USAID supports Vietnamese small and medium enterprises to seize new opportunities for investment and business linkages

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including those in supporting industries, play an important role in Vietnam’s economic growth. However, due to their limited capabilities, lack of market linkages, and disruptions in global supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, SMEs in supporting industries are struggling to find new customers and to explore new market opportunities.

Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (LinkSME) project, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade’s Center for Supporting Industries Development (CSID), the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority, and the Saigon Hi-Tech Park organized a forum on Linkage and Investment Opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises.  U.S. Deputy Principal Officer in Ho Chi Minh City Mr. Robert Greenan, USAID/Vietnam Economic Growth and Governance Office Director Mr. Gregory Leon, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade Deputy Director Mr. Nguyễn Phương Đông, and Management Board of Saigon Hi-Tech Park Vice Head Ms. Lê Bích Loan, attended the forum along with more than 300 representatives from government agencies, business associations, businesses, and the media.

Today’s event offered a platform for Vietnamese SMEs in supporting industries to connect and build business linkages with lead firm Techtronic Industries (TTI), with the aim of becoming a qualified TTI supplier. SMEs also engaged with banks, the management boards of various industrial zones, and business support organizations to explore opportunities for investment and business linkages.

Gaining access to information, strengthening market linkages, and joining supply chains will help Vietnamese SMEs in supporting industries to recover from disruptions caused by COVID-19. USAID will continue its collaboration with the Government of Vietnam and business support organizations to expand Vietnamese SMEs’ capacity and facilitate their integration into regional and global supply chains.

 

Press release distributed by EloQ Communications.