Vietnamese small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the wood industry have received assistance from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Switzerland and partners to improve their productivity, competitiveness and working conditions, for more inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Swiss business delegation led by the Swiss Minister, Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, visited one of the 40 ongoing projects related to Switzerland’s Economic Development Cooperation Programme in Vietnam, which started in 1993 on his working visit to Vietnam on October 24-26 2013.
The Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprise Project SCORE – funded by Switzerland and Norway – is focused on SMEs in Vietnam and the wood industry, currently in Ho Chi Minh City and the neighbouring provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Duong. It is providing training and in-factory counselling that improves productivity and working conditions in SMEs, using practical tools offered by ILO. It focuses on developing cooperative relations at the workplace and covers 5 modules: Workplace cooperation, quality management, cleaner production, human resource management, occupational health and safety. Social dialogues, which take place at enterprise level, play an important role to contribute to the improvement of working conditions and to strengthen industrial relationships.
Today, SMEs face a variety of challenges, such as difficult framework conditions, limited skills of its workforce, reduced access to new markets, challenges to comply with laws and market standards, or access to finance. They are forced to produce higher value-added products, to improve linkages along the entire value chain, to maintain their international competitiveness, or to successfully diversify to other local, regional and global markets. While Vietnamese SMEs play an increasingly important role as driving forces of Vietnam’s rapid growth and poverty reduction, there still exists a substantive unused potential, and their current share on exports remains relatively low, at a level of 10 percent of all exports from Vietnam.
The project fits in the national SMEs Development Plan, in which some 350,000 new SMEs are expected by 2015, creating 3.5 to 4 million jobs and making up 40 percent of the country’s gross domestic products.
Vietnam is one of the priority countries of Switzerland’s Economic Cooperation and Development Programme. Under the new Vietnam Country Strategy for the period of 2013 – 2016, Switzerland has reconfirmed its strong commitment to continue to work on Economic Cooperation and Development while supporting Vietnam on its way to attaining inclusive and sustainable growth and by contributing to its economic reform agenda.
Mr Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Swiss Minister, Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
“As a former entrepreneur, I know the challenges SMEs are facing. Besides design, precision as well as innovation, which are key elements of the success, motivated, dedicated and skilled staff are needed as a critical success factor. Good working conditions and respect for worker’s rights will keep SMEs more competitive. Switzerland regards social commitment and solidarity as part of its openness to business. Many of these values are present in the SCORE programme and the related factories. They include solidarity, respect, dialogue and safety at work. Your factories are key to a well functioning labour market and offer attractive jobs and opportunity to hundreds of people here in Vietnam. The tripartite structure of the SCORE project is essential and I would like to thank and congratulate all partners involved for the successful and very fruitful co-operation.”
Dr Vu Tien Loc , VCCI President & Chairman
“Despite being in its early period of development, SMEs in Vietnam have experienced strong growth and played an important role in national economic development. As Vietnam accelerates its regional and global integration, Vietnamese SMEs are having a lot of good opportunities but at the same time facing major challenges, especially increasing competition.
We highly appreciate the effective support from SCORE for SMEs. With its practical approach, the project has helped enterprises address their challenges in a comprehensive way and develop sustainably.”
Mr Gyorgy Sziraczki, ILO Country Director
“SMEs are the major sources for job creation, but they are lagging behind in productivity and working conditions, affecting the entire nation’s competitiveness and market access in the global market.”
Giang Tu
Đăng ký: VietNam News