Hanoi (VNA) – Bold investment in core technologies, the adoption of new financial instruments, and workforce “AI integration” strategies are emerging as breakthrough solutions, helping domestic firms overcome long-standing bottlenecks and confidently enter higher-value global markets.
As the world enters the 2025–2030 period, digital and green transformation have become essential to meet new technical barriers such as CBAM and stricter ESG standards in major markets.
According to the Vietnam Association for Supporting Industries (VASI), many enterprises still attempt to cut costs by relying on decades-old machinery. This patchwork approach has unintentionally created a capability gap when facing orders that demand high precision and strict sustainability standards.
VASI Vice Chairman Pham Minh Thang said Vietnamese firms seeking to integrate into global value chains must build equipment and management systems aligned with global technological advancements.
However, technology alone is not enough, human capital remains the decisive factor in transformation.
This shift also requires businesses to redefine their positioning. Experts stress that over the next one to three years, companies must transition from a “supplier” mindset to that of a strategic “partner.”
To escape the long-standing outsourcing trap, enterprises need stronger investment in research and development (R&D) and core technologies. Dr. Trinh Quoc Vinh, a member of the Scientific Council at the Institute for Industry and Trade Strategy and Policy Research, said businesses should move away from short-term trading approaches toward systematic research investment to create proprietary advantages in niche markets.
Supplier selection processes are becoming more stringent, requiring consistent quality, verified capacity, and ESG compliance.
However, the biggest bottleneck preventing Vietnamese enterprises from upgrading technology remains access to capital. While bank credit limits typically require substantial collateral, a new financial instrument — financial leasing — is emerging as a viable solution for manufacturers.
Hoang Van Phuc, Deputy General Director of BIDV-SuMi TRUST Leasing Co., Ltd., said financial leasing enables businesses to upgrade machinery without collateral, as the leased equipment itself serves as the secured asset. This allows companies to preserve bank credit lines for working capital needs.
Proactively adopting new technologies through financial leasing not only improves productivity but also demonstrates a company’s financial capability and long-term commitment to global partners.
Pham Van Quan, a representative of the Industry Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the sector has identified three strategic pillars: institutional reform to cut administrative procedures, policies to raise localisation rates, and digital and green transformation targeting digital profiles for 50,000–100,000 industrial firms by 2030.
Quan also emphasised that Vietnam is shifting its approach to attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) toward a more “conditional” model tied to technology transfer and requirements for establishing research and development (R&D) centres in the country. This is expected to help domestic suppliers access high-tech industries such as semiconductors, clean energy and electric vehicles. Notably, the upcoming Government Decree No. 205/2025/ND-CP is anticipated to provide a major boost by expanding support to raw materials and processing industries, while covering up to 50% of testing and quality certification costs for core technology projects.
Nguyen Duc Hien, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Policies and Strategies, noted that suppliers are no longer merely input providers but have become key contributors to national competitiveness in the new development context. The Party and State are finalising strategic resolutions to promote private sector growth and breakthroughs in science and technology, aiming for double-digit economic growth aligned with a new growth model.
A notable policy shift moving forward is that the State will focus on establishing legal frameworks while delegating programme implementation to businesses, associations and universities. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is also accelerating the development of the “Go Global” programme, envisioned as a launchpad to help Vietnamese enterprises expand internationally.
Deeper participation in global value chains led by firms such as Apple and Samsung is expected to strengthen Vietnamese enterprises while enhancing production resilience and economic security./.
