The application of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a “key driver” helping the industrial sector transform toward greater modernity and efficiency.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is stepping up its review and proposing cuts to administrative procedures and business conditions in a bid to reduce costs, shorten processing times, and facilitate business operations.

With a series of timely, practical adjustments, Decree No. 235/2025/ND-CP is expected to remove longstanding bottlenecks in industrial promotion activities, while opening new development space for rural industrial enterprises amid green transition and digital transformation.

In the first quarter of 2026, the Vietnam Trade Office in India implemented a wide range of flexible, multi-channel trade promotion activities, placing enterprises at the centre of its support efforts.

On April 17, in Hai Phong, the Vietnam Industry and Trade Trade Union held a ceremony to launch Workers’ Month and the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Health 2026.

On April 9, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung signed Decision No. 666/QD-TTg assigning responsibilities to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers. Accordingly, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Secretary of the Government Party Committee, serves as head of the State Steering Committee for key national programs, works and projects.

At noon on May 15, 2026, under the witness of the two Party General Secretaries and Presidents of Vietnam and China, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung and Minister of Commerce of China Wang Wentao jointly signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a working group to negotiate and promote the building of a Vietnam - China cross-border economic cooperation zone” and the “Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a working group on Vietnam - China production and supply chain cooperation.”

On the morning of April 14, 2026, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan held a working session with a delegation from the US - ASEAN Business Council (USABC), led by Brian McFeeters, former Ambassador and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council. The meeting was attended by leaders of functional units under the Ministry and more than 50 US enterprises investing and operating in Vietnam.

A working delegation from the Ministry of Industry and Trade inspected the implementation of power source and grid projects under the adjusted Power Development Plan VIII at Son La Hydropower Company.

On the morning of April 13, the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee organized a nationwide conference to study, disseminate, and implement the Resolution of the second meeting of the 14th Party Central Committee (Resolution of the 2nd Plenum).

On the morning of April 9, a regular meeting of the Domestic Market Steering Team for the first quarter of 2026 was held in Hanoi. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, with the participation of members of the Domestic Market Steering Team.

Not only aiming to attract investment, Vietnam is seeking to build a deep, resilient automotive manufacturing ecosystem, enhance self-reliance, and assert its position in the global value chain.