World Bank outlines path for Vietnam to reach high income status

In its report entitled "Vietnam 2045: Trading Up in a Changing World – Pathways to a High-Income Future", the bank said integration into global markets has been the key driver of Vietnam’s development success over the past 40 years, propelling one of the longest and fastest economic expansions in modern history.

Today, Vietnam is one of the most open economies in the world with about half of the country’s GDP and every second job, directly and indirectly depending on exports.

Building on its past success, Vietnam has set ambitious goals for the future, aiming to become a modern, high-income economy by 2045. This requires sustaining annual per capita GDP growth of about 6% over the next two decades. Achieving this goal will depend on Vietnam’s ability to move up the value chain by advancing into higher value-added manufacturing and services through investments in technology, skills, and innovation. And Vietnam will need to manage this transformation amid heightened global uncertainty and profound shifts in the global trading system.

“To sustain rapid growth, Vietnam will need to transition from labour-intensive, low value-added final assembly into higher value-added manufacturing and services,” said Manuela V. Ferro, World Bank Vice President for East Asia & Pacific. “In addition, amid global trade shifts and rising uncertainty, persifying trade and investment partnerships will be essential for building resilience and ensuring long-term success.”

The WB proposed a multipronged approach to unlock productivity growth, attract private investment, and upgrade participation in global value chains. Policy options include deepening regional trade integration; linking domestic enterprises to global supply chains; promoting skill- and technology-intensive manufacturing and high-value-added services; and transitioning to low-carbon, climate-resilient production./.