The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) workshop on promoting the participation of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in global food supply chains took place in Hanoi on May 25.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the APEC Secretariat to contribute to APEC’s joint effort to ensure food security and support SMEs in taking part in global supply chains.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu said deeper regional and global integration would make enterprises working in different functional stages of a supply chain more dependent on each other.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu speaking at the workshop. Source: vov

In the future, competition will be no longer between companies, but between supply chains, the deputy minister said.

An effective supply chain enables businesses to reduce costs, improve connections and enhance customer satisfaction, Tu added.

Developing food supply chains “from seed to shelf” is vital amid today’s stiff competition in international markets. It will help ensure food security and boost profits for producers and distributors of a product to the end consumers, he noted.

The SMEs are facing a number of obstacles that prevent them from joining the supply chains, for examples, a lack of capital and skilled workers, and poor management and technological capabilities.

It is an urgent need for the government to provide help for SMEs to take part in global agricultural supply chains when Vietnam’s economy is integrating deeper into regional and international markets.

During the workshop, attendees discussed potential support policies for SMEs to effectively participate in food supply chains in Asia-Pacific, contributing to regional stability and prosperity.

Source: VNA