Vietrade, Alibaba.com shake hands in supporting SMEs to overcome COVID-19
The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) and Alibaba.com, the global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform of the Alibaba Group, have jointly launched a programme to support Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in overcoming COVID-19.
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency(Vietrade) and Alibaba.com, the global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerceplatform of the Alibaba Group, have jointly launched a programme to support Vietnamesesmall- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in overcoming COVID-19.
The programme aims to provide domestic SMEs with knowledgeand solutions from Vietnamese and foreign experts in digitalisation, whileinspiring them with practical experience and successful stories in digitaltransformation.
Vietrade Deputy Director Hoang Minh Chien said that his agency has worked with e-commerce platforms to implement trade promotionactivities on digital platforms, including collaboration with Alibaba.com intraining activities.
He said that the activities have received strong supportfrom State management agencies and Vietnamese trade offices abroad, as well asdomestic and foreign trade promotion agencies, localities and businesses,helping form a relatively complete ecosystem in the field.
The programme is part of Vietrade's efforts to speed upthe application of IT and digital transformation in enhancing efficiency ofe-commerce activities of Vietnamese firms, he added.
During the programme, SMEs will receive information one-commerce policies and training as well as market data analysis fromAlibaba.com, along with solutions exclusively designed for Vietnamese businesses.
Roger Lou, Alibaba.com Country Manager in Vietnam, said that e-commerceis a cost-saving and effective measure for enterprises to expand new salechannels and maintain revenue.
Noting that the consumption of major markets such as the EUand the US has recovered and risen again, he held that this is a good chancefor Vietnamese businesses to gain direct access to their promising customersabroad through Alibaba.com.
The online programme is also a new step forward in cooperation betweenAlibaba.com and Vietrade with an aim to support SMEs to regain their businessadvantages, he said, adding that it will give detailed guidelinesfor engaging firms in all five support packages.
Businesses interested in the programme can register to joinit through the website //seller.alibaba.com/pages/vietrade./.
The rise of local retailers via mergers and acquisitions is expected to balance Vietnam’s retail market, which had been dominated by foreign investors.
Educa Corporation, a Vietnamese educational technology (Edtech) startup, has raised 2 million USD in a Series A funding round from Singapore-based ReDefine Capital Fund.
Policies are needed to support local e-commerce platforms and counter the might of cashed-up international e-commerce giants entering the Vietnamese e-commerce market, said Chairman of Nextech, Nguyen Hoa Binh, who owned chodientu.vn.
Cross-border e-commerce has changed the way firms are doing business, with micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) given more equal opportunities to access global market, said Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
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.
At the event (Photo: Congthuong) 
