Our Work

Summary

While foreign direct investment in Vietnam reached historic levels, the spillover benefits to Vietnam’s domestic economy were dampened by the limited supply chain linkages of Vietnamese small and medium enterprises (SMEs). USAID Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (LinkSME) addressed this gap by strengthening the capabilities of intermediary organizations in Vietnam, such as business associations, export development centers, and promotion agencies. The program facilitated supplier-buyer relationships between Vietnamese SMEs and lead firms located in Vietnam and expanded Vietnamese SMEs’ capacity to participate in manufacturing supply chains. The program enhanced the business enabling environment by institutionalizing key reforms and strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for SME growth across the nation. Overall, the program advanced the Indo-Pacific vision of improved economic competitiveness and expansion of inclusive, market-driven, private sector-led growth.