At the Government Standing Committee meeting working with commercial banks to accelerate, break through, promote growth and control inflation on February 11, Agribank General Director Pham Toan Vuong said that in addition to the target of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers (accounting for about 65% of total outstanding loans), Agribank will focus on investing in key projects on transportation and renewable energy.

Accordingly, Agribank continues to maintain a reasonable interest rate level. This bank has promptly implemented 9 credit programs with a scale of over 350,000 billion VND with lending interest rates 1-2% lower than normal interest rates to promote credit growth.

With the banking sector's credit growth target of about 16% in 2025, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has assigned Agribank a credit growth target of nearly 13%, equivalent to an increase of over VND200,000 billion. According to Agribank's General Director, if the annual outstanding debt increases by VND200,000 billion, Agribank needs to add an additional VND15,000-17,000 billion in equity capital.

Therefore, Mr. Pham Toan Vuong proposed that the National Assembly and the Government consider having a separate mechanism for commercial banks with State capital, including considering providing additional charter capital from Agribank's annual actual profits, at least VND 10,000 billion/year, starting from 2025.

Agribank representative also proposed to soon have appropriate mechanisms and regulations on handling bad debts and collateral of bad debts, supporting credit institutions to have a legal basis to thoroughly handle bad debts.

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Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao speaks at the Conference. Photo: VGP.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of HDBank, recommended that the Government and the State Bank promote the development of the capital market, reduce pressure on bank credit, support long-term growth; maintain stable interest rates, support credit for priority programs; and flexibly manage exchange rates to promote exports.

Vietnam's female billionaire said that after meeting US President Donald Trump last month, HDBank and its partners are coordinating to implement contracts worth 48 billion USD with major US corporations and negotiating to increase to 64 billion USD, creating 500,000 jobs.

She shared that, to contribute to promoting the national digital transformation program, HDBank has established and supported the operation of an AI and Blockchain investment fund to build "Make in Vietnam" technology products; ready to provide funding for businesses, prioritizing the semiconductor and high-tech sectors.

As for TPBank representative, Chairman of the Board of Directors Do Minh Phu said that this bank has participated in many projects such as highways, contributing to the country having 3,000km of highways this year.

Recently, TP Bank signed a credit contract of VND2,400 billion for the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Expressway BOT project and will disburse this week.

TPBank representative proposed to gradually reduce and eventually eliminate the management of credit growth targets for each credit institution, and at the same time believed that the industry-wide credit growth target of 16% in 2025 as set by the State Bank is completely feasible.

Regarding this issue, Permanent Deputy Governor Dao Minh Tu said that the State Bank will proactively and promptly adjust the credit growth target for credit institutions based on macroeconomic developments and actual situations without needing written requests from credit institutions.

In 2025, this agency will continue to operate monetary policy proactively, flexibly, promptly, effectively, and in synchronous, harmonious, and close coordination with fiscal policy and other macroeconomic policies, contributing to supporting economic growth, stabilizing the macro economy, and controlling inflation.