Exporting from Viet Nam can be slow and expensive for small businesses because of complex trade regulations. Phuong Thi Nguyen’s start-up TradeComply streamlines compliance and helps micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) access international markets more efficiently.

A box of beautifully crafted goods leaves a small workshop in Viet Nam, destined for new customers abroad. But instead of reaching the buyers on time, the shipment is delayed for weeks at customs – an all-too-common reality for MSMEs facing complex trade regulations.

Drawing on her experience in business consulting and three years living between Viet Nam and Germany, Phuong saw how regulatory barriers were preventing MSMEs from entering new markets. She found that many German companies eager to export to or import from Viet Nam had to turn down orders because compliance was simply too complicated. Even after four years of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) being in force, only around 20 per cent of businesses are able to take advantage of its benefits. For the vast majority, the complexity of paperwork and lack of accessible compliance expertise keep valuable opportunities out of reach.

Phuong aims to change that with her start-up TradeComply – an AI-powered platform that acts like a 24/7 trade compliance expert. By analysing regulations, optimising Free Trade Agreement (FTA) benefits, and automating customs documentation, TradeComply helps businesses cut compliance time and reduce costs.

She plans to expand the platform from facilitating trade between Viet Nam and Germany to a global level. As she explains, “TradeComply is bridging the gap in trade compliance and international trade. We aim to be a global platform for any MSME seeking to ease the nightmare of trade compliance. We want every small business to trade smarter, faster, and with confidence anywhere in the world.”

Further information on the offers available to the Vietnamese diaspora can be found below.