World Bank outlines path for Việt Nam to reach high income status

Manuela V. Ferro, World Bank Vice President for East Asia & Pacific. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI - The World Bank (WB) has released a report which explores how Việt Nam can upgrade its participation in global value chains to become a high-income country by 2045.

In its report entitled "Việt Nam 2045: Trading Up in a Changing World – Pathways to a High-Income Future", the bank said integration into global markets has been the key driver of Việt Nam's development success over the past 40 years, propelling one of the longest and fastest economic expansions in modern history.

Today, Việt Nam is one of the most open economies in the world with about half of the country’s GDP and every second job, directly and indirectly depending on exports.

Building on its past success, Việt Nam has set ambitious goals for the future, aiming to become a modern, high-income economy by 2045. This requires sustaining annual per capita GDP growth of about 6 per cent over the next two decades. Achieving this goal will depend on Việt Nam's ability to move up the value chain by advancing into higher value-added manufacturing and services through investments in technology, skills, and innovation. And Việt Nam will need to manage this transformation amid heightened global uncertainty and profound shifts in the global trading system.

“To sustain rapid growth, Việt Nam will need to transition from labour-intensive, low value-added final assembly into higher value-added manufacturing and services,” said Manuela V. Ferro, World Bank Vice President for East Asia & Pacific. “In addition, amid global trade shifts and rising uncertainty, diversifying trade and investment partnerships will be essential for building resilience and ensuring long-term success.”

The WB proposed a multipronged approach to unlock productivity growth, attract private investment, and upgrade participation in global value chains. Policy options include deepening regional trade integration; linking domestic enterprises to global supply chains; promoting skill- and technology-intensive manufacturing and high-value-added services; and transitioning to low-carbon, climate-resilient production.