Policies strongly support the development of private enterprises, and proactive measures are being accelerated to take effect.

　　Recently, from the central government down to local authorities, various departments have taken concerted action, addressing issues such as optimizing the business environment, easing recruitment and labor‑related challenges, and tackling difficulties and high costs in accessing financing. These efforts are aimed at bolstering the development of the private sector and providing strong support to private enterprises.

　　Businesses and experts interviewed by the Economic Information Daily said that the concerted rollout of favorable policies and the accelerated implementation of proactive measures will create a more conducive environment for the development of the private sector and private enterprises, thereby bolstering their confidence. Private enterprises, for their part, should seize these opportunities and focus on strengthening their innovation capabilities and addressing existing weaknesses.

　　On April 1, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Education, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and other departments jointly launched the 2023 Private Enterprise Service Month campaign, themed “Serving Private Enterprises to Promote Development and Expand Employment for People’s Well-being.” The initiative includes in-depth field surveys and visits to private enterprises to assess their recruitment and workforce needs, the organization of both online and offline job fairs, and the provision of policy implementation support and employment‑related guidance, all aimed at doing everything possible to help private firms address challenges in hiring and staffing.

　　At the local level, Shenyang and Dalian in Liaoning Province have recently held conferences on the development of the private sector. Shenyang unveiled three documents supporting private-sector growth, including the “Several Policy Measures of Shenyang Municipality to Promote High-Quality Development of the Private Economy”; meanwhile, Dalian issued the “Implementation Opinions on Establishing a Service and Guarantee Mechanism for the Healthy Development of the Private Economy,” disbursed policy benefits and presented certificates to 30 enterprises, and hosted a集中 signing ceremony for a batch of projects.

　　Ningxia has launched a comprehensive package of financial measures. The recently issued “Several Measures to Financially Support the High-Quality Development of the Private Sector Across the Region” outlines 21 specific initiatives across three key areas, aiming to achieve three major objectives: steadily expanding credit availability for private enterprises, significantly enhancing their financing efficiency, and continuously broadening their access to financing channels. These efforts seek to ensure that private enterprises receive equal treatment in accessing financial services and to substantially improve the quality of financial support they receive.

　　In addition, Shaanxi Province recently issued the “Ten Measures to Vigorously Support the High-Quality Development of the Private Economy.” Meanwhile, the “Guangzhou Municipal Regulations on Promoting the Private Economy (Draft for Public Comment)” concluded its public consultation period on April 1.

　　The private sector is a significant achievement of the development of the socialist market economy, a vital driving force behind its growth, and a key player in advancing supply-side structural reform, promoting high-quality development, and building a modernized economic system. “At present, it is essential to further optimize the business environment for private enterprises. The series of measures recently introduced by various departments and local governments will help encourage and support the expansion and strengthening of the private sector, thereby boosting market expectations and confidence,” said Liu Xingguo, a researcher at Hunan Automotive Engineering Vocational College.

　　Supporting the development of the private sector: sound policies boost confidence, but only their effective implementation can turn into timely assistance. During recent interviews, reporters also learned that the transmission and execution of proactive policies are further energizing the growth of private enterprises.

　　“Recently, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region government, the Yinchuan municipal government, and other authorities have signaled their support for the development of the private sector and the improvement of the business environment through issuing policy documents and convening symposiums, bolstering private enterprises’ confidence in future growth,” said Yu Jiangtao, general manager of Ningxia Qinglong Plastic Pipe Co., Ltd., in an interview with a reporter from the Economic Information Daily. He added that, as the economy stabilizes and rebounds, the company has enjoyed robust production and operations since the beginning of this year, with first-quarter capacity utilization exceeding levels seen in previous years.

　　He stated that, although the company currently faces challenges such as a shortage of highly skilled and specialized talent, lengthy payment cycles for project deliveries, and significant financial pressures, it has received support from policies introduced by governments at all levels. The company will seize these opportunities and, through market insights, product innovation, and technological advancement, strive to achieve even stronger growth in the future.

　　Fujian Xinlong Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. is a privately owned enterprise and a leading company in Fujian’s environmental equipment sector. Recently, the Longyan Branch of the Agricultural Bank of China in Fujian successfully extended a working‑capital loan of RMB 9 million to the company. According to reports, after Xinlong Environmental repaid part of its maturing loans in mid‑January this year, its financing needs increased as the market recovered. In response, the Xinluo Sub‑branch under the Longyan Branch proactively established “seamless coordination” with the company and coordinated among all parties to expedite the disbursement of funds. “From application acceptance to final loan disbursement, it took less than two weeks—remarkably fast. The Agricultural Bank has injected much-needed momentum into our operations,” said a representative of Xinlong Environmental.

　　In 2023, the Private Enterprise Service Month initiative has taken root at the local level and is already yielding initial results. The launch ceremony for Shandong Province’s Private Enterprise Service Month, jointly organized by the Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the Shandong Provincial Department of Education, and other agencies, was recently held in Tai’an City, Shandong. According to organizers, the event brought together 210 employers, offering 6,373 job openings across a range of sectors—including mechanical processing and manufacturing, internet services, e‑commerce, and smart home technologies. More than 7,000 job seekers attended to network and engage, with over 1,300 individuals securing employment intentions on the spot.

　　This year’s Government Work Report proposes to protect, in accordance with the law, the property rights and the rights and interests of entrepreneurs of private enterprises; to refine relevant policies; to encourage and support the growth and strengthening of the private sector; to bolster the development of small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises as well as individual business households; to foster a clean and close relationship between government and business; and to create an environment in which enterprises of all forms of ownership can compete fairly and thrive. It also calls for concrete measures and effective policies to stabilize market expectations and boost market confidence.

　　Looking ahead, Liu Xingguo believes that to further optimize the development environment for private enterprises and address the challenges they face, four measures can be taken: first, earnestly implement tax and fee reduction policies; second, increase the supply of low-cost financing and streamline the procedures for accessing such funds; third, strengthen support for innovation and encourage private firms to boost their investment in R&D; and fourth, enhance government procurement policies that favor private enterprises, thereby effectively stimulating and safeguarding demand growth. (Reporters: Zhang Mo, Wang Qi, Shao Luwen)

[Editor-in-charge: Wang Di]

Source: Economic Information Daily