026.
For most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the initial years of operation are often the most challenging. Capital is limited, the organizational structure is incomplete, management experience is scarce, while businesses must familiarize themselves with regulations on taxes, accounting, labor, insurance, legal procedures, and the increasingly high demands of the market.
Therefore, support policies for this sector are being implemented in a more synchronized manner. Resolution No. 198/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly stipulates that newly registered SMEs are exempt from corporate income tax for 3 years. From the beginning of 2026, business license fees have also been abolished. In addition, businesses receive support for digital platforms, accounting software, legal consulting, and management training.
Access to capital has also been expanded. The SME Development Fund provides loans to SMEs, including startups. Businesses in the private economic sector, households, and individual businesses also receive a 2% per annum interest rate subsidy when borrowing capital for green, circular projects and those applying the ESG standard framework.
In Hai Phong, as of July 31, outstanding loans in the area were estimated at VND 549,465 billion, an increase of 8.24% compared to the end of 2025. The State Bank of Vietnam, Region 6, continues to direct credit institutions to focus capital on production, business, and priority sectors.
However, for small businesses, support is not limited to loans or tax incentives. Businesses also need reduced time and costs for market entry and guidance when facing difficulties or obstacles.
The story of Anh Khoa HD One-Member Co., Ltd. (Tan Hung Ward) partly illustrates this. After nearly 10 years of operating as a household business, at the end of 2025, Mr. Nguyen Ta Khoa's establishment transformed into a business specializing in supplying regional fruits to supermarkets and clean food stores.
According to Mr. Khoa, transitioning to a business model facilitates more professional business operations and market expansion. However, the new model also imposes requirements regarding accounting, invoices, taxes, and management. Therefore, support policies on taxes, procedures, and legal consulting are very practical for newly converted businesses.
Hai Phong is expanding support policies in this direction. The city is implementing a plan to provide legal support for SMEs and household businesses; at the same time, it is establishing grassroots working groups to support household businesses in converting to enterprises.
Thus, support policies are not only about encouraging businesses to enter the market but also aim to help them overcome the initial stage, gradually stabilize, and develop.
By 2030, Hai Phong aims to have 87,000 active businesses, while the 2026 target is 60,195 businesses. The city also strives to establish an average of 9,200 new businesses annually during the 2026-2030 period.
However, 87,000 businesses are not just a matter of quantity. In 2025, Hai Phong had about 29,600 active private businesses, but only over 15,500 businesses were profitable. This shows that, in addition to establishing new businesses, helping businesses maintain stable operations, operate efficiently, and gradually develop is also very important.
Industrial, logistics, seaport, and high-tech sectors, along with new development spaces from the Free Trade Zone, are opening up many opportunities for Hai Phong businesses. To participate deeper in value chains, SMEs need capital, technology, human resources, and the ability to connect with large enterprises.
SMEs are supported with a minimum 30% reduction in land sublease fees for the first 5 years from the date of signing the land lease contract with the investor of industrial park, industrial cluster, or technology incubator infrastructure. In addition, there are policies on training, digital transformation, and business connectivity, creating more conditions for this sector to enhance its competitiveness.
Established in the first half of 2024, CIK Logistics Co., Ltd. is a young enterprise operating in the freight transport sector. Mr. Tran Quang Quy, the company's director, believes that in addition to capital, businesses also need opportunities to access customers, expand markets, apply technology in transport management, and have suitable human resources. Strengthening connections with manufacturing and import-export businesses also opens up more opportunities for small logistics businesses to develop.
This is also the direction Hai Phong is promoting. The city identifies strengthening connections between Hai Phong businesses and foreign businesses, and between FDI businesses and domestic businesses; at the same time, supporting SMEs to improve productivity, quality, innovative startups, and digital transformation.
At the Vietnam Private Economic Forum 2026 held in Hai Phong early last June, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Tran Van Quan stated that the city continues to focus on administrative reform, removing difficulties and obstacles, developing strategic infrastructure, supporting digital transformation, green transformation, and promptly addressing the recommendations of the business community.
What businesses desire is for these policies to continue to be concretized according to actual needs. When procedures are more convenient, capital is more accessible, and connection opportunities are wider, businesses will have more resources for production, technological innovation, and market expansion.
Therefore, the goal of having 87,000 active businesses by 2030 not only requires more businesses to enter the market but also requires existing businesses to be able to stand firm and develop. When support resources meet the right needs, the SME community will have more conditions to develop and contribute more to Hai Phong's development.
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