Creating an enabling environment for private economic sector to thrive

Dong Nai City is presented with a major opportunity to establish a new growth space, but infrastructure and locational advantages are only necessary conditions. The decisive factor is a private-sector economy with sufficient internal strength, deeper participation in value chains, and the capacity to generate new growth drivers.

Products from Dong Nai enterprises participating in a business networking conference with Japanese businesses organized by the Dong Nai City People's Committee.

Discussions at the Local Dialogue Session of the Vietnam Private Sector Economic Forum 2026, recently held in Dong Nai, clearly highlighted this requirement for both the authorities and the business community.

Strong enterprises are essential

Dong Nai currently has a large number of enterprises. In July 2026 alone, more than 4,900 new enterprises were established in the city, an increase of 56.4% compared with the same period in 2025. This represents an important resource for Dong Nai to achieve its high-growth targets in the coming years.

Behind the figures on quantity lies the requirement for enterprises to become stronger. According to Chairman of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association Dang Hong Anh, Dong Nai needs to shift from the mindset of attracting investment to organizing and upgrading value chains, while creating conditions for domestic enterprises to participate more deeply in the supply chains of major corporations and foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises.

For a locality with a developed industrial base like Dong Nai, this direction is particularly significant. Instead of simply asking how many more FDI projects can be attracted, greater attention should be paid to what domestic enterprises can supply to those projects. An FDI factory in Dong Nai will generate much greater value if it is supported by a network of Vietnamese enterprises supplying components, raw materials, equipment, logistics, technology and specialized services.

To achieve this, private enterprises must move beyond low-value-added segments. Chairman of the Dong Nai Business Federation Dang Van Diem pointed to issues closely tied to reality: access to land, production premises, green credit and support for connecting with supply chains are among the major needs. These are direct conditions determining whether enterprises can expand their scale and make long-term investments. Therefore, policies supporting the private economy need to shift from helping enterprises overcome difficulties to helping them strengthen their capabilities.

Similarly, Chairman of the Dong Nai Young Entrepreneurs Association Dang Quoc Nghi called for support to improve the quality of the business community and strengthen linkages. For young, small and micro enterprises, the requirements involve not only capital but also management capacity, technology, markets and connectivity. Only then can the local business community truly fulfill its role.

For the private economy to develop

Dong Nai City has advantages that can serve as a foundation for creating new value. Long Thanh International Airport, Phuoc An Port, the expressway network, ring roads, industrial parks and interregional logistics corridors are opening up a very large market.

According to Dau Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), to effectively exploit these advantages and enable the private sector to truly become a growth driver, alongside continued improvements to the investment environment, it is necessary to focus on helping enterprises enhance their innovation capabilities and expand access to capital, technology, human resources and markets. Enterprises should not merely be supported in overcoming difficulties; they must also be capable of scaling up, innovating and strengthening their resilience.

As of July 20, 2026, total domestic investment attracted to industrial parks, economic zones and areas outside industrial parks in Dong Nai exceeded VND852 trillion, equivalent to 532.93% of the 2026 annual target of VND160 trillion. Domestic investment attraction far exceeded the plan, mainly because several large-scale projects were licensed during the period. This has supplemented investment resources and created momentum for production and business development in the coming period.

Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, a member of the National Financial and Monetary Policy Advisory Council, said that adaptability has become a decisive factor in enterprises' competitiveness today. Green development, innovation, digital transformation and technological self-reliance are core issues. It is therefore necessary to continue institutional reform, improve the efficiency of resource allocation and build a transparent business environment that enables enterprises to proactively seize opportunities, manage risks and develop sustainably.

For Dong Nai, according to the city's development orientation, sectors such as high technology, supporting industries, logistics, airport services, modern trade, the digital economy and innovation will be prioritized. Dong Nai also aims to establish industry clusters linked to the advantages of each area, thereby creating space for enterprises to develop.

The issue is no longer simply “attracting enterprises to Dong Nai,” but rather “creating conditions for enterprises in Dong Nai to grow together with the city”. Member of the the City Party Committee’s Standing Board, Standing Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee Nguyen Kim Long emphasized that opportunities can only be transformed into value when enterprises have sufficient capacity to participate. To help enterprises grow, the authorities are striving to create an environment conducive enough for businesses to make long-term investments. The city identifies promoting the private economic sector as one of the most important drivers of growth, while shifting from spontaneous enterprise development toward creating an enterprise ecosystem.

Dong Nai hopes that enterprises will continue renewing their management thinking, investing in technology, human resources and branding; strictly complying with the law; paying attention to workers' livelihoods; protecting the environment; and fulfilling their responsibilities to the community. “The government will pave the way, remove barriers and create a favorable environment, while enterprises must move forward through their own capabilities, creativity, professionalism and aspirations”, Standing Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee Nguyen Kim Long affirmed.

By Vuong The - Translated by Diec Quyen, Thu Ha