Vietnam represents an exciting opportunity for private sector investments. Vietnam has risen 23 positions in the World Bank Doing Business Survey from 2016 to 2018, and every province has steadily improved its performance on the VCCI Provincial Competitiveness Index. As I noted at the recent unveiling of the Provincial Competitiveness Index, Vietnam witnessed impressive reform efforts by local governments across the country and many governance areas have been improved to remove obstacles for businesses.

For private sector working in Vietnam, we encourage you to review the opportunities to partner with USAID/Vietnam. We are focused on pursuing areas of mutual interest and partnering with private sector entities to identify business opportunities within development challenges. The list below identifies areas that we are currently focused on partnering with the private sector to address common interests and provides a direct link for you to initiate these discussions.

USAID/Vietnam will pursue shared value partnerships that leverage resources and innovation to increase the speed and efficiency of achieving our strategic development results. By pursuing shared value partnerships, a subset of the larger Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concept that focuses on aligned interests and opportunities, we will mobilize domestic and international resources and identify private enterprise-driven solutions to development challenges, thereby moving closer to the day when development assistance will not be required.

Promoting global linkages for small and medium-sized enterprises 

The USAID Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (LinkSME) project aims to strengthen the supplier-buyer relationships between Vietnamese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and multinationals located in Vietnam to help local firms participate in global value chains. This five-year, $22 million project will improve the business environment by lowering costs for multinationals located in Vietnam to source locally while representing a huge opportunity to grow Vietnam’s SME sector.

To partner: https://goo.gl/KbSfYb

Expanding health-related goods and services 

The Healthy Markets project (HMA) has increased private sector investment for HIV commodities. HMA provides data on market segmentation; deploys innovative marketing campaigns; brokers relationships between private sector, government and civil society; and addresses key policy barriers for sustainable growth. The project looks to expand commercial sales of condoms as well as HIV self-test kits, and access to key population friendly private sector HIV services including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.

To partner: http://sites.path.org/vietnam/emerging-and-epidemic-diseases/usaid-healthy-markets/

USAID’s Healthy Markets project has partnered with PharmaCity, a private pharmacy chain, to promote HIV self-testing for the first time in Vietnam.

USAID’s Healthy Markets

HIV domestic financing solutions & Civil Society Organizations (CSO)

CSOs have demonstrated the ability to innovate delivery of cost-effective services such as condom distribution, and HIV lay-provider and self​-​testing. They are adept at increasing reach to hidden and vulnerable populations, and are deploying fee-based approaches to sustain their efforts. CSOs are increasingly skilled at working with the private sector, and seen as reliable partners for promoting market growth for HIV and other health services and commodities.  

To partner: http://sites.path.org/vietnam/emerging-and-epidemic-diseases/usaid-healthy-markets/ and  http://ccrd.org.vn/en/quan-tam/hiv-aids

G-link and G3VN, civil society partners of USAID’s Healthy Markets project, participate in providing HIV lay testing services.

PATH

Expediting trade and support customs reforms in Vietnam

The Vietnam Trade Facilitation Alliance (VTFA) is a public-private partnership supported by USAID in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce. The VTFA meets with customs authorities and private companies regularly to help address challenges with customs procedures and technical barriers to trade. Reducing these barriers will help to increase trade flows, boost productivity, and increase profitability for businesses while raising incomes and prosperity in Vietnam.

To partner: http://www.amchamvietnam.com/u-s-backed-alliance-to-facilitates-trade-through-public-private-partnership 

A dialogue between businesses and customs authorities.

VTFA

Energy Efficiency

USAID’s Vietnam is actively facilitating the deployment of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies. USAID’s V-LEEP project seeks to collaborate with like-minded corporate leaders to accelerate Vietnam’s transition to a vibrant and clean energy economy.

To partner: Please email John Bruce Wells at johnbwells@deloitte.com; http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00MNRG.pdf

USAID aims to help private companies finance, create and build renewable energy projects.

USAID/Vietnam

Digital Finance

USAID’s Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) and Digital Finance Teams invite private sector partners to assess digital PFES payment opportunities in Vietnam and help build an inclusive economic infrastructure that improves governance, creates transparency, and provides a foundation for innovative, new business models.

To partner: https://www.winrock.org/project/vfd/; https://www.usaid.gov/digital-development/digital-finance

Forest owners receive PFES payments.

USAID/VFD

Improving Livelihoods

USAID invites impact investors to work with its Green Annamites Team to identify and expand livelihoods that allow marginalized ethnic minority communities to prosper and live in harmony with their globally unique forests.

To partner: Please email partnerships@ecodit.com.vn; https://go.usa.gov/xEsWq

Vegetable farmers from Thua Thien Hue province who have benefited from USAID's Green Annamites project.

USAID/Vietnam

Strengthening Higher Education

USAID seeks new private sector partners to expand its higher education partnerships. Our existing models in Vietnam have USAID contributing technical assistance to build university capacity to improve educational quality. Partners in the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors bring funding, technology, expertise, advice, and supportive policy. USAID/Vietnam wishes to expand its existing partnership models to new institutions and programs through resource sharing with international organizations and donors pursuing similar outcomes.

To partner: Medical Education: http://haivn.org/post/impact-med-alliance; Contact Todd Pollack at todd@haivn.org.

A student at Ho Chi Minh University of Medicine and Pharmacy using modern technology at a USAID-supported smart classroom.

HAIVN