For sustainable development of cross-border e-commerce

	Firms advised to capitalise on cross-border e-commerce to boost exports
	Cross-border e-commerce accelerated to boost exports

Cross-border e-commerce helps Vietnamese businesses unlock numerous opportunities to participate in the global supply chain. Photo: VNA

Significant opportunity for goods export

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Tuan, Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society (Ministry of Information and Communications) stated that cross-border e-commerce presents substantial growth opportunities, especially with Vietnam's proximity to the massive Chinese market. Furthermore, Vietnamese digital technology companies have established B2B e-commerce platforms, integrating with major global e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Alibaba, and Timo. This allows goods listed on Vietnamese e-commerce platforms to simultaneously appear on these global platforms, directly connecting buyers with sellers and manufacturers.

Cross-border e-commerce is creating significant opportunities for businesses to bolster goods exports. However, effectively leveraging this export channel requires various solutions, ranging from policy mechanisms to adapting to market demands. Economic expert Dr. Vo Tri Thanh also noted that the export of goods and services, including Vietnamese e-commerce, remains largely influenced by foreign brands and distribution channels. Similar to import and export in general, Dr. Vo Tri Thanh emphasized the need for businesses to strive towards building Vietnamese brands and establishing platforms that connect with larger, international platforms.

Another critical aspect is that Vietnam currently boasts around 5,000 – 6,000 OCOP products, but only a small fraction qualify for five-star export status. Therefore, online exports must prioritize quality, traceability, scale, and adherence to green and safe consumption trends. Crucially, "Goods must be intertwined with Vietnamese narratives, showcasing Vietnamese people, culture, traditions, and methods," Dr. Vo Tri Thanh stated, adding that international seminars increasingly focus on digital commerce and the economy, with a growing emphasis on large-scale products and their stories. Consequently, in addition to refining existing practices, Vietnam must adapt to keep pace with market trends and prepare for the burgeoning growth of global e-commerce activities.

Mr. Tran Tuan Anh, CEO of Shopee Vietnam, revealed that market surveys indicate several challenges faced by Vietnamese businesses. Firstly, businesses need to comprehend e-commerce and strategies for engaging with it through various channels. Secondly, they must understand evolving consumer behavior to effectively adapt and stay ahead of trends.

“Our approach involves close collaboration with ministries and sectors to foster connections with businesses, associations, and production facilities of all sizes. This enables us to effectively guide and update them on business and marketing methodologies, operational tools, etc. Simultaneously, we aim to establish links with supply chains, manufacturers, distributors, and warehouses…” Mr. Tran Tuan Anh shared.

Exports linked to sustainable development

According to Ms. Lai Viet Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), optimizing Vietnam's e-commerce potential is a long-term endeavor. The overarching e-commerce plan for the next five years, currently being proposed to the Government by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, prioritizes export-oriented e-commerce. This aims to introduce "Made in Vietnam" products to the international market, ensuring their competitiveness, particularly by supporting small and medium enterprises and manufacturers in selling their goods globally.

Ms. Lai Viet Anh emphasized the need for sustainable development to balance all market participants, including large enterprises, international enterprises, small and medium enterprises, and domestic enterprises. This balance should also extend to manufacturers and commercial enterprises, as well as sellers and consumers.

According to the representative of the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, e-commerce activities emerged in 2006. Starting from a rudimentary stage, a comprehensive decree in 2013 propelled the rapid growth of Vietnamese e-commerce witnessed in recent times. In 2021, Decree No. 85/2021/ND-CP of the Government, amending and supplementing Decree No. 52/2013/ND-CP on e-commerce, integrated new elements to foster healthy market development. “Currently, we are focusing on further enhancing the e-commerce market framework. Data is not only vital for the digital economy and e-commerce but will also be key to future e-commerce law enforcement,” Ms. Lai Viet Anh emphasized.

Furthermore, Ms. Lai Viet Anh highlighted the Government's efforts to connect data between state management agencies and legally regulated independent entities, including the Tax Department, Customs Department, Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and major e-commerce platforms. This data connectivity is crucial for addressing challenges related to law enforcement, future institutional development, consumer protection, and tackling unethical behavior in the digital realm.