The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in cooperation with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), organised a policy forum entitled “Supporting small and medium enterprises impacted by COVID-19: Narrowing the gap from policy to implementation”, in Hanoi on December 8.
The forum organised by the VCCI and UNDP in Hanoi on December 8 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI),in cooperation with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), organised a policyforum entitled “Supporting small and medium enterprises impacted by COVID-19: Narrowingthe gap from policy to implementation”, in Hanoi on December 8.
In his opening remarks, VCCI Chairman Vu TienLoc said the pandemic has seriously impacted production and business at Vietnameseenterprises.
As of late October, more than 70,000enterprises, mainly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), had been forcedto suspend operation or dissolve.
It is, therefore, time for the Government,ministries, localities, and the business community to look back on the impactof the pandemic on the economy in general and each sector in particular, Locsaid.
Narrowing the gap from policy to implementationis a way to put forward recommendations and solutions to complete existinginstitutions and laws and to have more policies in accordance with the reality,thus meeting the aspirations of most businesses, he added.
Head of the VCCI’s Legal Department Dau AnhTuan said it is estimated that the pandemic may result in 2020 revenues from privatefirms fall 72 percent year-on-year and from foreign-invested firms 69 percent.
With up to 95 business support documents introducedfrom the central to local level, affected enterprises and individuals havereceived timely assistance to overcome the difficulties.
However, Tuan suggested simplifying proceduresto receive support and designing support packages in conformity with eachsector and for each period, with the priority given to SMEs.
Director of the Business Development InstituteLuong Minh Huan stressed the need to speed up economic institutional reform andsimplify administrative procedures relating to business, as these are the mostimportant foundations to help enterprises overcome the difficulties caused bythe pandemic.
The pandemic is also a chance for domestic firmsto recognise the superior nature of the digital economy and the urgent need fordigital transformation, he added./.
Banks cut interest rates for loans worth more than 1.12 quadrillion VND (49 billion USD) of nearly 322,190 borrowers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as of May 11, a State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) report showed.
Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Dao Minh Tu highly valued several banks’ interest rate cuts by an additional 2 percent annually to support businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ho Chi Minh City is set to roll out a second COVID-19 aid package worth 12 trillion VND (517 million USD) exclusively for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Vietnamese logistics firms, especially small and medium-sized ones, need to get up to speed on digital transformation to enhance their competitiveness if they want to enter global markets after the pandemic ends, experts have said.
Banks in Ho Chi Minh City are focusing on measures to mitigate the difficulties faced by businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and help them get back to health, a State Bank of Vietnam official has said.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
The analysis from an investment perspective shows that the economy’s growth has been heavily capital‑driven, yet efficiency remains low as reflected by Vietnam’s Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR) being significantly higher than global and regional averages. This underscores the imperative to enhance capital‑use efficiency.
Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha urged countries to work together to remove supply chain bottlenecks, expand market access, strengthen cooperation in smart customs procedures, mutually recognise technical standards, and eliminate unnecessary protectionist barriers to boost trade and investment.
The forum organised by the VCCI and UNDP in Hanoi on December 8 (Photo: VNA) 
