The Saigon Jewellery Association (SJA) will continue to call on the State Bank of Viet Nam to make it easier for jewellery businesses, who seek to invest in upgrading their production and trading technology, in accessing bank loans, its chairman said.

Nguyen Van Dung, SJA chairman, said this at a meeting held in HCM City on Friday night to review SJA’s performance last year and set tasks for this year.

Last year, the association successfully suggested banks allow credit institutions provide loans to jewellery trading enterprises, which has greatly helped them in expanding their development, he said.

Dung said the association also organised overseas trips to help its members find new exports markets as well as update production technologies.

It organised competitions to honour talented jewellery designers and carried out social activities such as giving gifts for elderly people, building bridges in rural areas, providing scholarships to poor students and others.

For this year, SJA will focus on three main missions – actively giving opinions on the Government’s policies, especially policies related to the jewellery industry; suggesting SBV ease conditions for businesses in the field in order to access bank loans; and guiding its members to strictly implement the Government’s policies and help their members manage their gold trading effectively, he said. — VNS