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stronger domestic demand. to help consumers identify certified products while providing
"Exports and the domestic market should not be viewed a clearer basis for government procurement.
as alternatives but as two complementary pillars," Man said. Nghia also urged policies to encourage the use of plantation
"Exports integrate businesses into global value chains, timber, develop supporting industries, improve market data
while the domestic market provides the foundation for building and strengthen links between wood processors and raw
brands, diversifying revenue and improving resilience against material suppliers.

external shocks." He said digital transformation had become a key
HAWA proposed giving the domestic market a more prominent competitive advantage, adding that digitising the company's
role in industry policy including by considering preferences for management system had improved operational efficiency and
Vietnamese wood products in public procurement, strengthening lifted profit margins by two to three percentage points without
promotion of locally made products and leveraging exporters' a corresponding increase in staffing.
reputation to boost consumer confidence. The Chief Executive of Woodsland JSC, said the domestic
They also are development of supporting market infrastructure market offers opportunities well beyond manufacturing, particularly
such as business databases, digital trading platforms and in higher value-added activities such as distribution, design,
product exhibition centres. VIFOREST said the domestic installation and after-sales services.

market's biggest constraint is not demand but weak market "If we fail to develop the domestic market effectively,
infrastructure. foreign companies will enter and capture the high value-added
Technical standards remain incomplete, while information segments," Bằng said.
on businesses, products and market size is fragmented. Industry executives said closer links between plantation
Systems for product traceability, quality certification and forests, wood processors and distribution networks, combined
emissions disclosure are also inconsistent, making it harder for with stronger technical standards and traceability systems would
consumers to identify legally sourced, high-quality products and be critical to expanding the domestic market, increasing value-

reducing incentives for companies to invest for the long term. added production and supporting the long-term sustainable
Industry representatives said establishing common standards, growth of Vietnam's wood industry.
reliable databases and robust certification and traceability
systems would be essential to building a more transparent Vietnam Carbon Standard and sales of carbon credits
and higher-value domestic market. To achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2050, Vietnam has
Experts also said green public procurement could help issued several policies on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
stimulate demand by prioritising legally sourced, low-emission Decree No. 06/2022/ND-CP of the government stipulates
wood products in public construction projects, in line with
Vietnam's legal framework and international commitments.

From a business perspective, Le Duc Nghia, Chairman of Nicholas A Toneli
An Cuong Wood JSC, said companies would need to invest
consistently in branding, distribution networks, customer
service and corporate governance to unlock the domestic
market's potential.
He called for national quality standards and product
labelling requirements for wood products sold domestically