WSJ: “Made in Vietnam” Goods will Soon Popular Globally

  Numerous foreign investors relocating factorties to Long An (Vietnam) to set up business and take advantage of young and low cost workforce.

This province has a dozen industrial zones. As of May 2015, they have attracted 3.67 billion USD foreign investments, 40% of which is poured into textiles sector.

The economists said that this process could accelerate if the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) is agreed. This agreement will reduce import tariffs on many goods exchanged between member states, mainly to benefit the developing country like Vietnam or Malaysia - countries where growth rate depends heavily on exports.

Wages soared and labor shortages in China are making Vietnam become more attractive. Last year, FDI into Vietnam have reached 12.4 billion USD, increase by nearly 25% compared to 2009. One of the largest investors as Samsung Electronics of South Korea whom have plan to double investment in electronics manufacturing in Vietnam.

If TPP takes effect, Vietnam economy will be the biggest beneficiaries because this country has more opportunities to access the large consumer market. TPP will give member countries privileged access to the US and Japan.

The Government of Vietnam is estimated that TPP could bring the economy 33.5 billion USD over the next decade, equivalent to a fifth of current GDP. The export turnover of the main industries, such as textiles and footwear, will increase by 46% to 165 billion USD in 2025 due to tax-free imports into other countries.

In Long An, the 3-storey factory of Avery Dennison is preparing for the influx of orders on clothing labels and price tags. Dozens of concrete houses for workers are also being built - a signal that many other manufacturers are also coming here.

Finding the right business partner in Vietnam is also important. We recommend doing research on the reputation of the company and individual shareholders, corporate or individual, gathering publicly available company information, and performing background checks on key personnel to find potential risks in cooperation. Working with a reliable partner can help achieve economic benefits, saving time and money in business.