Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam meets with the Steering Committee of National Science and Technology Programme. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Dân

HÀ NỘI — Accessing markets is the biggest challenge for enterprises who invest in science and technology to create national products, meaning the Government needs to support these enterprises in market access, advertising and protecting their trademarks, heard participants at a meeting in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting of the Steering Committee of National Science and Technology Programme, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam said most Vietnamese enterprises were small and medium sized. Although these enterprises produce a lot of products, not many of them are recognised as typical national products.

The Deputy PM suggested that the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) urge enterprises to register national products.

“To be recognised as national ones, products have to meet certain criteria. Once they become national products, they would be promoted and protected by the State and the whole community,” Đam said.

Due to limited resources for national science and technology programmes, priority should be given to sectors that Việt Nam had potential in, he said.

A report delivered at the meeting by MoST showed positive results have been made in the national product development programme, national high-tech development programme and national renovation technology programme over the past few years.

These above-mentioned programmes drew more than 150 firms with over VNĐ4.3 trillion (US$185 million) in investment by the end of last year.

Of these, many enterprises have average growth rate of 18.8 per cent, with some at up to 50 per cent.

While emphasising the need to continue implementing these programmes, participants also pointed out shortcomings which need to be dealt with, including solving obstacles relating to financial mechanisms for investment in science and technology.

It is necessary to synchronise mechanisms which link the three national programmes with incentives relating to loans, bank credit and development funds, they said.

Special support should be given to enterprises which have national or high-tech products in the domestic market. They should also be helped to advertise themselves overseas.

Vũ Đại Thắng, deputy minister of Planning and Investment, said each country has its own national products.

According to him, policies to support national products have been stipulated in the National Product Development Programme by 2020 which was approved in 2010.

The goal of the programme is to develop products under the Made-in-Việt Nam brand that have high competitiveness and will benefit the country, and to promote technology upgrades for their production.

“National products must be competitive in terms of quality of businesses. Therefore, the Ministry of Science and Technology should call on enterprises to enhance connectivity, creating products and goods bearing Vietnamese brands with added value and high competitiveness in the market,” Đam said. — VNS