Foreign small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are paying much attention to Vietnam, given the fact that the number of under-1-million USD projects accounted for nearly 70% of the total number of foreign-invested projects registered in Vietnam in the first three months of this year.
Hanoi (VNA) – Foreign small- and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) are paying much attention to Vietnam, given the fact that the number ofunder-1-million USD projects accounted for nearly 70% of the total number offoreign-invested projects registered in Vietnam in the first three months ofthis year.
According to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under theMinistry of Planning and Investment, in the first quarter, Vietnam attractednearly 5.45 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI), down 39%year on year.
Of the total, over 3 billion USD came from 522newly-licensed projects, up 62% in a number of projects but down 6% in capital compared to the same period last year. Among these newprojects, the combined capital of under-1-million USD projects accounted foronly 2.2% of the total newly-registered investment.
Meanwhile, some 1.2 billion USD was added to 228 existingones, representing a hike of 3% in a number of projects and a decline of 70.3% year on year in capital.
However, foreign investors' capital contribution and sharepurchases rose 4% year-on-year to 798 million USD, the FIA said.
A survey from the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO)shows that more than 60% of respondents said that their company would expandtheir business in Vietnam in the next two years, a higher proportion comparedto any other ASEAN country.
Nakajima Takeo, JETRO chief representative in Hanoi, saidthat there is a trend of Japanese SMEs increasing their investment in thecoming time.
Although the investment is not big, SMEs over the globe,especially those from Japan, own a lot of advanced technologies and hold notsmall market shares, he said, proposing Vietnam have appropriate preferentialpolicies to attract such businesses./.
Although Vietnam always eyes to attract investors from US and Europe, intra-Asian investors are so important to the country, especially since foreign direct investment (FDI) is slowing down globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts and geopolitical conflicts.
Vietnam attracted nearly 5.45 billion USD worth of foreign investment in the first quarter of the year, down 39% year-on-year, according to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
The northern port city of Hai Phong continued ranking among the top localities in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2023.
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The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
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A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
