Self-reliance and self-strengthening – the "backbone" of sustainable growth.

Leveraging Endowed Resources for Sustainable Development

- Sir, the Party's 14th Congress document outlines a very clear roadmap for the country's development in the coming period. What aspect of the new development thinking in the document do you find most appealing?

Chairman of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, Dang Hong Anh

- It can be affirmed that the 14th National Congress of the Party is not only a particularly important political event but also a "call to arms" summoning the will of the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army. What I appreciate most is the emphasis on "self-reliance," "self-sufficiency," and "self-strengthening" throughout.

Throughout 40 years of Doi Moi (Renovation), we have made very good use of external resources, especially foreign direct investment (FDI), for growth, exports, and economic restructuring. However, the experience of many countries shows that the rise of strong economies is always linked to nurturing domestic corporations with sufficient global competitiveness, as with South Korea and Japan…

I particularly remember General Secretary To Lam's message on promoting endogenous resources. When the economy enters a higher stage of development, excessive dependence on external driving forces reveals clear limitations. To accelerate and achieve sustainable development, we must have a strong domestic "backbone." This is the Vietnamese business community, in which private enterprises play the most important role in the national economy, directly transforming the Party's guidelines and policies into material wealth, jobs, and national competitiveness.

- The Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association has approximately 21,000 members, creating jobs for 5 million workers and generating annual revenue exceeding $40 billion, contributing more than 10% of the national GDP. What do these figures reflect about the endogenous strength you just mentioned?

- These figures show that the young entrepreneurs are holding the most important links in the economy. Looking at this, we see a young, dynamic force, sensitive to technology and driven by the desire to affirm the identity of Vietnamese brands. This is an endogenous resource waiting to be activated even more strongly. If well-organized, properly guided, and given the right conditions for substantive development through breakthrough mechanisms and policies, we can transform this 10% into 20%, 30%... of GDP in the future.

We hope for substantive priority in development planning and public procurement.

- Despite the enormous potential, the business community often mentions invisible barriers, especially institutional ones – the "bottleneck of bottlenecks." In your opinion, what needs to be done to truly foster the self-reliance and self-improvement of entrepreneurs in the current context?

- For businesses to "flourish," institutions must "pave the way." I completely agree with the view expressed by General Secretary To Lam when presenting the Report on documents submitted to the Congress – the need to remove the "bottleneck of bottlenecks," which is the institutional framework.

Over the years, we have focused on reforming the business environment, but primarily on removing obstacles, cutting procedures, and simplifying conditions. This approach has yielded some improvements, but its limitations are gradually becoming apparent as development demands increase.

For institutional reform to truly become a "breakthrough of breakthroughs," the business community expects that institutional reform should not only be about the number of procedures reduced or the level of digitization of administrative documents, but should focus on two core pillars: legal security and a space for innovation. Businesses are not afraid of market difficulties or competition, but their greatest concern is the legal risks arising from inconsistencies, instability, or retroactive application of policies. We must also resolutely eliminate the "request-and-grant" mechanism, which is the root cause of stagnation and negativity. When everything is transparent, the compliance costs for businesses will decrease, and confidence will increase.

- Why do you emphasize "legal security" and "creative space" as the two pillars that determine the success or failure of a business?

- Legal security is the foundation that allows businesses to dare to think and act. An investment decision can last 10-20 years; if regulations change suddenly or sub-legal documents overlap, businesses will find themselves in a "dilemma."

As for "creative space," it involves creating testing mechanisms (sandboxes) for new business models and technologies. Without this space, businesses will always be hesitant and afraid to innovate. Furthermore, businesses want to be genuinely prioritized in development planning, public procurement, and key national projects. Vietnamese businesses need to be trusted and given opportunities in their own country before they can venture internationally.

Young entrepreneurs commit to long-term investment in production, technology, and human resources.

- The spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement, if it remains merely a slogan, will find it very difficult to change the face of the economy. How will the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association realize this spirit, sir?

- At the recent 8th Congress (2025-2030 term), the Central Committee of the Association clearly defined the strategic focus as transforming the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement into concrete action programs. Firstly, we will promote intra-bloc trade to strengthen linkages between Vietnamese businesses and form domestic supply chains that we control. The Association also aims to build leading enterprises capable of leading the way.

Firstly, we aim to cut the value chain and enable at least 50 member businesses to participate deeply in the global market.

Secondly, we will develop entrepreneurial human resources. We are pioneering the implementation of the 10,000 CEO Training Program for the period 2025-2030, focusing on modern management capabilities, digital transformation, and green transformation. This is a decisive factor in long-term self-reliance.

Simultaneously, the Association pays special attention to the "foundation" of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With programs such as supporting 50,000 business households to transform into enterprises, and the "Each young entrepreneur mentors two new entrepreneurs" model, we expect to expand the domestic business base, creating a solid successor generation for the private sector in the long term.

- The 14th Congress set a very high target: average GDP growth of over 10% per year; The average per capita income is projected to reach US$8,500 by 2030. What are your thoughts on the potential contributions of young entrepreneurs in achieving these goals?

- These are challenging goals, but they are mandated by history. The young entrepreneurial community recognizes its responsibility not only in terms of scale but also in the quality and sustainability of growth.

We are determined to be a pioneering force in creating new industries and deeply participating in global value chains. We are committed to long-term investment in production, technology, and human resources, creating high-quality jobs. Improving labor productivity is the decisive factor in achieving the US$8,500 income level by 2030. We will strive to build Vietnamese brands with international competitiveness, strengthening an independent and self-reliant economy in this era of national progress.

- Thank you!

According to the People's Representatives Newspaper