At a meeting with enterprises, business associations and commercial banks on March 12, Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee Pham Anh Tuan said the province would work with central ministries and agencies to address policy bottlenecks and help firms navigate mounting pressures.
Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Phạm Anh Tuấn delivers directives at the meeting. Photo: Dũng Nhân
The meeting, held simultaneously in Quy Nhon and Pleiku, brought together provincial officials, business representatives and banks to discuss challenges affecting production and exports.
According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, businesses in Gia Lai are facing what officials described as “double pressure” in early 2026 despite relatively strong trade performance. Export turnover in the first quarter is estimated at about $1.074 billion, while total retail sales rose between 11% and 12%.
Global geopolitical tensions have increased costs for exporters. Disruptions in the Red Sea have driven up logistics expenses, with surcharges reaching as high as $4,000 per container and shipping times extended by 10 to 14 days.
At the same time, a U.S. Section 122 tax policy imposing an additional 10% tariff has placed pressure on key export sectors including wood processing, textiles and seafood. Companies are also dealing with higher input costs and the risk of cargo insurance being denied for shipments to the Middle East.
Businesses told the meeting that new tax policies, tighter technical standards and fluctuating global demand are complicating production and export activities.
Firms urged the provincial government to recommend that ministries and central agencies expand support policies related to taxes, fees and credit. They also called for smoother tax refund procedures, faster certification of product origin and improved access to programs supporting production development.
Companies further requested solutions to address tax obstacles on imported materials and asked for stronger support for technological innovation, domestic raw material development and the creation of sustainable supply chains.
Several businesses also highlighted the need for assistance with production site allocation, compliance with technical standards and stronger market connections as global requirements for traceability and environmental compliance tighten.
Provincial officials also addressed energy supply concerns. Authorities said Gia Lai currently has 733 petrol stations in operation, including 401 located in the western part of the province. The fuel supply network is maintained through 22 petroleum trading enterprises, including 10 primary traders and 12 distributors.
Representatives of major traders and distributors at the meeting said they were committed to maintaining stable supply and preventing localized shortages in the market.
Chairman Pham Anh Tuan acknowledged the difficulties businesses are facing, including rising input costs, signs of disruption in export markets and ongoing challenges related to taxation and bank lending.
He said the provincial government would continue coordinating with central agencies to resolve obstacles and create favorable conditions for enterprises during what he described as a challenging period.
Pham also instructed provincial departments to ensure stable supplies of essential goods, particularly petroleum and energy for production and daily life, while preventing hoarding, speculation or profiteering that could destabilize the market.
He called on banks to support businesses by facilitating access to capital and considering measures to ease interest rate burdens so companies can maintain operations.
Emphasizing the province’s goal of building a facilitative and service-oriented government, the chairman urged departments to accelerate administrative reforms and quickly address difficulties faced by enterprises.
He also encouraged companies to restructure operations, increase the use of science and technology, particularly artificial intelligence, and expand production in the province.
Businesses were urged to continue implementing registered investment projects, review new investment opportunities and strengthen local production activities to support Gia Lai’s socio-economic development in the coming years.