Speaking at the opening ceremony of the "Business Forum 2025: Breakthrough solutions to support businesses to access new markets", directed by VCCI, organized by Business Forum Magazine on the afternoon of August 14, 2025 in Hanoi, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) assessed that with the quite comprehensive results achieved in the past 7 months, the Vietnamese economy is entering a period of accelerated development towards the annual growth target of 8.3 - 8.5%.

Under the direction of VCCI, Business Forum Magazine organized the "Business Forum 2025: Breakthrough solutions to support businesses in accessing new markets" on the afternoon of August 14, 2025 in Hanoi.

Accordingly, many international organizations continued to highly appreciate and make positive forecasts about Vietnam's GDP growth in 2025. In which, traditional growth drivers are promoted as one of the notable bright spots.

Total registered FDI capital in 7 months reached nearly 24.1 billion USD, up 27.3% over the same period; total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue in 7 months increased by 9.3% over the same period. In particular, import-export activities recorded a strong rise with a record export level of 42.26 billion USD, set for the first time in July. This figure contributed to raising the total export turnover in 7 months to 262.44 billion USD, an increase of 14.8% over the same period last year.

“The past 7 months have also been a special time for the economy and the business community. Business confidence has been fostered by revolutionary innovations. Many policies and guidelines with new thinking and new approaches have been issued such as the "Quartet of Pillar Resolutions", implementing the restructuring of the apparatus and administrative units associated with the 2-level government model, which have been paving the way for a new development stage of the country, promoting the introduction of capital from the private sector into the economy", emphasized VCCI Vice Chairman Hoang Quang Phong.

Accordingly, in the past 7 months, over 174,000 enterprises have entered and re-entered the market with a total registered capital added to the economy of over 3.3 million billion VND, up 93.7% over the same period, and nearly 536,200 newly established business households, up 165%.

Mr. Hoang Quang Phong - Vice Chairman of VCCI commented that the past 7 months were also a special time for the economy and the business community

Despite achieving many impressive results in socio-economic development, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong commented that to achieve the growth target of over 8%, the challenge for the remaining months of this year is not small.

Specifically, in the world, the impact from the increasingly complex geopolitical situation is fundamentally changing the structure of the global economy, reshaping the value chain and accelerating the trend of shifting supply chains. Trade policies of major markets have further increased uncertainty and fragmentation of the world economy. As an economy with high openness and low resilience, Vietnam is forecast to be affected to a certain extent by increasing risks and uncertainties of the world.

In the first week of August, the new US reciprocal tax rate was applied to most trading partners, of which the tax rate applied to Vietnam's export goods was 20%. This development will affect the global trade flow in general and pose challenges for exports from Vietnam to the US, increasing pressure on domestic enterprises.

In particular, in the context of many markets applying non-tariff barriers, increasingly strict environmental, social and governance requirements, businesses are required to invest resources in green transformation, digital transformation, increase the localization rate of inputs to reduce dependence on imported materials to meet the rules of origin, transparency of origin, etc.

In the context of a volatile global economy, VCCI Vice Chairman Hoang Quang Phong assessed that Vietnamese enterprises are facing pressure to innovate to maintain growth and compete in both domestic and international markets.

According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam's export turnover in 2024 will reach more than 335 billion USD, but to maintain this growth momentum, businesses need to have a more effective market access strategy.

The Vice Chairman of VCCI assessed that Vietnamese enterprises are facing pressure to innovate.

Currently, many enterprises exporting key industries as well as domestic production and business enterprises are developing plans to seek new markets to cope with tariff risks and uncertainties of the global economy.

“This is considered a sustainable and long-term strategic direction when Vietnam has participated in 17 free trade agreements with more than 60 countries and territories and 70 bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Effectively exploiting this space and advantage will help enterprises diversify export markets, reducing dependence on the largest market,” Mr. Hoang Quang Phong emphasized.

Accompanying and supporting businesses in achieving the above important goals, in Resolution No. 226/NQ-CP recently issued, the Government directs ministries and branches to proactively implement trade promotion solutions, support businesses to access and boost exports for each key industry, key market, niche market, potential... on the basis of effectively exploiting signed FTA agreements. On the other hand, immediately deploy negotiations, soon sign new FTAs, especially with countries in the Middle East, India, Africa, Latin America, upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement...

Also according to the Vice Chairman of VCCI, accessing and effectively exploiting new markets is closely linked to the process of restructuring the economy's export industries as well as restructuring production and business activities. This transition process is not easy, it does not happen overnight.

Delegates attending the Forum.

“That is to transform production thinking and invest strategically and systematically in technology and management to improve productivity, quality, and increase product value. On that basis, improve competitiveness, adaptability, and expand opportunities to access demanding markets of enterprises as well as fierce and unpredictable competition of global trade and investment”, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong shared.

In addition to their own efforts, enterprises need support from the Government and ministries in building preferential policies on tax, credit, and appropriate mechanisms to develop supporting technology and increase the localization rate.

In addition, listening to the voices of enterprises, VCCI received many reflections on business laws that are still complicated, lacking transparency, lacking consistency, and many points that are not suitable to reality, causing difficulties for enterprises’ production and business expansion. In some areas that are encouraged for investment such as renewable energy, science and technology development, there are also regulations that cause difficulties, forcing businesses to consider carefully.

According to VCCI Vice Chairman Hoang Quang Phong, businesses need to effectively approach and exploit new markets associated with the restructuring process of industries

Based on the above reality, the VCCI Vice Chairman highly appreciated the proposal and content of the 2025 Business Forum with the theme "Breakthrough solutions to support businesses in accessing new markets" organized by the Business Forum Magazine on.

VCCI leaders hope that leaders, representatives of ministries, economic experts, scientists, business associations, and businesses will frankly discuss and analyze existing problems and challenges; propose solutions that need to be implemented by state management agencies and localities to resolve existing problems to bring Vietnamese branded products to many new markets. Your opinions will be compiled by VCCI and reported to the Government and relevant agencies.