Over the past few months, the USAID Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (USAID LinkSME) project has addressed critical PPE shortages by establishing linkages between global buyers and Vietnamese garment factories that have idle cut and sew capacity due to the collapse in the global demand for apparel triggered by COVID-19. On September 26, one of these Vietnamese SMEs, Truong Son Thinh Textile Co. Ltd., completed its first purchase order valued at $90,000 to provide protective coveralls to a Ghanaian lead firm. Prior to the introduction to the lead firm, USAID LinkSME evaluated the SME’s level of fundamental capabilities and provided technical assistance to help the SME register for product certificates in accordance with international regulations. USAID LinkSME has also facilitated contracts for PPE to be exported to the United States, France, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, and Japan.

So What? Strengthening the lead firm-SME business linkage framework and facilitating successful market linkages helps Vietnamese SMEs integrate into supply chains, promotes resilience, and supports Vietnam’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.