Promoting cooperation between Nghe An and the PUM organization (Netherlands)

On March 21st, Mr. Nguyen Manh Loi, Director of the Nghe An Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center, chaired a working meeting with a delegation from the PUM organization (Netherlands), led by Mr. Sven Dekker, National Coordinator and Head Representative of PUM in Vietnam. Representatives from relevant departments, agencies, and business associations in the province also attended.

The program was organized to facilitate exchange and cooperation between PUM and the business community in Nghe An province in strengthening management capacity, transferring international experience, and contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of local businesses.

During the meeting, representatives from the PUM organization provided an overview of the organization, its support programs, implementation methods, and areas of expertise in which PUM can advise Vietnamese businesses in general and those in Nghe An province in particular.

Currently, PUM has a network of over 1,200 senior experts in fields such as manufacturing, agriculture, industry, tourism, business management, branding, logistics, and digital transformation. This is a valuable resource that PUM is ready to connect with to support local businesses in accessing international best practices effectively and cost-efficiently.

During the discussion, delegates representing business associations and organizations in the province exchanged views on the support needs of businesses and expressed their desire for practical cooperation from PUM.

Mr. Tran Anh Son, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Business Association and Chairman of the Nghe An Outstanding Business Association, expressed his hope that PUM would soon cooperate with the Center and the Outstanding Business Association to implement activities involving on-site expert consultations and widely introduce the program to the business community throughout the province.

Representatives from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in the Nghe An - Ha Tinh - Quang Binh region also proposed expanding cooperation with PUM to organize in-depth training courses, especially on-site training at businesses using a hands-on model, thereby helping businesses improve their internal capabilities.

Many associations and organizations also expressed interest in inviting PUM experts to provide consultancy in the areas of product branding, community tourism development, access to international markets, and digital transformation in business management; and in clarifying the application process and implementation methods of the support program so that associations and business groups can access it easily.

Mr. Sven Dekker, Country Coordinator of PUM in Vietnam, affirmed that he will actively connect with relevant units to provide detailed guidance and implement the program in Nghe An.

In particular, PUM has a specific support policy for businesses owned by women, which is considered very much in line with the province's comprehensive and sustainable development orientation.

During the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Manh Loi, Director of the Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center of Nghe An province, highly appreciated the role of the PUM organization in supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. He stated that, with an open and collaborative spirit with businesses, the Center is committed to being the focal point for connecting and supporting the effective implementation of cooperation activities with PUM in the locality.

At the same time, Mr. Nguyen Manh Loi also proposed several specific areas of cooperation, such as: coordinating the development of plans to organize in-depth training courses in specific industry groups such as food processing, supporting industries, tourism, branding, logistics, etc.

Implement on-site consulting services for businesses with specific needs. Strengthen support for women-owned businesses. Support the transfer of modern management models and connect experts with business associations to build long-term, systematic, and sustainable programs.

Later that afternoon, the PUM delegation, along with representatives from the Center and relevant units, conducted on-site surveys at several businesses in Vinh City. This activity aimed to provide PUM experts with a realistic view of the operational situation, production models, and specific support needs of each business, serving as a basis for developing appropriate consulting content in the future.

The meeting opened up many potential cooperation opportunities and demonstrated the determination of the parties to improve the quality of business support, contributing to promoting the economic development of Nghe An province in the new phase.

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PUM Netherlands Senior Experts is a Dutch non-profit organization that connects retired or near-retired senior experts in the Netherlands with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in over 30 developing and emerging countries, providing technical support and strategic advice entirely on a non-profit basis. With a network of over 1,200 experts, PUM operates in more than 40 sectors, ranging from agriculture, manufacturing, processing industries, energy, branding, business management to tourism and digital transformation. PUM has been present in Vietnam for many years and has become a trusted partner in the sustainable development of the SME community.

Duong Thuy