Small- and medium–sized enterprises (SMEs) are advised to identify their difficulties in the context of rapid international integration in order to develop in a sustainable manner, heard a forum held in Hanoi on May 9.
Le Van Khuong, Director of the Centre for Support of SMEs in the North (TAC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Department of Enterprise Development, said that in today’s volatile business environment, SMEs encountered various difficulties because of their modest scales.
He said as SMEs have their own problems and difficulties, identifying their weakness is important to create solutions for them towards sustainable development.
Khuong said focus should be placed on providing training to SMEs to enhance their capacity and optimise resources.
Quang Minh, chairman of Bizen Vietnam said the forum was a part of BKTalk – a platform where SMEs could discuss with experts to identify their difficulties and find measures for development. BKTalk also provides training and consultancy about corporate governance for SMEs.
Participating experts said SMEs encountered with problems related to accessing banking credit, tax reporting, transparency in accounting, human resource management and building brands.
According to the Ministry of Finance’s statistics, Vietnam has more than 600,000 firms, nearly 500,000 of them private firms with 96 percent of being small and micro scales.
SMEs created 1.2 million jobs and contributed more than 40 percent of gross domestic product.
Recently, the ministry proposed cutting corporate income tax rates on small and micro businesses from the current 20 percent to 15-17 percent. This aims to promote the development of SMEs so the country could have one million firms by 2020, as set by the Government.
Analysts noted that Vietnam-Singapore ties are increasingly moving beyond traditional goods trade towards green growth, innovation and high-quality supply chains, laying a stronger foundation for more substantive and sustainable cooperation in the years ahead.
International visitors expressed positive impressions of Vietnamese products displayed at the fair. Nelma Sanjines, senior supervisor at ESP Catering in Sydney, praised the flavour of Vietnamese chilli sauce and soy sauce as well as the attractive packaging of confectionery products.
Experts noted that supply chain optimisation and risk management are no longer isolated tasks for individual companies but a requirement for the entire export ecosystem. With guidance from regulators, support from industry experts and their own efforts, Vietnamese exporters are expected to enhance their competitiveness and turn technical barriers and market volatility into opportunities for sustainable growth in global markets.
In April, Vietnam’s crude steel output was estimated at 2.1 million tonnes, up 4% year-on-year. With this result, Vietnam surpassed Italy to secure a place among the top 10 global producers.
Power companies must carry out regular grid inspections and maintenance to keep operations safe and efficient, minimise localised overloads and reduce the risk of supply disrupting incidents.
He stressed that domestic firms must proactively improve corporate governance, technological capabilities and workforce quality in order to participate more deeply in global supply chains. “Vietnamese enterprises cannot enter the supply chains of multinational corporations unless they meet required standards,” Cuong said.
Vietnam has kept inflation below 4% since 2015, and maintaining macroeconomic stability while effective inflation control in 2026 will be crucial to supporting the country’s goal of achieving double-digit GDP growth.
To ensure safer use of E10 fuel, consumers are advised to regularly maintain fuel systems, replace deteriorated rubber components and refuel at reputable petrol stations to ensure ethanol blending quality meets standards.
The article described Vietnam as strategically positioned along major regional maritime routes, including the East – West corridor linking the Americas, the Middle East, India and Europe, and the North – South corridor connecting China and Southeast Asia, helping make the country a gateway for international trade.
Work starts on 600-million-USD electronic components plant in Ninh Binh
The eco-industrial park model will help Vietnam meet international environmental standards while creating opportunities to improve growth quality and economic competitiveness. Many multinational corporations now view green standards, emissions reduction and energy efficiency as key conditions when selecting investment destinations.
Alongside exhibition activities, trade promotion, and business networking programs, the “Gwangju Global Food Fair 2026” also witnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Vietnam–Korea Businessmen & Investment Association (VKBIA) and the Gwangju Tourism Organization of South Korea.
Green transition is increasingly viewed as essential to preserving the city’s status as Vietnam’s economic locomotive.
With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,392 VND/USD, and the floor rate 23,878 VND/USD.
The southern economic hub climbs 12 places from 2025 to rank 98th globally, marking its highest position ever in StartupBlink’s rankings.
Under a draft resolution currently open for public feedback by the municipal People’s Committee, residents with permanent or temporary residence registration in Hanoi for at least two consecutive years, who own petrol-powered motorbikes registered before the resolution takes effect, will be eligible for support when purchasing electric motorbikes priced at 10 million VND or more.
Vietnam values and places great importance on support from international partners, including the US, which it considers a leading strategic partner.
More than a year after the Politburo's Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private sector development came into effect, expectations now extend beyond increasing the number of enterprises. The goal is to build a stronger business community with greater resilience, larger ambitions and the capacity to compete in global supply chains.
Vietnam is expected to remain one of ASEAN’s fastest-growing economies in 2026, supported by resilient exports, strong investment inflows and an ambitious reform agenda, despite mounting global uncertainties, according to the World Bank’s latest Vietnam Economic Update released on May 15.
Under a new circular, the exchange of greenhouse gas emission quotas and carbon credits is conducted on the domestic carbon credit exchange through the carbon trading system, which is interconnected with the national registration system.