Despite the rapid growth of the Vietnamese economy in the past two decades, the value added by local enterprises and the local workforce remains low. In order to remain competitive in view of the rapid regional and global integration, a significant increase in productivity is necessary. To achieve such an increase, new technologies as well as a qualified workforce which is able to install, utilize and maintain these new technologies are crucial.

Options to intensify the cooperation between Viet Nam and Germany to improve the demand-orientation of TVET and to support SMEs in technical research and development were discussed by high ranking members of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and German experts in the context of the sustainability dialogue between the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Communist Party of Viet Nam. The meeting, which took place at Berlin University of Technology on 5 July 2017, was organized by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

Both the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF), which is promoting research and development partnerships between German and Vietnamese small and medium enterprises, and the GIZ Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam, which is supporting the improvement of the demand-orientation of vocational training in Viet Nam, presented the current focus of their activities. Ms Lisa-Marie Kreibich, Technical Advisor of the Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam, highlighted best practices which contributed to the improvemnt of the demand and practice orientation of vocational training in Viet Nam. Following an in-depth discussion, Dr Nguyen Duc Kien, Vice-President of the Economic Committee of the National Assembly, Mr Pham Huy Hung, Vice-President of the Vietnamese Association of SMEs, and Mr Tran Nguyen Tuyen, Secretary at the Central Theory Council of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and former Ambassador to Saudi-Arabia, decided to support future projects on TVET and on R&D cooperation.

Mr Pham Huy Hung emphasized the willingness of the Vietnamese Association of SMEs to promote the involvement of SMEs in TVET. Impressed by the initial results achieved by the Vietnamese-German cooperation in piloting cooperative training for skilled workers in the wastewater sector, he suggested replicating this model in the sector of waste management and recycling. The project ideas will be further specified at a follow-up meeting in Hanoi in November.