Announced on March 17, the initiative is backed by a 5 million Swiss franc grant from SECO, extending through 2029. It aims to provide more than half a million Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with access to up to $35 billion in working capital.

Vietnam is among the world’s most open economies, with exports contributing approximately half of the country’s GDP and supporting every second job, directly or indirectly. However, Vietnamese suppliers and exporters often face working capital constraints, as payments for delivered goods typically take 30 to 60 days. This limits their ability to accept larger orders and establish new business relationships. A recent World Bank survey found that less than one-fifth of local firms had global value chain linkages in 2023.

Better access to SCF can help address these challenges by converting sales receivables and inventories into cash, reducing funding costs, and accelerating trade cycles. It also strengthens local connections to global value chains and frees up capital for investment in research and development, technology, and workforce training.

“We estimate that the first phase of the programme has unlocked over $30 billion in capital for around half a million Vietnamese SMEs,” said Thomas Gass, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam. “By providing financial support to these businesses, the programme has not only helped SMEs to thrive but also contributed to broader economic growth, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable marketplace.”

Launched in 2018 with SECO’s support, IFC’s Vietnam SCF Programme has worked to address key market barriers hindering the growth of SCF. Its focus has been on fostering an enabling environment, enhancing institutional readiness, and increasing market demand and awareness. Over the past five years, the programme has contributed to improvements in movable finance regulations, provided tailored SCF strategy advice to four banks, and facilitated up to $33 billion in receivables and inventory financing for 500,000 SMEs.

“The State Bank of Vietnam, in collaboration with IFC and SECO, will continue to review and adjust regulations to foster a more favourable environment for SCF. This includes refining rules for e-financing platform lending and incentivising financial institutions to diversify their offerings, ultimately improving credit access for SMEs,” said deputy governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh.

The second phase of the programme, running over the next five years, will focus on strengthening Vietnam’s legal and regulatory framework to support SCF market development. It will also enhance the institutional capacity of lenders, enabling them to offer comprehensive SCF solutions to local SMEs. A key priority will be increasing awareness and capacity among buyers and suppliers, encouraging greater adoption of SCF across Vietnam.

“Trade is a key driver of Vietnam’s economy, and it will play a central role in the country’s ambition to achieve high-income status by 2045,” said Thomas Jacobs, IFC country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. “IFC is pleased to be working with SECO and our banking partners to help develop the supply chain finance market, which is a crucial component of the financial ecosystem for SMEs.”

Photo: IPC Binh Dinh

The partnership aims to manufacture high-quality diagnostic test kits using Canadian technology, catering to markets in Vietnam, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

The BIDIPHAR-GBM joint venture represents an investment of $10–20 million to develop a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Binh Dinh. The collaboration underscores GBM’s commitment to global expansion and pandemic preparedness, positioning the company as a key player in next-generation diagnostics.

Among the joint venture’s key objectives are the advancement of scalable diagnostic solutions for pandemic preparedness and the pursuit of dual listings on the U.S. NASDAQ and Vietnam Stock Exchange within five years.

“Vietnam’s growing healthcare market and strategic location make it an ideal hub for our expansion,” said Jessica Hu, CEO and founder of Gene Bio Medical. “Our partnership with BIDIPHAR will leverage Canadian technology to provide affordable, high-quality diagnostic solutions across global markets. This joint venture aligns with GBM’s mission to enhance global health security through innovation and accessibility.”

GBM, headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, is recognised for its innovations in molecular diagnostics and AI-driven healthcare solutions. The company has an established distribution network across 4,900 independent pharmacies and hospitals in Canada, with its respiratory diagnostic product line expected to receive US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2025.

Binh Dinh has emerged as a premier investment destination in Vietnam, offering a range of incentives for foreign investors, including corporate income tax benefits, import tax exemptions, and land rental incentives.

“We welcome Gene Bio Medical’s investment in Binh Dinh’s biotechnology sector, a key pillar of our economic strategy,” said Lam Hai Giang, Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh People’s Committee. “The province remains committed to supporting international investors by providing world-class infrastructure and regulatory incentives.”

With strong infrastructure and investor-friendly policies, the BIDIPHAR-GBM joint venture is well-positioned for long-term success, contributing to the advancement of Vietnam’s biotechnology sector and expanding its role in the global diagnostics market.

Long Hau 1 Industrial Park in Can Giuoc district, Long An province. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi – The delegation of licensing authority to localities along with newly planned and expanded industrial zones is driving the growth of the industrial real estate segment, providing a major boost for investors.

According to the approved planning schemes of 63 localities, by 2030, Vietnam will have 221 newly planned industrial zones, while 76 existing zones will be expanded and 22 have their planning adjusted.

The acceleration of legal obstacles removal in recent industrial real estate projects is creating growth opportunities for many businesses participating in this segment. Notably, this is also one of the key factors contributing to attracting investment and boosting growth for real estate in 2025.

In November 2024, the National Assembly adopted the Law on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Planning, the Law on Investment, the Law on Investment under Public-Private Partnership (PPP), and the Law on Bidding. Notably, the amended Law on Investment requires the delegation of investment certification for industrial zones to the provincial People’s Committees, instead of the Prime Minister. This decentralisation of industrial land management will accelerate the establishment of new industrial zones.

According to experts, the licensing procedures for the establishment of new industrial zones will be sped up this year.

For example, in January, the Kinh Bac Urban Development Corporation (KBC) made significant legal progress in key projects, such as receiving approval for the investment policy of the 687-hectare Trang Due 3 Industrial Park, the 585-hectare Trang Cat Urban Area, and Phase 1 of the Kim Thanh 2 Industrial Park covering 235 hectares. As a result, the company’s total industrial land fund has increased to 6,402 hectares, accounting for 5.1% of the national industrial land area.

Nguyen Van Dinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Real Estate Brokers, stated that industrial real estate remains a “star” of the market, and is predicted to continue “carrying” the overall market’s recovery at the top tier.

Notably, not only large, well-known developers such as Kinh Bac (KBC), Viglacera (VGC), Becamex (BCM), Idico (IDC), and others who dominate the industrial real estate market, but many other companies are also being drawn into the “race” by the segment’s appeal.

Recently, Saigon Thuong Tin Real Estate Joint Stock Company (TTC Land) has announced its upcoming strategy to expand into the industrial and logistics real estate sectors in the southern market. Meanwhile, DIC Holdings, a member of DIC Corp, has also partnered with Van Thuong Industrial Park Infrastructure Development Co., Ltd. to be prioritised as the general contractor for the 400-hectare infrastructure project in Phu My township in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

Thomas Rooney, senior expert at Savills Hanoi, assessed that although the potential is “huge,” most industrial park projects in Vietnam are currently being developed using the traditional model.

Converting a conventional industrial park into an environmentally friendly zone is necessary. However, this is not a simple task, as it involves high costs and requires time, as well as careful consideration from the Government regarding the legal framework and incentive policies. Additionally, credit support for investors is needed to help reduce the initial cost burden.

For industrial real estate to maintain its appeal and continue to grow strongly in the future, the expert stated that infrastructure and transport systems must continue to be developed and planned in a synchronised and efficient manner. At the same time, developers and investors need to pay attention to the general trends of the industry.

In 2025, experts forecast that the growth potential of this segment will stem from the trend of shifting FDI capital into Vietnam, along with support from land rental prices and policies from the Government.