The result was indicated in an annual survey on Asia’s business situation conducted by the world’s leading transportation group UPS called Asia Business Monitor (ABM) which was announced on September 29.

The 2010 ABM was conducted on around 1,350 leaders of SMEs from 13 countries and territories, including Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. This was the first time Vietnam took part in the survey.

According to the survey, 59 percent of Vietnamese SMEs showed their optimism about further development of the Asia-Pacific economy, 9 percent said the regional economy sees a downward trend and the remaining 32 percent said it will remain unchanged.

Vietnam was the second optimistic market in the region in business development prospect in 2010 with 72 percent of interviewed businesses saying their companies will reap better results this year. Indian businesses are the most optimistic about this prospect with 85 percent.

Although nine out of ten Vietnamese SMEs pay attention to business activities in the Asia-Pacific market, they also expect their growths in other regions. Eighty-one percent of surveyed businesses forecast that Vietnam’s business activities will increase 61 percent in North American and 60 percent in Europe.

Fifty-eight percent of Vietnamese SMEs said international business has positive impacts and opens up new opportunities for their operations. They added that architecture-construction, information technology and tourism will be key sectors in 2010.

Although the national economy is forecast to keep growing this year, Vietnamese businesses are facing a lot of challenges, particularly, high credit interest rate and competitiveness pressure.

Vietnam’s SMEs said the government’s supportive polices are very necessary for them to improve their competitiveness.