Greater privatization and liberalization make Vietnam one of the world's most promising and a virgin market. With a strong and young labor force of 36 million, a literacy rate of 88% and an alert 73 million strong population - the things are moving quite fast that the average growth is well above 15%.

The potential is visible and only a fool can ignore the possibilities. Taiwanese Chinese - some of the smartest and most hardworking people on this earth - skilled and experienced - are investing heavily in Vietnam and a large number of them are small, privately owned companies but with great idea of how a business could be run efficiently and they also know how to produce the goods at lowest prices. Koreans - another extremely smart lot in Eastern Asia - are investing in small and large businesses. Japanese - some of the most cautious investors - have started building industrial parks and plan to transfer large number of units.

These people have been the most successful in last 2 decades in Asia. If some one is not aware of their capabilities and potential - he must be lost somewhere in history or not familiar with recent economic changes in the world, especially in Asia.
These clever investors are not going to Vietnam for charity or humanity but for profit - and they see that very clearly.

The opportunities are not only in small time manufacturing exploiting the strategic location or cheaper labor - but also in infrastructure, services and commodities. The opportunities are crystal clear if you have vision and more if you have witnessed the incredible progress and growth in Eastern Asia in last 2 decades.

Vietnam's - industry setup in next 5 to 7 years would be somewhat like Taiwan - although at present most major companies are state run shows and may not exploit their potential fully due to extra discipline required to work under a centrally planned government. But things are changing fast.

Once private enterprise flourishes and public companies are partially privatized and when these possible massive exports of manufactured products take place - there would be massive imports to feed the factories and supply the markets. Counting on March 1996 figures, over 36 billion dollars would be spent on heavy and essential infrastructure in next 4 to 5 years. Once the country gets going with exports - there will be a steep growth in imports of all type of products.

Services:
Vietnam hardly has any services (if compared with what you have in the developed nations), except may be the most essential, the service sector is in its basics. The country needs firms which could introduce contemporary standards of services of all types.

What opportunities?
Business Opportunities in Vietnam are enormous.
The growth is one of the highest in the world and CGTD believes that the growth will be encompassing all sectors of economy and would be quite sustainable.
Vietnam is part of ASEAN - which translates into a great way to reach customers not only in Indo-China but other richer ASEAN nations.

An area surrounding with large population - neighboring China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and of course other richer nations of Asean offer - a large market for any product produced in Vietnam. Vietnamese are ferocious traders. The Government ( there can not be worst ) may be communist but literally speaking their policies are open door and equal or surpass to those of Korea, China and Thailand.

what is the Political risk?
If there is ever a change of political environment, in next 5 years, the change will be towards more positive trends only - possibly democratic ones. Vietnamese people are not very excited about this government so if there is a free voting - they will go for a democratic and more open government, than the present one. The risk, however is minimal under the present circumstances, considering the liberal policies of the government.

The government has been able to sustain the growth, boost production and exports, create confidence and been amending its outdated policies without hesitation.
The country has become a full member of Asean - one of the powerful club of hyper active South East Asian trading nations - which definitely is an added advantage and security. For a quick review of economy read this.

When can I exploit these opportunities?
The opportunities abound - and as a business rule - the first ones are always rewarded with unusual chances of getting quality business contacts. Vietnam - is now open for business.
It is upto you to decide if you are interested to develop this market for your products and services.
Business is done through human contact and not by machines. Business in Asia is especially more human than elsewhere. I don't have to tell you that the contacts are built up with time and persistence.

Opportunities for whom?
The opportunities we are talking here - are; not only for the large known brands and transnational corporate giants - but also for very small companies or individuals. The business is done by humans everywhere not by the faceless companies. The large companies of today were also very small some day but persistence and vision made them big. The opportunities for business in a new market like Vietnam - are for every type of business - including yours.

There is an opportunity for anybody desiring to make contacts and turn them into profits gradually in the due course of time. If someone is looking for fast and quick cash generating schemes this market may not be ideal for him.

Vietnam needs investors (large and very small), importers, exporters and manufacturers, services and entrepreneurs. Vietnam not only welcomes all Vietnamese but anybody wishing to do business with these enterprising people with great will power and hard work. Vietnam offers great opportunity TODAY for you, which are unique so you must grab them.

How can I start?

No doubt, that any business in one's own country has a bit different approach. Most people think it is difficult to conduct foreign trade operations. Ask a successful foreign business expert and you will hear that it is easier to do business abroad if you knew some techniques. We are focusing on Vietnam and let us see how could we give the first step.
Remember the first step is most important and the rest is rather easier.
The best, one can do to start is, select contacts with the companies similar to yours (match making never stops? :) and the companies which you consider could be interested in your line of products or services.

Next thing is to write a letter (no fax , email or phone calls) simple and clear and present yourself and the products you deal with.
The first contact must always be in written - most experts agree. The first impression may be last impression so one must be most precise and specific. The chances of getting a reply are more; than if you had sent other types of communications. (The fax or telex could be ok if you are sure that the business in question is time sensitive and must be discussed urgently.) Once you have established the first contact you can use other means of communication.

We offer you the research, hard work and practical business experience, which helps you to avoid doing it all yourself, which is in other words like re-inventing the wheel. So we save you the time and put you into business instantly.

CGTD Research business information publications and publications are the next best thing to a personal trip. In fact many of our friends have found our resources like an essential tool that have helped them get results in really a fast manner.

CGTD started a mammoth project in 1989 to compile the best business directories with special emphasis on the emerging market economies. We started working on Vietnam businesses in 1989 and since than have monitored very carefully the changes which became more visible by 1992.

We have compiled and researched specialized and highly qualified industry specific directories which provide you a great insight to a specific business sector thus offering you a concentrated and useful tool to make contacts and send business proposals.

Most people wishing to do foreign trade and investments go through government offices and try find many freely available sources - which may be free sometimes but most of the time they are outdated, too biased and definitely not comprehensive.

It is proven through various studies that the successful companies however buy the most qualified and best information to cut waste of resources and time. Most qualified and reliable resources, however, are extremely expensive and only very rich companies can afford them.

Now CGTD offers you even better quality information and guidance at very low almost ridiculous costs. Our publications are offered at reduced rates, just to cover our costs as we have to involve a large team to carry out this enormous project.

CGTD Directories We have compiled almost all major and small businesses and classified them by industries, categories and thousands of products and services. In total there are around 160 industry categories and 3000 products presented in English, Spanish, French and German.

The idea of providing individual industry directories is to offer them at affordable cost. You only need to buy what you really need. You can also buy the whole Vietnam - Trade and Industry Directory - over 1100 pages one volume directory - that covers all companies and all industries.

We have offered these highly specific publications in user friendly style, with an easy to use 4 language index and each entry is further provided by its HS (Harmonized system of nomenclature) used by most of the countries customs and SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) commonly used in the USA.

IMPORT - EXPORT NUMBERS
Although Vietnam has recently become an aggressive foreign trading nation - it has been importing and exporting like all nations.

We have collected 11 years of import and export data and with each industry directory - a section is devoted to these tabular data presented in a friendly style.

For example if you want to see what construction materials Vietnam imported in 10-11 years, it gives you each product under construction materials category (cement, ceramics..etc...) and in alphabetical order - each country is presented with what dollar value, it exported to Vietnam.

Likewise, what Vietnam imported in these years - is offered in similar style in the exports section - broken down by products and countries.

In less than a minute you know what value, what country imported or exported what product, in one given year or all 11 years.