Entrepreneurs are an indispensable part of the great national unity.
On October 13, 1945, just over a month after the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the Vietnamese business and industrial sectors. The newspaper Cuu Quoc (National Salvation) No. 66, published on October 13, 1945, featured his letter… This letter reflects President Ho Chi Minh's consistent ideology, as early as 1919, in the Petition of the Annamese People, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc had already mentioned the need to “develop industry and establish commerce and industry.” As the head of the Party and State, President Ho Chi Minh delivered approximately 100 speeches, articles, telegrams, and letters to management agencies in the field of commerce and industry, enterprises, businesses, and entrepreneurs in Vietnam. However, the letter of October 13, 1945, held a truly special significance.
Letter from President Ho Chi Minh to the Vietnamese business and industrial sectors, published in the newspaper Cuu Quoc on October 13, 1945.
In 1945, Vietnam was a backward agricultural country dominated by Confucian ideology. According to Confucianism, the social hierarchy in Vietnam was highest, followed by farmers, artisans, and merchants. Yet, from the very beginning of the Republic, President Ho Chi Minh highly valued the role of Vietnamese entrepreneurs. This can be seen as a forward-thinking idea on this matter.
Regarding the position of the business community, the author wrote: “I am very pleased to hear that the business community has united to form the National Salvation Business and Industry Group and joined the Viet Minh Front. Currently, the National Salvation Business and Industry Group is working to do many things that benefit the country and the people, and I wholeheartedly welcome this and look forward to many positive results.”
Thus, from a very early stage, President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that entrepreneurs are an indispensable part of the great national unity and called on industrialists and merchants to "quickly join the National Salvation Industrial and Commercial Union and contribute capital to projects that benefit the nation and the people."
For the first time, the role of the industrial and commercial sector was properly recognized, as stated in the letter: "While other sectors of the nation are striving to achieve complete national independence, the industrial and commercial sector must work to build a solid and prosperous economic and financial foundation."
Perhaps, that was also the first time that Vietnamese businesspeople had a new role: "National affairs and family affairs always go hand in hand. A prosperous national economy means prosperous businesses for entrepreneurs." That was the most important logic in the business endeavors of Vietnamese businesspeople, not only in that historical context but also in the future...
The Industry and Trade sector's achievements in the era of progress.
From President Ho Chi Minh's letter to the Vietnamese business community, the concise and simple words of President Ho Chi Minh not only conveyed tasks to the business community and the entire industry but also transmitted great inspiration for carrying out business tasks, growth objectives, and management work. These great inspirations and high expectations have become the source of spiritual strength…
Inspired by the advice and messages in the letters from President Ho Chi Minh to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, for over 80 years, the industry has strived to build a foundation with many achievements. Particularly during the period of national opening and integration into the international economy, the industry has demonstrated its capabilities, creating breakthroughs and contributing to the nation's progress…
The period from 2021 to 2025 has been a challenging one for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, operating amidst volatile global economic conditions, from the Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions to geopolitical conflicts, inflation, and rising protectionist trends. Facing these headwinds, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has clearly demonstrated its role as one of the key pillars of the economy, overcoming difficulties, recovering, and achieving breakthroughs. These persistent efforts throughout the term will be most clearly demonstrated in 2025, the "finish line" of the entire period.
The first prominent achievement of the Ministry of Industry and Trade is its role in creating institutions and perfecting the policy framework for development. The Ministry has spearheaded the development and promulgation of important legal documents, strategies, plans, and mechanisms and policies covering the fields of industry, trade, energy, and international economic integration. These institutional foundations create space for long-term development. By 2025, many policies have shown clear effectiveness, becoming a driving force for production, business, and investment.
Against that institutional backdrop, industry is gradually recovering and accelerating. While the early years of the term focused on overcoming the consequences of the pandemic, by 2025, industry will truly break through, with the total value added of the sector estimated to increase by about 9.5%, of which the processing and manufacturing industry will increase by over 10% – the highest level in many years. More importantly, the internal capacity of domestic enterprises will be enhanced, gradually participating more deeply in global supply chains, contributing to increasing the value and self-reliance of the economy.
Alongside industry, import and export have been bright spots throughout the period, with 2025 marking a particularly significant milestone. Total import and export turnover is estimated to reach over 930 billion USD, placing Vietnam among the top 15 countries with the largest trade volume in the world. This is the result of expanding markets, diversifying partners, and effectively utilizing new-generation free trade agreements throughout the term. Notably, Vietnam has maintained a trade surplus for 10 consecutive years, making a significant contribution to macroeconomic stability, strengthening foreign exchange reserves, and enhancing the resilience of the economy.
Amidst a volatile global economy, the domestic market continues to be identified as a crucial pillar. In recent years, the domestic market has shown significant recovery and expansion, supported by numerous stimulus programs, supply-demand linkages, and distribution system development. By 2025, total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue are projected to exceed 7 trillion VND, placing the market among the top 32 largest in the world. Domestically produced goods are expected to account for 90-95% of the market share in modern distribution systems, affirming the increasingly strong position of Vietnamese products and the effectiveness of domestic market development policies.
Alongside this, e-commerce and trade promotion have been significantly innovated, becoming new drivers of growth. Throughout this period, e-commerce has maintained a growth rate of 20–25% per year; by 2025, the market size is expected to exceed $31 billion, accounting for approximately 10% of total retail sales… In the energy and infrastructure sector, many key projects have been implemented and completed, contributing to ensuring national energy security.
It can be affirmed that the achievements are the culmination of a whole process of innovative thinking, institutional reform, and efforts to overcome difficulties, creating a solid foundation for the Industry and Trade sector to enter a new phase of development with higher, more sustainable requirements, deeper integration, and to rise together with the country.
| After more than 80 years, the profound and timeless ideas in President Ho Chi Minh's letter to the Vietnamese business community remain a guiding principle, especially at this new historical moment when the country is entering an era of progress. The industry and trade sector, along with the rest of the country, has fulfilled many of President Ho Chi Minh's aspirations and can confidently pursue them at an even higher level. |
Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/tu-khat-vong-xay-dung-nen-cong-nghiep-thuong-nghiep-thinh-vuong-cua-bac-ho-den-co-do-cong-thuong-hom-nay.html
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