Vietnam and China Charter Flight Special Entry Promotion

China, First Charter Flight Special Entry for Small and Medium Enterprises

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] On the 21st, the government and major economic organizations announced that they will jointly promote special charter flights for businesspeople entering Vietnam and China. This comes amid prolonged entry restrictions worldwide due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it plans to facilitate special entry for about 1,500 people to Vietnam this time, more than four times the scale of April. Starting with 571 people (241 companies) on the 22nd, departures are scheduled to Quang Ninh Province, Vinh Phuc Province, and others until next month.

As of the 20th, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies account for 91% (220 companies) of the total. Seventeen large companies and four public enterprises will also benefit.

For China, special entry for SMEs and mid-sized companies is being promoted for the first time. On the 23rd, 159 people (57 companies) will depart for Guangdong Province, China, via charter flight.

SMEs and mid-sized companies make up 84% (48 companies) of the total, with seven large companies and two public enterprises also receiving support.

After arriving locally, businesspeople will undergo a 14-day quarantine before moving to their workplaces to work.

During the quarantine period, they will receive non-face-to-face education programs on quarantine, health and safety measures, as well as economic and cultural topics.

This special entry for businesspeople to Vietnam and China was successfully arranged through close cooperation among government ministries such as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Vietnam, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Guangzhou, as well as economic organizations including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea International Trade Association, and KOTRA. They jointly handled business demand collection, visa issuance, and charter flight arrangements.

Vietnam had previously allowed special entry for 340 essential personnel from SMEs and mid-sized companies on April 29, but additional entry demand reached 3,953 people (1,646 companies).

Regarding China, where regular flights are limited, the government explained that expanding special entry not only to large companies but also for the first time to SMEs and mid-sized companies is significant.

A government official expressed expectations, saying, "This special entry can play a major role in resolving difficulties faced by SMEs and mid-sized companies that have experienced setbacks in local business operations due to entry restrictions on essential personnel and delays in equipment imports following the spread of COVID-19."

Park Bok-young, Chairperson of the New Southern Policy Committee, stated, "We plan to closely cooperate with related organizations and the governments of counterpart countries to ensure the successful promotion of special entry. We also plan to advance the support system to more systematically assist companies facing entry restrictions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.