Displine: Development Economics Code: 9 31 01 05

PhD candidate: DAO TRUONG THANH

Supervisor: Ass.Prof. Dr. LE XUAN BA and Ass.Prof. Dr VU THANH SON

1. Academic and theoretical contributions

- First, the dissertation provides the most basic and general overview of influential factors of the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the context of international integration. The dissertation identifies competitiveness as internal resources and strengths that SMEs can maintain, improve and improve their rankings in each product and service area in the market and in the province.

- Secondly, the dissertation evaluates the competitiveness of Vinh Phuc's SMEs based on the criteria that are built comprehensively and specifically; it pointed out subjective and objective factors affecting the competitiveness of SMEs in Vinh Phuc province. The analysis shows that businesses are facing many difficulties such as difficulty in accessing capital, unupdated technological level, business management capacity being at an average level; limited connection and partnership among SMEs, high pressure of competitiveness on Vinh Phuc's SMEs by international trade agreements.

- Finally, the dissertation proposes views, orientations and determines a system of synchronous solutions to improve the competitiveness of SMEs in Vinh Phuc province in the context of international integration.

2. Findings and implications

- First, the dissertation approach is to look for factors affecting competitiveness. On the basis of studying the theory of competition and competitiveness of SMEs, the dissertation has built fundamental criteria as a basis for surveying the situation, assessing competitiveness of SMEs in Vinh Phuc province.

-Secondly, the situation of factors affecting competitiveness of SMEs in Vinh Phuc province was evaluated based on 530 samples, 15 interviews with experts, and an analysis of 10 factor clusters affecting the competitiveness (including: Enterprise management capacity; Ability to establish relationships; Human resources; Financial capacity; Marketing capacity; Logistics activities; State policies; Natural, economic, cultural, social conditions – in different geographical areas, scientific and technological progress, international integration) and it is shown that the competitiveness of SMEs in Vinh Phuc province has reached the average level. Businesses are facing many difficulties such as difficulty in accessing capital, unupdated technology levels, average corporate governance capacity, limited connection and partnership among SMEs, high pressure of competitiveness on Vinh Phuc's SMEs by international trade agreements, and high pressure of international trade agreements on the competitiveness of SMEs in Vinh Phuc.

- Thirdly, the dissertation proposes six groups of solutions to improve the competitiveness of SMEs in Vinh Phuc province in the current period, including: Consolidating the organizational structure and management system, ensuring the quality of corporate human resources; Develop product strategies, partnerships, cooperation to improve competitiveness; Building corporate brand and developing logistics services. In each solution, the dissertation clearly defines the objectives, contents and methods of implementation in the current local conditions. The solutions have certain constraints and have a great influence on improving the competitiveness of enterprises, so they must perform synchronously and flexibly in practice.

- Currently, the PhD candidate has only focused on analyzing 10 impact factors, in the next research after defending the thesis, the author will analyze four more impact factors mentioned in chapter 1 of the disertation.