On October 16, the USAID Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (LinkSME) project partnered with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Ho Chi Minh City to organize the AmCham Supplier Day 2019. The Supplier Day event aims to facilitate relationships between Vietnamese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large lead firms and to integrate SMEs into manufacturing supply chains, helping build local content in Vietnam and adding value to the Vietnamese economy. The event attracted over 450 visitors and more than 100 exhibitors (an increase of over 60 percent since last year), who showcased their products and services for matchmaking with buyers and suppliers across different industries, including electronics, metals, furniture, medical, insurance, food and beverage, logistics and transportation, hospitality, services and other industrial and consumer products. U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Marie Damour delivered the opening remarks at the event. Apart from introducing the project to participants, USAID LinkSME also collaborated with Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment to deliver a knowledge session to over 100 participants on opportunities and challenges for Vietnamese SMEs in joining supply chains.

So What? Increased participation at this year’s AmCham Supplier Day event reinforces the heightened focus on Vietnam as a preferred sourcing location, which bodes well for expanding Vietnam’s SME sector and Journey to Self-Reliance.