Vietnamese enterprises unruffled by US-China trade war

According to a recent survey conducted by HSBC, Vietnamese businesses are among the world’s most optimistic about international trade prospects and also among the most confident when it comes to succeeding in the current environment.

HSBC’s latest report, ‘Navigator: Now, next and how for business,’ which polled over 8,500 businesses across 34 markets, showed that 91% of Vietnamese respondents, compared with 75% globally, indicated they believe the outlook for trade is favorable in spite of geopolitical factors that are curbing enthusiasm elsewhere.

They cited a favorable economic environment, decreasing costs of shipping, logistics and storage, and an increasing demand for their products as the top three drivers of trade growth.

This could reflect the prospective boost to exports in sectors such as textiles as well as electronics as production and demand shift away from China.

Free-trade-agreements (FTAs) are another factor that makes Vietnamese companies enthusiastic about international trade since 60% of the firms participating in the HSBC survey believe FTAs will have a positive impact in emerging markets, while 45% of firms in developed markets have high hope for these agreements.

The majority of Vietnamese respondents are positive about the partnerships established with key trading partners, with 69% believing that ASEAN membership will help their business in the next three years.

Similarly, 65% of Vietnamese firms believe the forthcoming European Union-Vietnam free trade agreement will have a positive impact on their business in the near future. The two sides agreed on a final text for the trade agreement earlier in June.

“Vietnamese businesses’ optimism reflects an economy that’s been one of Asia’s star performers, which has been growing fast,” said Winfield Wong, Head of Wholesale Banking, HSBC Vietnam.

“They are optimistic as they consider themselves well-positioned thanks to a strong domestic economy, confidence in the global economy, as well as far-reaching trade deals and burgeoning trade relations with major markets.”

Vietnamese firms are also looking to expand and enter overseas markets. Over a quarter of businesses are eyeing opportunities in Japan, while 23% are looking to expand into China, and a fifth are considering the Republic of Korea for expansion.

“We are seeing an increasing demand from clients, particularly those in manufacturing and energy sectors, looking to expand their operations," Wong said.

These ambitions are supported by sustainable local economic growth and interest from overseas firms looking to move here, he added.

“We are seeing an increasing demand from clients, particularly those in manufacturing and energy sectors, looking to expand their operations,” Wong said. “These ambitions are supported by sustainable local economic growth and interest from overseas firms looking to move here.”