At the opening of the forum “Identification Technology and Traceability - Elevating Vietnamese Goods” held on October 9 in Hanoi, journalist Nguyen Van Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Cong Thuong Newspaper, emphasized that transparent product origin is the “passport” for Vietnamese goods to reach the world.

He began by citing a positive development at the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s press conference the day before, it was announced that Vietnam’s total import-export turnover in 2025 could reach nearly USD 900 billion, approaching the USD 1 trillion goal set by Party General Secretary To Lam. Yet, he noted, to achieve that milestone requires collective efforts from ministries, sectors, and enterprises, especially in verifying origin, combating trade fraud, and eliminating untraceable goods.

“A healthy market cannot exist where goods have ambiguous origins. A national brand cannot thrive without corporate integrity. And consumer trust cannot grow without strong media advocacy for honesty and standards,” Mr. Minh stressed.

Transparency as the cornerstone of competitiveness

In today’s era of globalization, Vietnamese goods compete not only on quality and price but also on transparency and traceability. Product traceability has become a “national ID card”, a steel shield protecting consumers and a passport for Vietnamese goods entering global markets.

Under the Government and Ministry of Industry and Trade’s direction, numerous regulations have been issued to enhance origin management, combat fraud, and control counterfeit goods. However, beyond policies and regulations, communication and media play a decisive role as the bridge between the State, enterprises, and citizens.

Mr. Minh underlined three essential roles of the press in this process:

First, raising awareness, helping consumers realize that scanning a QR code is not just smart shopping but also a contribution to fighting counterfeit goods; helping businesses see transparency as a long-term advantage.

Second, monitoring compliance, through investigative reports and documentaries exposing low-quality goods and origin fraud, the press strengthens market discipline.

Third, accelerating digital transformation, media outlets actively promote digital traceability solutions like iTrace247, blockchain, and GS1 barcode standards, fostering public trust in Vietnamese products.

The media is a pioneer in transparency of origin

Recalling Europe’s 2013 horse meat scandal, which shook public confidence in food origins, Mr. Minh drew parallels with recent large-scale counterfeit cases in Vietnam from fake milk powder to falsified pharmaceuticals uncovered by the Ministry of Public Security in 2024. These incidents, he said, have once again sounded the alarm on the vital importance of product identification and traceability.

As the official mouthpiece of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Cong Thuong Newspaper recognizes that journalism must go beyond disseminating policies, it must serve as a driving force for integrity and transparency in trade. Over the past year, the newspaper has launched numerous campaigns, special columns, and multimedia reports on source transparency, anti-counterfeiting, and digital transformation in market management.

“Through today’s forum, Cong Thuong aims to act as a trusted bridge between the State, enterprises, consumers, and the media fostering open dialogue and sharing practical experience to remove policy and technological bottlenecks,” Mr. Minh affirmed.

Building trust for Vietnamese products

Mr. Minh shared that during an overseas working visit, U.S. retailer Costco revealed it imports about USD 1 billion worth of Vietnamese goods annually. With stronger traceability systems, this number could grow substantially, opening new doors for Vietnamese products in global retail chains.

“The forum today is not only about technology, it’s about trust: trust in Vietnamese products, in Vietnamese enterprises, and in the State’s modern governance capacity,” he said.

Concluding his speech, the Editor-in-Chief expressed confidence that with the concerted efforts of ministries, associations, and the media, Vietnam can build a fair, transparent, and responsible market, where every Vietnamese product proudly carries its ‘certificate of origin’, a mark of integrity and national pride.

The forum, chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and organized by Cong Thuong Newspaper, gathered representatives from ministries, associations, enterprises, and media agencies. It forms part of Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to enhance origin management, prevent trade fraud, and promote digital transformation toward building a national brand rooted in transparency.