Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are asked to unite in clusters and networks to raise their competitiveness at national and global levels, especially amid the ever-growing global integration.

The statement was made by foreign experts at a seminar, jointly organised by the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, the Agency of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Development (ASMED) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the United Nations Industry Development Organisation, in the southern city of Can Tho on June 8.

Nguyen Trong Hieu, ASMED Vice Director said over the past time, the State has provided financial and production facility support for SMEs, helped them improve technical expertise, develop human resources and provide information and consultancy.

From 2011 until 2015, the number of new SMEs is expected to reach 400,000 which contribute to 30 percent of the gross domestic products, 35 percent of the total State budget revenues and generate nearly 4 million jobs.

Hieu stressed measures such as perfecting laws on SMEs’ operation, providing credit support for SMEs, as well as assistance in applying new technologies, developing human resource and raising managerial capacity. The government will also establish new clusters of industrial zones, and build a system to support SMEs.-VNA