PM urges industry, trade sector to pioneer in six key areas

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and delegates attend the ceremony announcing the 2025 import–export results. — VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to promote its leading role in six key areas while chairing a conference in Hà Nội on Friday to review its performance in 2025 and the 2021-25 period, and set tasks for 2026.

The PM underlined that the sector must take the lead in promoting industrialisation and modernisation, facilitating rapid, sustainable, and green development in the digital era, diversifying markets, products and supply chains, combating wastefulness, corruption, counterfeit goods, and trade fraud, building a clean, capable, and professional workforce, and spearheading decentralisation, delegation of power, administrative reform, and data connectivity.

The Government leader hailed efforts and achievements of the sector in the 2021–25 period.

In the last five years, the MoIT led the drafting of six laws, 65 decrees, 216 circulars, and more than 20 strategies and development programmes for key sectors.

Major economic balances have been maintained, particularly energy security and the supply of essential goods and production inputs, alongside steady progress in power infrastructure, including key 500kV and 220kV transmission projects.

Import–export activities recorded strong growth, becoming a key pillar of economic resilience. Exports rose by an average of 10.8 per cent annually, more than double the target. In 2025, total trade turnover was estimated at US$920 billion, placing Vietnam among the world’s top 15 trading nations, with a trade surplus of around $22 billion.

Industrial production recovered robustly, with the index of industrial production (IIP) estimated to increase by 9.5 per cent. The domestic market grew by 9–10 per cent, while e-commerce surpassed $30 billion for the first time, accounting for two-thirds of the digital economy and ranking Vietnam among the world’s top 10 fastest-growing e-commerce markets and top three in ASEAN.

Việt Nam’s national brand value in 2025 reached $519.6 billion, up 2.5 per cent from 2024, firmly maintaining its 32nd position globally.

Prime Minister Chính outlines key tasks for the industry and trade sector in 2026.

In 2026, the sector aims to raise the IIP by over 10 per cent, accelerate trade development with a target exceeding 8 per cent growth in export turnover, maintain a sustainable trade surplus, and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management as well as the sector’s overall competitiveness.

Despite the achievements, PM Chính warned of emerging challenges, including geopolitical fragmentation, slower global growth, and the accelerating green and digital transitions, which require proactive and flexible responses.

He noted that 2026 holds special significance, marking the first year of implementation of the 14th National Party Congress Resolution and the 2026–30 socio-economic development plan, with the target of double-digit economic growth to lay a solid foundation for realising the country’s “two centenary goals” and steering Việt Nam confidently into a new era.

The leader stressed that, to make a substantive contribution to national development, the industry and trade sector must also achieve double-digit growth, generate new jobs, strengthen traditional growth drivers such as export and consumption, and accelerate emerging engines of growth, including the green, digital, circular, knowledge-based and sharing economies.

He affirmed the Government’s commitment to accompanying the sector. He expressed confidence that in 2026, the industry and trade sector would generate strong momentum and make significant contributions to achieving double-digit economic growth and advancing Việt Nam’s long-term development goals.

On the occasion, the PM also attended a ceremony announcing Việt Nam’s 2025 trade results and honouring reputable import–export enterprises. — VNA/VNS