Vu Thang Pham

Upgrading of Developing Country Producers in Global Value Chains: the Case of the Garment Industry in Vietnam Vu Thang Pham

Under globalisation, developing countries are competing with others in the lowest value added production sector. To find pathways by which developing countries could move into higher value added activities in global value chains is the purpose of the book. The book investigates upgrading of Vietnam?s garment industry in the global garment value chain in the phase-out of the Multi-Fibre Agreement (MFA). The research uses quantitative method (quota restricted and quota free categories analysis, revealed comparative advantage and unit value analysis) and qualitative method (16 case-studies include state owned producers, foreign invested producers and East Asian traders). Major findings are in the post MFA Vietnam has achieved process upgrading and successfully implemented product upgrading. However, leading Vietnamese producers have carried out limited functional upgrading. Overseas Vietnamese and East Asian traders also play important roles in the entering and upgrading of Vietnam?s garment industry in the global garment value chain. The book is useful to practitioners, researchers, policy-makers and activists who are interested in industrial upgrading of developing countries.