On December 8, USAID’s Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (LinkSME) project and Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) held a workshop on “Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises in Adapting to the New Normal.” The event showcased achievements and lessons learned on delivering technical assistance to enhance SME competitiveness and post-COVID-19 adaptability by USAID LinkSME in close coordination with MPI. The event featured many SMEs who have employed varied techniques to manage through and prosper during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscored MPI’s efforts to address SME needs, and highlighted USAID’s broader efforts to support legal and regulatory reform, and digital transformation in Vietnam.
Encouraging reflection with key internal and external stakeholders to analyze successes and challenges will lead to initiatives likely to help enterprises recover from the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, while helping to shape practices that will foster post-project sustainability. The event was covered by more than a dozen local media outlets, further raising awareness of the challenges faced by SMEs and USAID’s supporting role in addressing them.
