Conference discusses new drivers of economic growth

Representatives from the Central Economic Commission, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Information and Communication co-hosted the conference. It saw the participation of many leaders from ministries, organisations, businesses, and experts from home and abroad.

Many vital issues in the current Vietnamese economy were brought to the table, such as creating a new development space by implementing guidelines on regional development and national master plans, exploiting signed free trade agreement (FTAs), and digital transformation.

Identifying opportunities and challenges in energy transition and accelerating the removal of bottlenecks for science, technology, and innovation development were also key conference topics.

Attendees at the event

Speaking at the conference, Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, director of the Centre for WTO and International Trade, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that in 2022, Vietnam’s trade activities and trade with FTA markets, in particular, had achieved impressive results.

She cited that total import and export turnover in the first 11 months of 2022 reached $673.8 billion, up 11.8 per cent over the same period last year, in which exports reached $342.2 billion, up 13.4 per cent. However, headwinds are strengthening in the fourth quarter of 2022, and are expected to last until 2023.

In that context, she pointed out that the advantages of the FTAs, especially improved tariff preferences, were considered an important solution for Vietnamese businesses, improving their competitive ability to keep and even expand market share in these FTA regions.

Trang said: “To do this, Vietnam needs to implement appropriate solutions both in the immediate and long term. The VCCI recommends that the government, ministries, and branches implement direct support measures to assist businesses in maximising taking advantage of FTAs."

"Such support could include organising campaigns to promote Vietnamese product brands designed specifically for each market, and building official channels to connect Vietnamese businesses with foreign partners. Regarding long-term solutions, it is necessary to promote negotiation and signing of new FTAs, establish annual programs to evaluate the effectiveness of FTA implementation, and so on,” she said.

David Gottlieb, acting Deputy Ambassador of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, said in transitioning to net-zero, one of the biggest challenges would be to manage the stability, reliability, and affordability of rapid renewables expansion.

He cited the latest draft PDP8 notes that by 2030 Vietnam needs around $15.2-15.6 billion in grid infrastructure investment. Market forces, particularly the availability of finance, will be the key driver in the transition away from coal, as renewable power is developing a cost advantage relative to the coal-fired power plant fleet.

He pointed out that ​as challenging as this transition would be, the opportunities were immense. New opportunities will bring new jobs and new investments and drive down power bills at the same time.

“The Australian government is increasing support for partners in Southeast Asia to help countries transition to net-zero. Vietnam is central to these efforts. We are expanding our support for Vietnam in its energy transition and achieving ambitious climate targets. Deepening energy cooperation is a key pillar of the Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy launched in 2021. We hope it will be a central plank of our bilateral relationship in the coming years,” said Gottlieb.

An exciting conference gets underway

At the conference, speakers and participants discussed many urgent emerging issues relating to political, economic, and social significance.

According to the organisers, the opinions, recommendations, and suggestions of the delegates, experts, and scientists at the conference will be gathered and reported to the government. They also were essential foundations for proposing mechanisms, policies, and solutions to exploit the new development opportunities, strengthen and effectively promote growth drivers to support the economy to overcome difficulties, and develop sustainably in 2023 and the following years.

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