VOV.VN - The robust wave of investment from Japan is opening up breakthrough opportunities for Vietnam’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they pursue deeper integration and improved international competitiveness.

A workshop aimed at charting Vietnam's course toward a high-income future took place in Hanoi on November 20.

Vietnam, through its economic reforms, has positioned itself as one of the key actors in terms of global value chains, influencing regional and global economic dynamics, according to Red Lantern Analytica, an international affairs observer group based out of New Delhi, India.

Vietnam’s exports expanded about 13.8% year-on-year in the first half of this year, and imports rose 18.4%, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Planning and Finance Department said at a press conference in Hanoi on June 19.

Enhancing national competitiveness and capacity of domestic enterprises is vital for Vietnam to climb up the global value chain in the new context of globalisation, heard a workshop held by the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR) in Hanoi on December 5.

VOV.VN - Through local partner factories, 'Made in Vietnam' products have been distributed to more than 2,400 stores around the world, thereby demonstrating the country’s crucial role in Uniqlo’s global value chain, said Nishida Hideki, general director of Uniqlo Vietnam.

The attraction of large foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows from the US and Europe, especially into industries with high added value such as manufacturing, technology and pharmaceuticals, is a positive signal about Vietnam’s economic development and international cooperation as well as the country's efforts in improving its position on the global value chain.

The historic Vietnam visit by US President Joe Biden and the upgrade of bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership will create unprecedented opportunities to promote new and breakthrough cooperation areas, and to build Vietnam’s capacity to truly join the global value chains, said Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has proposed the government provide further support for Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including an interest rate reduction of another 2 percentage points per year.

The strong foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow from the Republic of Korea (RoK) has been giving a significant push to Vietnam in the battle to move up the global value chain ladder and promote sustainable development.