On March 12, the Ministry of Industry and Trade held the launch ceremony of the Digital Platform for Overseas Market Development. Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the event and delivered keynote remarks.

Also attending the event were Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung; Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang; Vice Chairman of the Cao Bang provincial People’s Committee Hoang Van Thach; along with leaders of units under the Government Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, representatives from provincial and municipal authorities, industry associations, enterprises, and Vietnam’s trade offices abroad joining online.

New tool to enhance trade governance

In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son praised the proactive efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in developing the Digital Platform for Overseas Market Development, which will actively support trade promotion activities and the expansion of international markets.

The platform is also expected to enhance governance efficiency, connect Vietnam’s overseas trade offices with local authorities and businesses, and contribute to achieving double-digit economic growth, particularly in the context of global uncertainties.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that in the new development phase, the application of science and technology will be a core driver of growth across all sectors, including industry and trade.

He also noted that the global landscape is undergoing rapid and unpredictable changes. The world economy is recovering slowly from the pandemic; strategic competition among major economies is intensifying; and trends such as supply chain restructuring, green transition, digital transformation, and new trade standards are creating both challenges and opportunities for developing countries like Vietnam.

In this context, timely, accurate, and predictive market information plays a crucial role in government policymaking as well as in business production and operations. Therefore, building an integrated digital platform that connects information from Vietnam’s overseas trade offices, domestic regulatory agencies, and the business community is a step in the right direction and should be implemented decisively, systematically, and effectively.

He also expressed hope that the platform would not only connect politics and commerce but also promote Vietnamese culture, people, and national identity.

To sustain and further enhance the platform, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed the need for stronger innovation in governance methods and effective use of scientific and technological achievements, innovation, and digital transformation to support development and economic growth. This effort should aim at three major objectives.

Enhancing international trade management

First, improving the quality of governance and management in international trade.

Through real-time data collection, analysis, and sharing, the platform will enable state management agencies to promptly monitor market developments, forecast trends, and identify potential risks and trade barriers early. This will provide an important basis for the Government, ministries, sectors, and localities to make faster, more accurate, and more effective policy decisions.

Second, supporting the business community in expanding export markets.

One of the biggest challenges for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, is the lack of reliable and up-to-date market information. The digital platform should become a “market information ecosystem,” enabling businesses to access data on consumer demand, technical regulations, environmental standards, product trends, and opportunities for trade and investment cooperation in specific markets. This will allow enterprises to be more proactive in developing export strategies and improving competitiveness.

Third, creating a breakthrough in overseas market development.

With a network of 64 Vietnamese trade offices abroad, if connected through a modern digital platform, Vietnam could establish a unified national trade information system that operates efficiently, transparently, and with strong forecasting capacity. This would not only improve the effectiveness of trade promotion but also support investment attraction, supply chain connectivity, and deeper international economic integration.

Supporting enterprises to enhance competitivenessRegarding the tasks for implementing and operating the Digital Platform for Overseas Market Development as well as broader market development activities, the Deputy Prime Minister urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct Vietnam’s overseas trade offices, relevant agencies within the ministry, and coordinate with provincial Departments of Industry and Trade, industry associations, and businesses to focus on several key priorities.

First, continue updating and refining the digital database so that it becomes a truly comprehensive digital data system. At the same time, the platform should be further developed in a modern and user-friendly manner, ensuring strong connectivity, data sharing, and information security. New technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and cloud computing should be widely applied to enhance forecasting capacity and decision-making support.

Second, further improve the quality of trade promotion coordination meetings with Vietnam’s overseas trade office network.

“I appreciate that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has regularly organized monthly coordination meetings since 2022. In the context of rapidly changing global economic conditions that have multidimensional impacts on Vietnam’s economy, these meetings need to be further improved in content and format to better adapt to developments and meet current practical needs,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Third, ensure that the development of the platform is closely aligned with the practical needs of businesses, while encouraging industry associations and enterprises to actively participate. Businesses are both beneficiaries and key providers of information for the commercial data ecosystem, helping to enrich and expand the system.

Along with these tasks, the Deputy Prime Minister also urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade to pay greater attention to the activities of Vietnam’s overseas trade office network, which plays an important role in economic diplomacy.

He called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue coordinating with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in operating and implementing the platform, while encouraging industry associations and the business community to actively utilize and contribute data to the platform, viewing it as an important tool for accessing market information, enhancing competitiveness, and expanding export activities.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed confidence that with the determination of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the coordination of provincial Departments of Industry and Trade, and the active participation of the business community, the Digital Platform for Overseas Market Development will become a key instrument for Vietnam to strengthen trade governance, expand export markets, attract investment, and promote sustainable international economic integration.

He affirmed that the Government will continue to create favorable conditions for digital transformation initiatives in the economic and trade sectors to be implemented effectively, contributing to the building of an independent, self-reliant, deeply integrated, and sustainably developing Vietnamese economy.

The Digital Platform for Overseas Market Development is expected to become a comprehensive “market information ecosystem,” enabling businesses to access data on consumer demand, technical regulations, environmental standards, product trends, and opportunities for trade and investment cooperation in specific markets.