Vietnam has become one of the world’s most open economies through its WTO accession and participation in numerous Free Trade Agreements (FTA). Yet it has not fully capitalized on trade integration: utilization of agreements remains low, benefits are largely accrued to Foreign Direct Investment companies and participation in global value chains is mostly confined to low value-added stages. Rising sustainability requirements and international trade disruptions further challenge Vietnamese exporters, underscoring the need to strengthen regulatory framework conditions and the trade support system to better leverage trade opportunities.

The overall objective of SwissTrade+ is to contribute to Vietnam’s vision of more sustainable, resilient and high value-added international trade. Social and environmental sustainability are becoming increasingly important for international trade, as international companies impose greater demands on local suppliers and such standards are increasingly incorporated into international agreements. Furthermore, the COVID pandemic and the recent rise in US tariffs introduced on Vietnamese exports have shown the vulnerability of Vietnam’s trade system. Increased diversification of export partners through new FTAs and better implementation of existing ones are crucial to increase the resilience of Vietnamese exports. Finally, engaging in higher value-added activities is essential for Vietnam to fully capitalize on its integration into global value chains.

Outcome 1: Development, adjustment and implementation of trade policies (in particular in digital-, green-, and service-economy-transition) is more coordinated and effective.

Outcome 2: Trade expertise and policymaking capacity of mid-level and senior-level government officials and trade experts is enhanced.

Outcome 3: Service delivery of Vietnamese public and private institutions to companies in the area of trade is enhanced.

Expected results:  

1.1: The approach for Public-Private Dialogue on Trade Policy - Trade Policy Dialogue (TPD) - is strengthened.

1.2: Regular TPDs are facilitated to design and implement inclusive and sustainable reforms.

1.3: Development of high-quality technical material and establishment of technical working groups.

2.1: Needs of public and private sector are assessed and a capacity development plan is developed.

2.2: Training courses responding to needs are established at Vietnamese institutions, in cooperation with Vietnamese/Swiss partners.

2.3: International exposure, networking and peer learning of officials is supported.

3.1: MOIT is supported in developing a self-certification system and modernizing certificate of origin issuance.

3.2: Selected BSOs/sector organizations are supported to build models that offer improved SME support for resilience, export readiness, and compliance.

3.3: BSOs/sector organizations are supported to enhance advocacy and contribution to TPDs.

Results from previous phases:  

The project has supported the development of the National Import-Export Strategy (NIES) 2021-2030 and an action plan for implementation up to 2025.

The NIES was officially enacted and 72 trade officers were trained on the implementation.

The project has developed Terms of Reference for guiding Trade Policy Dialogues (TPD), based on an assessment of existing platforms and multiple consultations to adjust and refine them.

Several TPDs helped the Ministry with the design of policies, such as the revision of the decree on retail distribution and franchising. It enhanced awareness of policy makers on policies related to low-carbon trade and the finalization of the FTA ecosystems model of the Ministry.

In collaboration with Vietrade, the project has established an Innovation and Competitiveness Grant Facility (ICGF), to support projects of Vietnamese BSOs.

11 BSO projects were selected in a competitive process by the ICGF and they were trained and accompanied for effective implementation.