The digital economy is connecting Vietnamese businesses to an ever-expanding global market. This connectivity generates growth opportunities, but also exposes companies to risks, including the increasing online trade in illegal wildlife. Implicated in these transactions are a number of businesses along the supply chain, from e-commerce to transport and logistics.

On May 28-30, the USAID Wildlife Asia activity partnered with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to train representatives of 30 Vietnamese small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) on digital marketing and the risks of wildlife crime. The participants learned about the changing context of illegal wildlife crime and consumption in Vietnam; sustainable business development; digital marketing approaches for SMEs; and how to integrate wildlife protection into marketing strategies, company policies, ethics codes, and corporate social responsibility policies and plans.

So What? With support from USAID, Vietnamese SMEs are spreading anti-trafficking messages throughout their networks, their companies, their clients and beyond, helping to combat wildlife crime.