SustainableDevelopment

Over the past decade, Germany has consistently ranked among Vietnam’s most important technology partners. Beyond being one of Europe’s largest trading partners, Germany is widely regarded as a “gold standard” for industrial technology, precision engineering, and sustainable development solutions. German technologies imported into Vietnam may not be flashy or trend-driven, but they steadily shape the country’s manufacturing capabilities, management practices, and green transformation across multiple economic sectors.

From KisStartup’s perspective, the key value lies not in the volume of imported equipment, but in the technological logic that comes with German solutions: high standards, long lifecycle, resource optimization, and a strong connection between technology and human capacity building.

Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing: The Backbone of Vietnam’s Industry

One of the earliest and most deeply embedded German technology groups in Vietnam is mechanical engineering and manufacturing. German CNC machines, metal processing equipment, molds, and precision measurement systems are widely used in automotive, motorcycle, electronics, tooling, and supporting industries.

Their strength lies not only in precision, but also in long-term operational stability—well suited for Vietnamese factories transitioning from basic processing to higher value-added, technically sophisticated manufacturing. Many Vietnamese enterprises report that while initial investment costs are higher, the total cost of ownership over the equipment’s lifecycle is significantly lower compared to cheaper alternatives.

Automation and Industry 4.0: Importing Mindsets, Not Just Hardware

Alongside machinery, Vietnam is increasingly importing German automation and factory digitalization solutions: control systems, industrial sensors, production monitoring software, energy management systems, and predictive maintenance tools.

Notably, German technology integrates hardware and software seamlessly, embedding an Industry 4.0 philosophy where data serves real production decisions rather than mere reporting. This approach is particularly relevant for Vietnamese manufacturers facing skilled labor shortages and growing pressure to improve productivity.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technologies

Germany is a global pioneer in energy transition, and its technologies have been increasingly imported into Vietnam over the past 5–7 years. These include wind turbines, solar power equipment, energy storage systems, and solutions for optimizing electricity consumption in factories and buildings.

For Vietnam, the greatest value lies not only in the equipment itself, but in system integration—how renewable energy is embedded into existing infrastructure to reduce long-term costs and meet increasingly stringent emission requirements from EU markets.

Environmental Technologies: Water, Emissions, and Circular Economy

Another fast-growing category of German technology imports involves environmental solutions for water treatment, air pollution control, and industrial waste management. These include wastewater treatment systems, water reuse technologies, dust filtration, toxic gas treatment, and waste heat recovery, applied across industrial parks, food processing, chemicals, textiles, and energy sectors.

From a sustainability perspective, German technologies help Vietnam move closer to a circular economy model—where waste is not merely treated, but recovered and transformed into new value such as energy, reusable water, or secondary raw materials.

Agricultural and Food Technologies: Standardization and Safety

In agriculture and food processing, Vietnam imports numerous German processing lines, cold storage systems, quality control technologies, and food safety solutions. These are critical for Vietnamese enterprises seeking access to European markets.

The strength of German technology lies in process standardization—from harvesting and preprocessing to deep processing, packaging, and traceability—enabling Vietnamese agricultural products not only to “enter” international markets, but to remain competitive over the long term.

Vocational Training and Skills Transfer: A “Soft Technology” with Hard Impact

One of the most influential “soft technologies” Vietnam is importing from Germany is the dual vocational training model. Through cooperation projects, Vietnamese enterprises and vocational schools adopt training approaches closely linked to real production environments, strict labor discipline, and high technical standards.

From a long-term perspective, this is a decisive factor ensuring that imported technologies do not remain “black boxes,” but are gradually localized and mastered through human capital.

Implications for Vietnamese Enterprises and Local Governments

Overall, German technologies imported into Vietnam focus on three core pillars: enhancing production capacity, improving resource efficiency, and meeting sustainable development requirements. However, significant challenges remain in absorption capacity—investment capital, skilled labor, and management capabilities.

From KisStartup’s viewpoint, Vietnamese enterprises should approach German technology not merely as a procurement decision, but as a long-term partnership: learning how to operate, standardizing processes, and gradually building internal capabilities. For local governments, policies to attract German technology should be accompanied by training support, enterprise–university linkages, and pilot programs for green transformation.

As Vietnam enters a phase of competition driven by quality and sustainability, German technology represents not just a technical option, but a strategic pathway for upgrading the economy—slowly, but solidly.

German technology companies and organizations seeking to expand into Southeast Asia should view Vietnam as a strategic pilot market, where green transition and manufacturing upgrades are accelerating, and where DHomes acts as a trusted partner to reduce market entry risks.

Local governments, industrial zones, incubators, and innovation support organizations can collaborate with DHomes to design pilot technology programs that combine technology transfer, workforce training, and local value chain development.

If you are interested in German–Vietnam technology cooperation, connect with DHomes today to experiment together, learn together, and build long-term partnerships.

© Copyright KisStartup. Any reproduction, quotation, or reuse must clearly cite KisStartup as the source.

In the global context, green, sustainable standards, and ESG (Environmental – Social – Governance) have increasingly become not just "external requirements" but a core foundation for businesses to affirm their position and create long-term export opportunities. Many Vietnamese businesses are still accustomed to a passive approach – only changing when requested by partners. However, real-world examples from successful businesses show that proactively starting from within – from the business model and internal governance – creates a creative path, aligns with resources, and provides sustainable competitive advantages.

KisStartup has compiled and analyzed 7 proactive steps to help businesses enter green export effectively:

Step 1: Analyze the Current Business Model and Internal ESG
The starting point is not from the outside, but from within the business itself. Dissect your current business model according to the 9 components (Canvas) and ask: What is the level of E (Environmental), S (Social), and G (Governance)? What needs improvement?
For example: Does the production process cause waste of materials? Is the team fairly compensated? Is the governance system transparent and tracking ESG effectiveness?
From there, develop a specific strategy to integrate ESG into your business model rather than just treating it as a slogan.

Step 2: Tell the Green Story of Your Products and Services
Today's global customers are not just buying products, they are buying the story and values behind them. Be proactive in sharing your sustainability journey:

• How are farmers supported?

• How does your production process save water and energy?

• How has your company reduced emissions, recycled, or contributed to society?
  Use your website, social media, catalogs, and fairs to build trust and differentiate yourself before the market raises questions.

Step 3: Embrace the First Trial Orders
Once you’ve shared your story, the market will provide feedback. Small trial orders from abroad are opportunities for testing. At this stage, businesses should:

• Understand the needs and consumption habits of international customers.

• Compare with current capacity and resources.

• Identify gaps to be filled for further progress.
  Be proactive in learning from the market through each trial order to adjust quickly and minimize risk.

Step 4: Accurately Understand Market Criteria and Requirements
Each market and customer has different standards. Instead of vaguely aiming to be “green,” clarify specific criteria:

• What is the maximum allowable chemical content?

• How is traceability handled?

• Which certifications are mandatory?
  Proactively reach out to trade organizations, participate in programs like GEVA or SwissTrade, or communicate directly with partners to “translate” requirements into actionable internal processes.

Step 5: Negotiate and Make Investment Decisions
At this stage, businesses need to face reality: with outputs in place, it’s time to invest. Negotiate with customers on purchase commitments, then decide:

• Invest in new technology to meet standards.

• Enhance human resources to manage ESG.

• Adjust processes for greater transparency.
  This is the “risk-balancing” step between market requirements and internal capabilities.

Step 6: Complete Certifications for a Specific Market
Instead of spreading across multiple certifications at once, focus on a priority market and achieve sustainable certifications (Organic, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, etc.).
Certifications are not only a “pass” but also a commitment that demonstrates your ESG journey.

Step 7: Expand the Market – Continuously Adjust the Business Model
Once successful in one market, use that experience and evidence to expand into other markets.
At the same time, continuously ask: Does the current business model still align with the new ESG context? What needs to change? The mindset of “proactively checking and adjusting” will help businesses remain flexible and not passively follow trends.
Green export is not just about “meeting partner requirements,” but a long-term strategy to create value and sustainable differentiation for Vietnamese businesses. By starting with their own business model, creatively integrating ESG, telling their story, and expanding step by step, businesses can proactively seize opportunities and design their own path to the global market that fits their resources and advantages.

To accompany businesses on this journey, KisStartup and the GEVA project have developed a set of 3 measurement tools to help businesses self-assess, self-adjust, and proactively shape their green export path:

• Export Readiness Measurement Tool – Helps businesses know where they are in their export journey and what they need to prepare.

• Green Export Compliance Measurement Tool – Compares processes and products with green standards (VSS, Organic, Fairtrade, etc.).

• Green Business Model Measurement Tool – Analyzes the current business model and finds creative paths that align with E, S, and G elements.

Businesses can start today by using these tools to map their own path instead of waiting for partner requirements.

© Copyright belongs to KisStartup. The content was developed as part of the Green Export Incubator and Accelerator Program through Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) project. Any form of reproduction, citation, or reuse must clearly credit KisStartup/GEVA as the source.

 

For the first time in Vietnam, an export incubator has been established with a hybrid model: both nurturing businesses that are not yet ready and accelerating those that have already developed. The unique feature of this model is that it is designed using a funnel approach, helping to expand knowledge and gradually enhance the capacity of businesses in their journey to access sustainable international markets.

The project, 'Green Export Incubator and Accelerator Program through Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS)' – GEVA, will be implemented from April 2025 to April 2026, funded by the Swiss Government through the Swiss Economic Affairs Directorate (SECO), managed by the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) and the International Trade Center (ITC), and operated by KisStartup Joint Stock Company – a private unit with rich experience in innovation and creativity.

Funnel Approach: From Awareness to Specialization

Training – Raising Awareness for the Business Community

Courses, workshops, and guides help businesses and individuals understand green export, VSS standards, and global market trends. This is the "wide mouth" of the funnel, expanding the foundation of general knowledge.

Incubation – Building Foundational Capacity

Businesses that are not yet ready will be supported in identifying suitable business models, learning how to integrate sustainability into their products, and preparing for the initial steps of their export journey.

Acceleration – Specialized & Tailored Solutions

For businesses with an existing foundation, the acceleration program focuses on 1:1 advisory sessions lasting 6 months, helping to adjust business models, optimize the value chain, and effectively apply VSS standards.

Market Connection – Paving the Way to International Markets

After incubation and acceleration, businesses will be directly connected with partners and importers in the EU, the US, Canada, Australia, ASEAN, and the Middle East, opening up real collaboration opportunities.

Hybrid Model: Incubation & Acceleration

Unlike traditional support programs, GEVA adopts a market approach:

• Incubation is for young businesses that lack a strong foundation, helping them understand green export requirements, reach international standards, and build new business models.

• Acceleration is for businesses that are ready, providing in-depth support to optimize their business models, apply VSS standards, and directly connect with export markets.

Throughout the process, the services go beyond short-term support, being designed, tested, and refined to operate according to market mechanisms, creating sustainable solutions that truly serve businesses in the long term.

Key Activities

• Online Measurement Toolkit: Businesses can assess their readiness for export, business model innovation, and VSS compliance for free. The summary report will help them determine the improvement roadmap.

• Capacity Building & Market Connection: A series of training activities, workshops, and events connecting with importers from the EU, the US, Canada, Australia, ASEAN, and the Middle East.

• In-depth Incubation & Acceleration Program: 23 businesses in the spice, coffee, and seed industries will receive 6 months of 1:1 advisory, with weekly sessions focusing on three pillars: green export, business model innovation, and VSS standards implementation.

Journey with Vietnamese Businesses

GEVA is not just a technical assistance project. It is a journey of mindset transformation, accompanying Vietnamese businesses in enhancing their competitiveness, aiming for green, sustainable, and responsible exports.

By pioneering the establishment of the first export incubator in Vietnam, GEVA opens up opportunities for agricultural businesses – from small to developed – to step onto a global stage, where value lies not only in products but also in sustainability, transparency, and the ability to adapt to increasingly strict international standards.