On the sidelines of the Go Global Bac Ninh 2026 Forum held on October 10th, many manufacturing and supporting industry businesses shared their insights on the opportunities and challenges of participating in the supply chains of corporations with foreign direct investment (FDI).
From businesses with years of experience collaborating with international partners to those seeking to join the supply chain, the common thread cited by business leaders is the increasing demand for technology, product quality, and management capabilities.
ESG is an important factor.
Mr. Dang Quang Khoi, Director of An Lap Plastic Co., Ltd., said that after 10 years of supplying goods to Samsung Vietnam, the company is being considered to upgrade from a Tier 2 supplier to a Tier 1 supplier.
However, this transition process has presented more challenges than anticipated, including building trust with FDI partners. According to Mr. Khoi, global corporations typically have very broad supplier evaluation systems, considering not only product quality but also many factors related to business operations.
He cited the case of a business having to meet up to 297 assessment criteria, including 172 criteria related to product quality and delivery, and 125 criteria related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects, such as worker safety and health, environmental protection, security, and social responsibility.
Exhibition booths at the Go Global Bac Ninh 2026 Forum showcased products and production capabilities of businesses, aiming to expand connections and participate in global supply chains (Photo: Hai Long).
“These are criteria that many Vietnamese businesses haven’t paid enough attention to. Therefore, when entering the evaluation process, businesses may be confused and have difficulty demonstrating their ability to meet the partner’s requirements,” Mr. Khoi observed.
According to the leaders of An Lap Plastic, having a suitable product is only the initial condition. To become a long-term partner, businesses must also invest in research and development (R&D), new machinery and equipment, and demonstrate their ability to meet the entire system of customer standards.
A similar story was shared by Mr. Nguyen Van Khai, CEO of RMG Vietnam, based on his practical experience in the precision machining industry.
Mr. Khai stated that the company is currently unable to become an Intel supplier due to its failure to meet stringent quality and product stability requirements. Maintaining a consistent error margin of 0.001mm or 0.01mm over a long period, especially with precision machining, is a significant challenge.
According to him, many domestic businesses have the capability to manufacture goods but are limited in research and development (R&D), investment resources, and management systems that meet international standards. Meanwhile, customers not only demand products that meet technical specifications but also require consistent quality, timely delivery, and competitive costs.
“The opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to participate more deeply in the global supply chain lies in shifting from mere subcontracting to providing solutions and becoming technology partners,” Mr. Khai shared.
From meeting standards to upgrading your position in the supply chain.
Looking at the reality of manufacturing businesses in Bac Ninh, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, representative of Anyone Vina Co., Ltd., believes that the presence of FDI corporations and the developing industrial ecosystem are creating conditions for domestic businesses to connect with international partners.
However, limitations in technology, capital, quality, and management capacity remain major obstacles. According to Ms. Ngoc, businesses wanting to become suppliers for large corporations must ensure consistent quality, on-time delivery, and continuous technological innovation.
Employees of Ngai Cau Company work at the factory, aiming to improve production capacity and meet international standards (Photo: Company).
In the mechanical engineering sector, representatives from Ngai Cau company also stated that the biggest gap lies not in a single factor but in the ability to comprehensively meet international requirements. Customers not only evaluate products at the time of delivery but also consider the entire production system, from traceability and quality control to risk management and compliance with environmental and labor standards.
Based on that experience, Ngai Cau has invested in modernizing equipment, upgrading management, achieving LEED Gold certification for its factory and office, implementing sustainable development reporting according to VSME standards, and simultaneously building a quality management system (ISO 9001), environmental management system (ISO 14001), and occupational safety and health system (ISO 45001).
According to company representatives, these investments are not simply aimed at obtaining more certifications, but rather at enhancing competitiveness, building customer trust, and preparing for the higher demands of the international market.
Besides their own efforts to upgrade, businesses also hope for more practical support programs from the government, associations, and FDI corporations.
Mr. Nguyen Van Khai proposed strengthening connections between domestic businesses and international corporations, supporting human resource training, accessing investment capital and technology, and sharing information on purchasing standards. According to him, FDI corporations also need to participate more deeply in the process of evaluating, guiding, and developing domestic suppliers.
Sharing the same view, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc hopes that the networking activities at the forum will help businesses understand the needs of their partners, thereby turning opportunities for meetings into orders and long-term cooperative relationships.
According to Mr. Khai, the success of programs like Go Global Bac Ninh lies not only in the number of participating businesses or networking opportunities, but also in concrete contracts and cooperation programs.
“The success of the forum should be measured by the opportunities for collaboration that are realized,” emphasized the CEO of RMG Vietnam.
