VCCI Strengthening Role of Entrepreneurs in Vietnam's New Economic Era

General Secretary To Lam meets with outstanding entrepreneurs, praising their contributions to national development and VCCI’s role in strengthening the business community on the occasion of Entrepreneurs’ Day 2024

Strong support for the business community

Over the 62-year development journey (April 27, 1963 - April 27, 2025), VCCI has always upheld its core mission of supporting the business community and promoting the country's economic development and international integration.

During its operation, VCCI has played an important role as a bridge between the business community and authorities, actively contributing to reforms, improving the business environment, and supporting businesses in enhancing competitiveness and protecting their rights.

One of VCCI’s key activities is advising the Party and Government on economic institutions, especially during the doi moi (renovation) period since 1986 and international economic integration since 1990. VCCI has actively promoted reforms, advised the Government in negotiating and signing free trade agreements, and encouraged businesses to seize the opportunities from these agreements.

In improving the business environment, VCCI plays a vital role, notably through its annual release of the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), which assesses the business climate and economic governance of local leaders, thereby encouraging nationwide improvements.

In enhancing governance capacity, VCCI organizes training courses and seminars for tens of thousands of trainees, helping businesses strengthen their management capabilities.

In business support and international integration, VCCI effectively connects domestic and international companies, creates opportunities for direct meetings, and assists in finding partners and expanding markets through fairs, exhibitions and market surveys. VCCI also facilitates connections among foreign firms.

In sustainable development, VCCI is a pioneer in promoting corporate sustainability and has initiated and developed the Program for Benchmarking and Announcing Sustainable Businesses in Vietnam (CSI Program).

VCCI participates in and contributes to numerous international trade, investment, economic, and cooperation events. In the photo: VCCI leaders among the delegation accompanying State President Luong Cuong, attend the APEC 2024 Leaders' Week in Peru

The role of VCCI, entrepreneurs and enterprises is increasingly enhanced

The 7th VCCI Congress, held in late 2021, declared that VCCI is entering a new development stage with the vision and mission of building strong businesses for a prosperous nation. According to VCCI President Pham Tan Cong, after three challenging years of the 7th term, from the intense days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the struggle for business recovery to the exciting welcome of Resolution 41-NQ/TW and meetings with top Party and Government leaders, VCCI has achieved many important results, while the Vietnamese business community has matured, grown stronger, affirmed its solid position, and become a core force in national economic development.

He said, despite ongoing difficulties, VCCI has achieved significant results over the past three years. Notably, it successfully led the consultation for the 10-year review of implementing Resolution 09-NQ/TW of the 11th Politburo and advised the Politburo to issue Resolution 41-NQ/TW on developing and promoting the role of Vietnamese entrepreneurs in the new era. This resolution presents important, innovative viewpoints and solutions that will provide a strategic foundation for the stable and long-term development of entrepreneurs and businesses: redefining entrepreneurs as a core force in economic development, not criminalizing economic relations, and calling for the creation of national programs focused on the development of Vietnamese entrepreneurs and nationalist entrepreneurship.

VCCI has led efforts to shape relevant laws and policies, further improve the business environment and support business development. Between 2022 and 2024, VCCI provided input on 300-320 draft legal documents each year, organized 100-130 seminars and discussions on lawmaking, particularly on major laws like the revised Land Law and the Bidding Law, which were highly praised by lawmaking agencies, and annually released the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) and, starting in 2022, the Provincial Green Index (PGI).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with businesspeople at an event marking Vietnam Entrepreneurs' Day (October 13)

VCCI has made great progress in building Vietnamese business ethics and culture. The six business ethics codes initiated and announced by VCCI have not only been widely adopted in the business community but also included in 11th-grade coursebooks and the Economics and Law Education curriculum by the Ministry of Education and Training. VCCI also hosted a national songwriting contest and selected the traditional song of Vietnamese businesspeople. VCCI is actively leading the development of a system of national ethical values and a business culture for Vietnamese entrepreneurs and enterprises.

In addition, VCCI's efforts to strengthen business development connections and support have yielded many important results. It regularly organizes regional member conferences, annual spring business meetings rotating by locality, celebrates Vietnamese Entrepreneurs' Day on October 13, and has held the National Conference on Vietnamese Business since 2023. VCCI's contributions have supported the growth of the Vietnamese business community, which now includes about 950,000 businesses, many of which are powerful private firms capable of competing and integrating internationally.

Notably, the role of VCCI, enterprises and entrepreneurs has been further elevated, leading to substantive and effective cooperation with central and local agencies, as well as domestic and foreign organizations, all of which have been highly appreciated and supported by Party and State leaders. The Prime Minister meets with businesses annually, regularly assigns tasks, and seeks consultations. The General Secretary, the State President, the National Assembly Chairman, and many senior Party and State leaders have also dedicated time to working with VCCI and meeting with businesspeople over the past three years.

VCCI President Pham Tan Cong said, 2025 is likely to face uncertainties and may witness a global trade war, presenting significant challenges for entrepreneurs, enterprises and VCCI alike.

However, 2025 also brings opportunities when new regulations, organizational changes and personnel changes signal a year of strong transformation for the country

“The Party and State are targeting double-digit economic growth starting in 2026, with 2025 as the foundation year. This marks the beginning of a new economic development model, with the success of businesses driving this transition. In this process, the support of VCCI is indispensable," he expressed.

Upholding its role over the past 62 years, VCCI will continue to evolve to adapt to new conditions, seize new opportunities, contribute to building a prosperous country, and strengthen the role and responsibility of entrepreneurs and enterprises in the nation's rising era.