On the afternoon of September 17, 2026, at the National Economics University, the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with the National Economics University, organized a scientific conference titled “Factors Influencing the Enhancement of Position in the Global Value Chain of Key Industries in the Southeast Region in Association with Digital Economy, Green Economy, and Circular Economy Development.” The conference provided a forum for academic exchange, sharing practical experiences, contributing to identifying impacting factors, and proposing solutions to enhance the competitiveness and position of Vietnamese enterprises in the global value chain.

Overview of the Conference

Attending the conference, from the Research Group were: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung – Former Rector of the University of Economics and Law; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Thi Thuy Giang – Project Leader along with other project members.

From the external delegates were: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Xuan Ba – Former Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management; Dr. Pham Ngoc Thang – Former Director of the General Economic Department, Central Economic Commission, along with scientists and managers from central agencies, higher education institutions, research institutes, and the business community.

From the National Economics University were: Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh – Vice President of the University; Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat – Chairman of the Scientific & Training Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Ha, Former Chairman of the University Council, along with representatives of the leadership from Schools, Departments, Faculties, Institutes, Centers; experts, scientists, and lecturers of the University.

The conference was organized within the framework of the national-level science and technology project “Enhancing the Position in the Global Value Chain for Key Industries of Vietnamese Enterprises in the Southeast Region,” code KX.01.03/21-30, led by the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. This is one of the project’s activities aimed at receiving feedback from scientists, managers, and the business community, serving the process of refining research results and proposing policy recommendations.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung – Former Rector of the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City speaking

In his opening remarks at the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung – Former Rector of the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City stated that the conference was organized within the framework of the national-level science and technology project “Enhancing the Position in the Global Value Chain for Key Industries of Vietnamese Enterprises in the Southeast Region” (code KX.01.03/21-30), with the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City as the lead agency. The conference is one of the project’s important activities, providing a forum for scientists, managers, and the business community to engage in academic exchange, share practical experiences, and contribute feedback to further refine the research outcomes.

The Organizing Committee anticipates that the exchanges and discussions at the Conference will help clarify the factors influencing the ability to enhance the position of key industries in the Southeast region within the global value chain. Additionally, it aims to provide valuable scientific and practical recommendations and proposals to support the completion of the project and the development policy planning for the region’s key industries.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh – Vice President of the National Economics University speaks

In his opening remarks at the Conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh – Vice President of the University, stated that in the context of rapidly changing global value chains due to digital transformation, green transition, and sustainable development requirements, the challenge for Vietnamese enterprises is no longer just participating in the value chain, but more importantly, enhancing competitiveness and gradually engaging in higher value-added segments. For the Southeast region – one of the country’s key industrial, export, and investment hubs – this process is influenced by various factors, including technological capability, human resources, innovation, green standards, circular economy, chain linkages, infrastructure, markets, and institutions.

Based on this, Assoc. Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh directed the presentations and discussions to focus on clarifying the role of technology and digital transformation, the quality of human resources, innovation, and research and development; the ability to meet green standards, sustainable development, and circular economy requirements; as well as conditions regarding chain linkages, infrastructure, institutions, markets, and financial resources. Through this, the Conference aims to identify decisive factors and bottlenecks limiting the ability to enhance the position of enterprises, thereby proposing feasible solutions to strengthen internal capacity, better meet international market demands, and engage more deeply in the global value chain.

The Presidium conducts the discussion session at the Conference

The research presented at the Conference approaches the issue from various industries and fields. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan The Cong from the University of Commerce analyzes digital technology, automation, and digital platforms as levers to enhance the position in the global value chain of the Southeast region’s key industries. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Huyen from the University of Economics and Law focuses on enhancing the position of the textile and garment enterprises in the Southeast region through the development of a circular economy; while the research group led by MSc. PhD Candidate Chu Thi Le Anh from the Regional Political Academy 1 and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung from the National Economics University shares and proposes solutions to strengthen linkages between SMEs and FDI enterprises in the Southeast region: Absorptive capacity and readiness to participate in the global supply chain.

Approaching from the new requirements of the international market, Dr. Bui Viet Hung from the Institute of European – American Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung from the National Economics University present research on the impact of the European Union’s green standards and sustainable development on Vietnam’s textile and garment export supply chain. Additionally, MSc. Nguyen Thi Hai Hang and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Phong from the University of Economics and Law analyze the readiness to apply information technology and the operational efficiency of Vietnamese commercial banks, thereby providing implications for digital transformation financing capabilities.

Experts and scientists present papers at the Conference

Beyond the presentations, the Conference allocates time for delegates to exchange and discuss practical issues. The opinions at the Conference further clarify the relationship between technological capability, human resources, innovation with digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, chain linkages, markets, and institutions; while identifying the driving factors and bottlenecks that need to be addressed for enterprises to enhance their internal capacity and better meet international market demands.

Summarizing the Conference, Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat – Chairman of the Scientific & Training Council, National Economics University, evaluated that the presentations, exchanges, debates, and practical experiences have contributed to clarifying the factors affecting the ability to enhance the position of key industries in the Southeast region within the global value chain. Based on this, the contributions will be absorbed to further refine the research results of the project KX.01.03/21-30, while serving as a basis for proposing scientifically and practically valuable solutions and policy recommendations.

The results of the exchanges at the Conference provide additional scientific and practical foundations for identifying drivers and addressing bottlenecks in the process of participating in the global value chain of the Southeast region’s key industries. Through this, the research and recommendations are expected to support enterprises in enhancing competitiveness, strengthening linkages, adapting to the requirements of digital transformation, green transition, and circular economy, and gradually participating more deeply in higher value-added segments of the global value chain.

Article and photos: Communications Department