FTA Index 2025 · Provincial Brief
Quang Ngai
Provincial performance in implementing free trade agreements
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Performance tier
Average
Average
Band 5 of 6 — 27th of 34 assessed provinces and cities.
Overall score
The score is 5.54 points below the national average of 21.66.
Weakest pillar
32/ 34
Information access — the widest gap of the four pillars (−2.03).
Four component indexes at a glance
A
Information access
Rank 32 / 34
2.76
/ 10
-2.03 vs avg
B
Implementation of Legal Documents
Rank 25 / 34
3.77
/ 10
-1.44 vs avg
C
Policies Supporting Enterprises' FTA Utilisation
Rank 29 / 34
5
/ 10
-0.82 vs avg
D
Sustainable development commitments
Rank 26 / 34
4.32
/ 10
-1.65 vs avg
★ Key relative strengths
#4
C4 — FTA commitments utilised
#5
A3 — Channels through which enterprises access information on FTAs
#6
C5 — Barriers to FTA utilisation
#7
C6 — Access to competitiveness support policies
Critical areas for improvement
#34
A4/A7 — Quality of FTA information relative to business needs & Quality of FTA-related events
#34
C3 — FTA utilisation activities
#33
A8/C1 — Quality of forecasting and market-orientation information from local authorities & FTA utilisation
#33
B3 — Quality of guidance on legal documents
Source: FTA Index 2025; scale 1–5; ranks out of 34 provinces
01
Overview of the result
Quang Ngai scored 16.11 out of 40, ranking 27th of 34, and was placed in the Average tier. The province sits 5.54 points below the national average of 21.66. Its FTA implementation profile is sharply uneven: firms in the province do have some capacity to reach and exploit FTAs, but the quality of support and the depth of utilisation remain limited. The relative strengths lie in the reach of information channels, access to support policy, and the utilisation of certain FTA commitments. The quality of information support, of communication events and of forecasting information, together with the breadth of FTA utilisation, all still need to improve.
Quang Ngai
National average
A
Information access
-2.03
B
Implementation of Legal Documents
-1.44
C
Policies Supporting Enterprises' FTA Utilisation
-0.82
D
Sustainable development commitments
-1.65
02
Detailed analysis by component index
A
Component Index 1
Information access
2.76 / 10
Rank 32 / 34 · -2.03
Overview
Quang Ngai is strong on the reach of FTA information to firms: the channels through which enterprises access FTA information rank 5th, and FTA information provided by local authorities ranks 10th nationally. The quality and usefulness of that content, however, need clear improvement: the quality of FTA information relative to business needs and the quality of FTA-related events both rank 34th, while forecasting information quality ranks 33rd nationally.
By firm type
Large and FDI firms take part in FTA-related activities more often and rate information quality more positively. Small and private domestic firms participate less and are less satisfied. Traditional channels and conferences remain the main route in, while training and specialised publications are little used.
-2.03 vs avg
National rank by indicator
#5 Channels through which enterprises access information on FTAs
#16 Frequency of participation in FTA-related events
#22 Knowledge of FTAs
#34 Quality of FTA-related events
#34 Quality of FTA information relative to business needs
B
Component Index 2
Implementation of Legal Documents
3.77 / 10
Rank 25 / 34 · -1.44
Overview
Firm participation in FTA legal implementation is moderate: training, enterprise feedback on legal documents related to FTA commitments and guidance frequency are not far below the national norm. The main bottleneck is the quality of guidance on legal documents, which ranks only 33rd, with the complexity of compliance ranking 32nd nationally. Firms do come into contact with FTA-related legal activity, but the guidance is not clear, practical or easy enough to apply.
By firm type
Large and FDI firms understand preferential tariffs, rules of origin, SPS, TBT and other FTA content better. Small and private domestic firms typically stop at a basic level of understanding, or do not grasp the relevant rules at all. State-owned firms mostly report basic understanding, with little sign of deep integration into day-to-day operations.
-1.44 vs avg
National rank by indicator
#18 Frequency of enterprise feedback on legal documents related to FTA commitments
#19 Frequency of participation in training on legal documents
#22 Understanding of legal documents
#32 Complexity of compliance with legal documents
#33 Quality of guidance on legal documents
C
Component Index 3
Policies Supporting Enterprises' FTA Utilisation
5 / 10
Rank 29 / 34 · -0.82
Overview
The indicators paint a clear picture: firms in the province do well at exploiting certain specific FTA commitments, yet overall FTA utilisation remains limited. The FTA commitments utilised ranks 4th, while utilisation of the FTAs Viet Nam has signed ranks only 33rd and FTA utilisation activities rank 34th nationally. The quality of trade promotion programmes and of the support programmes firms need also has to improve; as it stands, this pillar does not reflect the province's export sector potential.
By firm type
Tariff preferences are the most widely used FTA benefit, especially among large and FDI firms. More technical content — TBT, SPS, trade remedies, intellectual property, labour and environment — is exploited far less, particularly by small and private domestic firms. FTA utilisation in Quang Ngai therefore still leans on the basic benefits, while the more specialised, compliance-heavy commitments are not widely used across firm groups.
-0.82 vs avg
National rank by indicator
#4 FTA commitments utilised
#7 Access to competitiveness support policies
#32 Need for FTA support programmes and policies
#33 FTA utilisation
#34 FTA utilisation activities
D
Component Index 4
Sustainable development commitments
4.32 / 10
Rank 26 / 34 · -1.65
Overview
Quang Ngai records a relatively encouraging level of readiness to comply with the sustainable development commitments, with the indicator ranking 17th nationally. Understanding and implementation support, however, remain limited. Understanding of the commitments, support effectiveness and perceived impact all sit in the lower-middle group, while the perceived importance of complying with import-market sustainable development commitments ranks 32nd. Firms have taken some initial preparatory steps but do not yet fully recognise what the sustainability requirements mean for production, exports and market access.
By firm type
Large and FDI firms understand newer requirements such as EUDR, CSDDD and CBAM better. Small and private domestic firms remain uncertain about, or unfamiliar with, this content. Large firms and those with greater international exposure also expect a bigger effect from the labour, environmental and biodiversity commitments.
-1.65 vs avg
National rank by indicator
#17 Readiness to comply with sustainable development commitments
#24 Understanding of sustainable development commitments
#25 Effectiveness of support from local authorities
#26 Perceived impact of sustainable development commitments
#32 Perceived importance of compliance with import-market sustainable development commitments
03
Conclusions & implications
Strengths to build on
Firms already have initial access to FTAs: Quang Ngai has relatively good information coverage and access to support policy, giving a base on which to widen support in the next phase.
Some specific FTA commitments are actively exploited: firms in the province score well on using individual commitments, above all basic benefits such as tariff preferences.
Some sustainability preparation is under way: a segment of firms, particularly large and FDI firms, has begun to recognise the newer import-market requirements.
Limitations to address
Information and event quality remain weak: firms do reach the information, but the content is not useful, current or close enough to their import-export needs.
Legal guidance needs to be clearer and easier to apply: firms do take part in some legal activity, but guidance quality and ease of compliance remain the bottleneck.
Sustainability awareness is uneven: firms have made initial preparations but do not yet fully see what the sustainability requirements mean for production, exports and market access.
Next steps
Address the bottlenecks to move into the highest group
1
Raise the quality of FTA information
Improve the content from state agencies, communication events and forecasting so it tracks firms' import-export needs more closely.
Pillar A · 32nd → higher
Make guidance on rules of origin, SPS, TBT, C/O and the FTA rules more practical so firms can apply it.
Pillar B · 25th → higher
Help firms move from a handful of basic benefits to exploiting more of the technical, higher-value commitments.
Pillar C · 29th → higher
4
Link sustainability to market requirements
Spell out what the labour, environmental, EUDR, CBAM and CSDDD requirements mean for production and exports.
Pillar D · 26th → higher
