The event marked the implementation of the Go Global program under Decision No.626/QD-TTg dated April 6 issued by the Prime Minister. The program aims to strengthen Vietnamese businesses' capacity for internationalization and competitiveness, enabling them to participate more deeply in global markets.

The event was attended by Luong Hoang Thai, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Vo Van Hung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, representatives of ministries and sectors, businesses, localities, industry associations, and a large number of enterprises from across the country.

Promoting the role of localities in connecting export promotion activities

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Luong Hoang Thai said that international economic integration had consistently been a key policy of the Party and the State. Throughout this process, the Vietnamese business community had continued to grow and strengthen.

However, according to the Deputy Minister, for a long time, the international integration efforts of domestic businesses had largely focused on adapting to and meeting the requirements and demands of international markets. The Party and State's current major policy is to elevate Vietnamese businesses to a higher position, shifting from adapting to markets to proactively reaching out to global markets, participating more deeply in value chains and affirming their standing internationally.

“It is in this context that the Go Global program was established, marking an important shift in Viet Nam's thinking and orientation regarding international economic integration,” Deputy Minister Luong Hoang Thai emphasized.

To effectively carry out this task, the Ministry of Industry and Trade called on ministries, sectors, localities, partners and the business community to coordinate in implementing several key tasks.

First, the Go Global program must be implemented in a coordinated and substantive manner, with results serving as the measure of its effectiveness.

Regarding this task, Deputy Minister Luong Hoang Thai said the Ministry of Industry and Trade would strengthen its role as the coordinating agency, translating the program's objectives, tasks and roadmap into specific action plans. The Ministry would also continue to take the lead in market development, trade promotion, brand-building support and connecting Vietnamese businesses with international partners.

Second, localities must take a proactive role through the "Local Go Global" program.

“This is an extremely important component, because the program's success depends not only on the efforts of ministries and central-level agencies but is also closely linked to the role, responsibility and initiative of each locality. Local authorities are best positioned to understand the potential, advantages, production capacity and development needs of businesses in their areas. They can therefore proactively develop appropriate support measures and create favorable conditions for businesses to participate more deeply in international markets,” Deputy Minister Luong Hoang Thai stressed.

He also noted that Decision No.626/QD-TTg assigned provincial and municipal People's Committees the responsibility of issuing action programs to implement the "Local Go Global" program in 2026. To date, 18 localities have issued their action programs. “The Ministry of Industry and Trade recognizes and highly appreciates the efforts and initiative demonstrated by localities in carrying out this task,” he said.

Notably, the Deputy Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Industry and Trade hoped to continue working closely with localities in the coming period to implement the program with clear priorities and focus, delivering specific and practical results. This would help make "Local Go Global" an effective bridge between national-level strategic orientations and concrete action in each locality.

Third, an ecosystem of support must be developed through the Go Global Partnership Network.

Internationalizing business operations requires coordinated preparation in human resources, market information, legal consultancy, technology, finance and partner networks. These are resources that no single agency or organization can fully provide on its own. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade expects the Go Global Partnership Network, launched at the forum, to effectively connect the capabilities of associations, trade promotion organizations, financial institutions, consulting firms, research and training institutions, and international partners.

The Deputy Minister affirmed that, within this ecosystem, State agencies would play a central role in creating an enabling environment and connecting resources. Achieving the Go Global program's objectives requires mobilizing the collective strength of the entire system. “The Ministry of Industry and Trade hopes that organizations and partners joining the Go Global Partnership Network will work together and make practical and effective contributions to the program's shared objectives,” Deputy Minister Luong Hoang Thai said.

Creating an enabling environment and connecting resources

Fourth, businesses must strengthen their initiative and capacity to expand into international markets.

“This is one of the factors of decisive importance to the program's success,” the Deputy Minister emphasized, calling on the business community to clearly define its objectives and roadmap and select markets suited to its capabilities. Businesses should proactively develop international growth strategies and make thorough preparations in terms of products, human resources, finance and management to enter markets in a systematic, professional and sustainable manner.

The Deputy Minister also recommended that, throughout this process, businesses pay particular attention to improving product quality, innovating technology, refining designs, creating differentiation and building credibility with partners and customers. Alongside investment in research and development, businesses should focus on protecting intellectual property rights, developing their brands, establishing distribution networks and gradually strengthening their ability to control different stages of the value chain.

“The success of the program will first and foremost depend on the capacity and initiative of the business community itself. What matters is that businesses clearly recognize the requirements of expanding into international markets, make thorough preparations and take concrete steps to turn their objectives into reality. Throughout this journey, the Go Global Partnership Network will play a supporting role by connecting State management agencies, the research community, trade promotion organizations and domestic and international partners. Through coordination and joint efforts across the entire system, we will mobilize additional resources, create favorable conditions and open up opportunities for businesses to overcome difficulties and challenges as they enter and expand their operations in international markets,” Deputy Minister Luong Hoang Thai said.

Deputy Minister Luong Hoang Thai said that there was no universal formula for expanding into global markets, nor could the process be completed in a short time. However, Viet Nam could certainly begin with concrete actions: a locality identifying the right potential product sector; a business developing a clear market strategy; a partner connecting suitable resources; or a policy being adjusted based on the realities of business operations.

These are the foundations for ensuring that the program delivers substantive results. When tasks are implemented systematically, assessed against specific outcomes and gradually expanded, clear progress will be achieved: business competitiveness will improve, export markets will expand, brands will be strengthened, and the position of Vietnamese businesses in the global economy will be increasingly affirmed.

In this process, the State will play an enabling role by creating a favorable environment and connecting resources; localities will take the initiative in organizing implementation; partners will provide support; and businesses will remain at the center as the entities that create value. This is also the spirit that we hope to put into practice together with ministries, sectors, localities, partners and the business community.

The Deputy Minister expressed confidence that, under the leadership of the Party, the decisive direction of the Government, the coordinated engagement of ministries, sectors and localities, and the proactive and innovative spirit of the business community, the Go Global program would help improve the quality of international economic integration and make practical contributions to the country's goals of rapid and sustainable development.

At the forum, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced the Go Global Partnership Network and signed memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements between the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency - the program Office and its partners. These activities aim to strengthen connections among professional resources, market information, consultancy services and business support, helping enterprises develop their international business operations.