As 2025 draws to a close, Ban IV and the Vietnam business Federation continue to reaffirm their role as a strong information bridge between the business community and the Government. At the fourth-quarter briefing meeting held on December 23, 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City, business associations raised a number of urgent issues related to policy implementation, while also outlining key directions to support sustainable growth objectives in 2026.
Ensuring a seamless flow between Government and businesses
Throughout 2025, Ban IV continued to play a central role in connecting more than 100 member associations, serving as a crucial conduit between the business community and the Government. A key focus of its work has been maintaining monthly reporting mechanisms to the Prime Minister, providing timely reflections of production and business realities as well as emerging obstacles in policy implementation. The thematic reports on investment and production barriers facing private enterprises have helped regulators identify bottlenecks requiring early resolution.
At the same time, Ban IV and its member associations have proactively contributed to policy and institutional development, including Resolution 68 and the initiative to develop 1,000 pioneering enterprises. The year 2025 also marked notable progress in strengthening Public-Private and Private-Private linkages through mechanisms such as the Vietnam Private Economy Landscape (ViPEL). The five committees under ViPEL have gradually formed a substantive ecosystem of cooperation, strengthening the internal capacity of Vietnamese enterprises.
Businesses and associations highlight implementation bottlenecks
At the Q4/2025 briefing meeting, beyond broader policy perspectives, representatives of associations and enterprises continued to identify specific difficulties directly affecting production, business operations, and competitiveness.
According to Mr. Nhu Dinh Thien, representative of the Vietnam Ship Agents, Brokers and Maritime Services Association (VISABA), offshore wind power projects should be thoroughly reviewed to avoid overlaps with shipping lanes and anchorage areas. He stressed the need for mandatory consultation with maritime authorities from the planning stage to ensure safety and efficiency.
Adding to the discussion, Mr. Pham Quoc Long Deputy CEO of Gemadept Corporation and Chairman of VISABA, raised concerns about the management of foreign shipping lines, particularly with respect to ancillary surcharges. He noted that inconsistencies in pricing management mechanisms between domestic and foreign carriers are increasing cost pressures on exporters and distorting the logistics services market.
In the industrial production sector, Mr. Trinh Tien Dung, Chairman and CEO of Đại Dũng Group, argued that current trade policies risk creating “reverse protection,” as many input materials are subject to anti-dumping duties while finished or semi-finished imported products face low - or even zero - tariffs. This misalignment, he said, is placing heavy competitive pressure on domestic mechanical and steel structure enterprises despite their investments in technology and proven production capacity.
From the perspective of industry associations, Ms. Huynh Thi My, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Vietnam Plastics Association, noted that domestic firms still face challenges in joining supply chains for FDI projects, even in sectors where local production capacity is sufficient. Many FDI enterprises bring entire supplier ecosystems from abroad, while Vietnamese firms lack initial entry points into these value chains. She suggested developing appropriate mechanisms to encourage the use of local suppliers and expand opportunities for Vietnamese businesses.
Regarding technology and finance, Mr. Phung Anh Tuan, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Association of Financial Investors (VAFI), pointed out that the rollout of regulatory sandboxes for new models such as fintech and blockchain remains slower than technological developments. As a result, some Vietnamese-founded startups choose to register overseas in order to raise capital and operate, increasing the risk of resource outflows.
In agriculture and exports, Mr. Thai Nhu Hiep, Vice President of the Vietnam Coffee - Cocoa Association (VICOFA), observed that enterprises are facing growing pressure from international environmental and deforestation-related rules. However, the lack of a unified domestic emissions database and criteria makes compliance verification difficult and raises costs when dealing with international partners.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Ngo Ngoc Khanh, Vice President of the Vietnam Supporting Industries Alliance (LM VISA), welcomed Decree 205 on the development of supporting industries as a positive step, but emphasized the importance of strict implementation to ensure that policies truly benefit enterprises. He also warned of tax evasion and trade-remedy circumvention through imports of incomplete products and components, which harms domestic manufacturing, especially mechanical engineering. He proposed developing an Anti-Circumvention Law and adopting tailored policies to nurture leading and pioneering enterprises capable of guiding SMEs into domestic supply chains.
From practical feedback to action priorities for 2026
From such focused briefing sessions, Ban IV and the Business Federation both consolidate and relay policy feedback to the Government, helping ensure timely adjustments aligned with market realities and the needs of the business community. At the same time, challenges arising in practice are driving Vietnamese enterprises to become more flexible - proactively building Private-Private cooperation networks across different ecosystems, tapping “the market as a resource” and avoiding fragmented, isolated actions as in the past.
