Developing internal resources to adapt to export markets

Production activities at Quang Hiep Tien Company Limited (Tan Uyen)

Proactive solution

Despite some difficulties in April 2025 due to the US reciprocal tax policy, Binh Duong 's trade balance still maintained a surplus, with a trade surplus of 3.57 billion USD after the first 4 months of the year. Specifically, the total import-export turnover is estimated at 19.81 billion USD. Of which, the export turnover is estimated at 11.69 billion USD, the import turnover is estimated at 8.12 billion USD. Statistics from the Customs Department show that Binh Duong ranks 4th in the country in terms of export turnover and 6th in terms of import turnover.

With the US tax policy, industry associations and businesses in the province are constantly paying attention and coordinating to find solutions to respond. Mr. Nguyen Quang Vu, Chairman of the Provincial Leather and Footwear Association, said that businesses are making great efforts to find global partners instead of focusing only on the US market, while attracting many small customers. Businesses are also looking to cooperate with supporting industry partners, especially raw materials such as rubber for shoe soles and components. Therefore, the association recommends building specialized markets so that businesses can regularly introduce and sell products, instead of depending on large fairs that are held periodically and infrequently. Trade connection sessions between provinces or regional links also need to be organized more frequently.

Mr. Bui Nhu Viet, Vice President of Binh Duong Wood Processing Association (BIFA), said that the current tariff policies from the market are challenges that businesses must overcome. To solve these difficulties and challenges, the wood industry focuses on improving product quality, connecting businesses, and linking wood processing industry associations in localities together. These solutions will help the Vietnamese wood industry meet the increasingly high standards of the export market, helping to enhance the Vietnamese wood brand in the market.

“BIFA will continue to coordinate training and human resource development, improve skills and working skills for workers in the wood industry. This is one of the solutions to support businesses in solving the problem of human resource shortage for positions requiring high technical qualifications such as design and operation of modern machinery in the wood industry, thereby improving productivity and product quality. BIFA and its member businesses will also implement projects on engineered wood, identifying sustainable development trends in the wood industry and market potential for engineered wood products in the future,” said Mr. Bui Nhu Viet.

At the trade promotion conference with the Vietnamese Trade Offices abroad in April 2025, Trade Counselor and Head of the Vietnamese Trade Office in the United States, Do Ngoc Hung, said that in order to proactively respond to the challenges of the trade war and the US's reciprocal tax policy, Vietnamese enterprises also need to improve product quality to create more competitiveness in the US market. In particular, diversifying the supply chain, promoting exports with high intellectual content and added value will contribute to improving the economy 's resilience to external shocks.

Set up link

Mr. Nguyen Liem, Chairman of Binh Duong Wood Processing Association (BIFA), said that finding and diversifying new export markets will pose many new problems for enterprises, requiring trade promotion programs to be improved and expanded, along with strategic policies of the State to support enterprises in exporting and importing more effectively. On the other hand, to grow and develop sustainably, Binh Duong wood enterprises need to be proactive and make efforts to take advantage of support from trade promotion agencies to find new markets.

“In addition to traditional trade promotion through domestic and international fairs, wood enterprises are now stepping up promotion through online sales channels, through websites, especially through cross-border e-commerce channels such as Amazon, Alibaba, Wayfair... to expand the market,” Mr. Nguyen Liem emphasized.

According to Ms. Phan Thi Khanh Duyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, currently, in addition to other solutions that must be implemented regularly (investing in advanced technology, applying green production processes, improving product quality, etc.), most economic experts believe that relevant agencies, functional units and enterprises need to do more effective trade promotion work in the direction of diversifying export markets, "putting eggs in many baskets". First of all, we need to make the most of the FTAs ​​(17 FTAs) that Vietnam has signed and participated in to strengthen and increase export volume and turnover.

The industry and trade sector also proactively advised the Provincial People's Committee to coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to strengthen the construction and connection of new supply chains, especially in potential industries such as wood, textiles, footwear, electronics, etc. To support businesses in responding to reciprocal taxes from the United States, as a standing unit of the Rapid Response Team to promptly support businesses in the province, the Department of Industry and Trade continuously updates information of industry associations and the Provincial Business Federation when facing difficulties and problems due to direct impacts from the US reciprocal import tax policy to advise the Team to guide and support businesses.

Ms. Phan Thi Khanh Duyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade: We request industry associations to closely monitor the production and export situation of members and enterprises in the province. At the same time, review and evaluate the level and factors affecting the industry and production sector, especially export orders, increased costs, market demand, impact on labor - employment, competitiveness of goods, and supply chains.

TIEU MY - ANH TUAN

Source: https://baobinhduong.vn/phat-trien-noi-luc-de-thich-ung-voi-thi-truong-xuat-khau-a347290.html