At Shopee's headquarters in Singapore, the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy under Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Shopee Co., Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote cross-border e-commerce on November 25. This collaboration aims to modernize the national trade ecosystem by integrating state policies, business capabilities, and technological infrastructure.
Vietnam - A "Rising Star" in Southeast Asia
In recent years, Southeast Asia has emerged as the most dynamic e-commerce region globally, with Vietnam standing out as a "rising star," due to its impressive growth rate.
According to the e-Conomy SEA 2024 report, ASEAN's total e-commerce revenue reached $159 billion, a 14% increase. Notably, Vietnam contributed $22 billion, marking an 18% growth, securing its position among the regional leaders.
Ms. Lai Viet Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, emphasized that e-commerce is not only a driver of digital economic growth but also a powerful tool for comprehensive digital transformation across all aspects of social life. Thanks to e-commerce, Vietnamese consumers can access a diverse range of products from both domestic and international sources. More importantly, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have leveraged digital platforms to optimize costs, expand distribution channels, and begin conquering global markets.
These achievements result from the consistent and long-term e-commerce development policies of the Vietnamese government, as reflected in comprehensive plans for each phase (most recently 2026-2030) and the Vietnamese Prime Minister's Directive 29/CT-TTg on promoting exports. These documents have identified cross-border e-commerce as a strategic pillar to build a sustainable digital export ecosystem, enhancing international competitiveness for Vietnamese goods and brands.
To realize this goal, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has implemented specific action programs, including enhancing the capacity of SMEs through training courses on e-commerce application skills, marketing, logistics, and supply chain management. They also support and encourage businesses to participate in major international e-commerce platforms to access global markets.
Expanding International Vision for Vietnamese Enterprises
Vietnam's leading position cannot be overlooked without mentioning the role of top e-commerce platforms. Shopee is a prime example, continuously evolving to become a technological launchpad, supporting SMEs in digital transformation and leveraging the platform's technological advantages for domestic and international development.
The signing of the MOU between the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy and Shopee is a testament to Vietnam's strong commitment to digital commerce and the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) community, VietnameseAmbassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh affirmed.
This MOU will focus on promoting online B2C exports of Vietnamese MSMEs to ASEAN and international markets. It will develop the "Vietnam National Pavilion" on Shopee International, showcasing authentic, quality products from Vietnamese MSMEs. Additionally, it will organize training and capacity-building programs for MSMEs on online B2C exports and implement digital promotion campaigns in the ASEAN region.
Mr. G. Jayakrishnan, Regional Managing Director of Enterprise Singapore, noted, "This collaboration comes at the right time as ASEAN accelerates digital transformation. This coordination not only provides practical solutions and technology application guidance for MSMEs but also serves as a bridge for interaction, connecting potential partners, creating a broad cooperation framework, and emphasizing the Vietnam-Singapore connection in the digital era."
With a spirit of mutual benefit and transparency, the signing of the MOU between the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy and Shopee marks an important milestone, realizing the cross-border e-commerce development policies, helping Vietnamese goods and brands "reach far on the global trade map."
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