In order to assist Vietnam Government to strengthen the policy framework supporting the Food Processing Industry and the Electronic Industry, ActionAid Vietnam has cooperated with the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) to carry out a research about the Impacts of the Implementation of FTAs and BITs on the two industries. Thanks to its expertise and experience in economic policy research, Economica was entrusted by ActionAid and CIEM to carry out the research component in the Food Processing Industry. 

Besides analyzing benefits of FTAs and BITs, the study also highlights negative impacts of the commitments toward the industry. For example, the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirement is very strict in the major markets like the US, EU, Japan.  The aspects of rules on specifications of technical barriers to trade (TBT) are also controlled very strictly. The processed food exporting business will have to face the risks of being punished by the trade defence measures of the importing countries including anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties. Due to tariffs reduction, the domestic processing industry is now under strong competition from imported products. Together with pointing out the positive impacts of the policy framework towards the industry, the study also raises important policy issues which need to be addressed soon to support the industry in the process of global integration. 

The local authorities of An Giang have actively carried out the changes in local policy to respond to the commitments of FTAs and BITs. However, till the moment, they have been struggling to find ways to solve several problems of the industry locally. Though being considered as the bridge between the authorities and the business the business association has not obtained the position expected by the member business and they are not empowered to be able to function as referees or coordinators in the industry. The performance of linkage role is also dim and they are not active in policy consultation.

The business community in An Giang is very excited with the integration but they lack of the necessary information. The linkage among the industry’s business is weak, thus reduce the competitiveness of the industry.  They have not paid sufficient attention to the development of branding. For coping with the requirements of SPS or TBT, they need more guidance and assistance from authority.

In order to support to business in Food Processing Industry to cope with the impacts of the commitments of FTAs and BITs realistically, the research proposes the policy intervention including: (1)To develop a reasonable policy for controlling the price of livestock feeding materials; (2)To have policy in empowering for improving the role and position of business associations in order to help the Government to implement the supports to business which the Government is banned to do as committed in FTAs and BITs; (3)The policy for supporting the business and locality to develop the branding of major products is needed; (4)The last recommendation is the policy for supporting business in improving the fulfilment of SPS.

The study was presented by Economica experts at a workshop to be co-organized by CIEM and ActionAid in June 2015.