This time, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ho Chi Minh City Branch (VCCI HCM) awarded Official Membership Certificates to 62 enterprises, including 18 joint stock companies and 44 LLCs.

VCCI Vice Chairman Vo Tan Thanh speaks at the announcement and awarding of VCCI official membership certificates - Photo: Dinh Dai.

Speaking at the announcement and awarding of certificates, VCCI Vice Chairman Vo Tan Thanh congratulated the enterprises that have become official members of VCCI. He said that the fact that enterprises have become official members of VCCI today has demonstrated the continuous growth of VCCI in strengthening its membership network.

According to VCCI Vice Chairman Vo Tan Thanh, in the current period, although enterprises are still facing many difficulties and challenges. However, enterprises have overcome and continuously developed, contributing to the overall development of the country's economy.

VCCI Vice Chairman Vo Tan Thanh presents official membership certificates to businesses - Photo: Dinh Dai.

“We expect that, through membership, VCCI will strengthen the connection between businesses under the common roof of VCCI. At the same time, VCCI will also have many activities to support businesses in the process of production and business, international economic integration as well as sustainable development”, VCCI Vice Chairman Vo Tan Thanh shared.

According to Mr. Vo Tan Thanh, VCCI was established on April 27, 1963, and has gone through many stages of development. Accordingly, in the period from 1963 to 1975, when Vietnam was still at war, VCCI mainly carried out legal battles to break the US blockade and embargo against Vietnam. At the same time, promoting trade relations between Vietnam and socialist countries, mainly the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Director of VCCI HCM Tran Ngoc Liem presents official membership certificates to enterprises - Photo: Dinh Dai.

From after liberation to 1986, VCCI increased its activities to continue expanding economic relations between Vietnam and other countries, including capitalist countries. During this period, Vietnam's economy was still facing many difficulties, because Vietnam was following a centralized, bureaucratic, subsidized economic model. VCCI also contributed to the initial formation to propose to the Party and the State to gradually shift to a market economy.

By 1986, after the 6th Party Congress, Vietnam had shifted from a centralized, bureaucratic, subsidized economy to a market economy, oriented towards socialism. During the period of 1986-1993, VCCI made great contributions, especially in the period of forming a market economic institution. At the same time, it expanded economic relations with countries around the world.

Deputy Director of VCCI HCM Nguyen Huu Nam presents official membership certificates to enterprises - Photo: Dinh Dai.

From 2000 to present, Vietnam has entered a period of deep integration with the world economy through joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) and signing trade agreements with other countries, especially signing free trade agreements (FTAs). Thereby, Vietnam's integration process with the world is increasingly deep.

Up to now, Vietnam has participated in and signed 16 bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, including new generation free trade agreements such as CPTPP, EVFTA, RECEP... These are FTAs that have helped Vietnam integrate more deeply into 60 countries and territories around the world. And these are also developed countries, with large-scale economies, accounting for about 70% of global GDP. Thanks to that, Vietnam has also been in the TOP 40 countries with the largest economies in the world.

VCCI Vice Chairman Vo Tan Thanh also said that in 2023, the scale of Vietnam's economy will reach about 450 billion USD and will rank 36th in the TOP countries with the largest economies in the world. In particular, in terms of import and export, Vietnam is in the TOP 20 countries with large trade. Trade turnover in 2024 could reach about 800 billion USD/GDP reaching about 450 billion USD. This shows that Vietnam is a country that participates in global trade with a very large proportion in terms of GDP. At the same time, it also contributes greatly to promoting Vietnam's socio-economic development.

"In these results, there is a significant contribution from VCCI, especially related to the issue of improving the business environment. Currently, we are striving to bring Vietnam's business environment into the TOP 4 countries with the best business environment in the ASEAN region. And according to businesses' perception, compared to 10-15 years ago, Vietnam's business environment is becoming much more favorable, with significant contributions from the business community through VCCI", affirmed VCCI Vice Chairman Vo Tan Thanh.