As Vietnam marks 40 years of Đổi Mới reforms, Griffith Asia Institute (GAI) Higher Degree by Research (HDR) member Raghuvir Kelkar has joined leading international scholars to examine the country’s remarkable economic transformation and the challenges ahead.
Mr Kelkar presented his research on Vietnam’s export performance at Vietnam Update 2026, held at The Australian National University’s (ANU) Crawford School of Public Policy on 4 September.
His paper, The Export Efficiency of Vietnam After 40 Years of Doi Moi Reforms, co-authored with his external PhD supervisor, Emeritus Professor Kaliappa Kalirajan from ANU, was recently published in Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, ANU’s flagship policy journal.
The paper was selected for presentation at Vietnam Update 2026, which brought together scholars from ANU, Vietnam’s National Economics University (NEU), Southern Cross University, Waseda University and Griffith University.
Mr Kelkar was invited to attend on a fully funded basis to present his research and act as a discussant for a paper by a scholar from NEU. His research also attracted conference media attention, with Vietnam’s Voice of Vietnam news agency featuring the study.
Mr Kelkar said Vietnam’s economic transformation over the past four decades provided an important case study for understanding the relationship between economic reform, trade and development.
“Vietnam has undergone a remarkable transformation since the introduction of Đổi Mới, moving from an aid-reliant economy towards an increasingly export-oriented and globally integrated economy.”
“Our research examines how efficiently Vietnam has been able to convert its export potential into actual export performance, providing insights into both its achievements and the challenges that remain.”
Themed Vietnam – 40th Anniversary of ‘Đổi Mới’ and the Era of National Rise, the conference explored the policies and reforms that have shaped Vietnam’s development and the priorities that will influence its future.
The event was opened by Carol Holmes, Assistant Secretary, Vietnam and Mekong Strategy Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Hoa (Xuan) Nghiem, Deputy Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Australia.
Keynote speakers included Professor Van Tho Tran from Waseda University in Japan, a former economic adviser to the Vietnamese Prime Minister; Professor Martin Hayden from Southern Cross University, a higher education specialist; and Dr Hong Giang Le from Fulbright University Vietnam, a policy analyst and consultant.
Professor Tran examined Vietnam’s transition from an aid-reliant economy to an export-oriented one, while Professor Hayden highlighted the contribution of higher education to the country’s development. Dr Le provided an overview of the policy and legislative foundations of the Đổi Mới reforms.
Researchers explored a broad range of issues, including trade and investment, bamboo diplomacy, education, digital consumption, carbon neutrality and Vietnam’s ambition to become a high-income economy.
A key focus was the next stage of Vietnam’s industrial development, including the transition from labour-intensive, assembly-based manufacturing towards higher-value, technology-based production. Speakers also considered the role of stronger international partnerships, regional trade agreements, the US-Vietnam strategic partnership and greater autonomy for the private sector.
For Mr Kelkar, the opportunity to present his research alongside scholars working across Vietnam’s policy and economic landscape provided valuable insight as he continues his PhD research.
“I’m grateful for the strong support from the Griffith Asia Institute team and from ANU, which enabled me to participate in the conference and contribute to these important discussions,” he said.
“Presenting this research at Vietnam Update provided an excellent opportunity to engage with scholars from Australia and Vietnam and to receive valuable feedback,”
The conference concluded with remarks from Professor Long Chu, Director of the Hub for Vietnam Policy Studies at ANU’s Crawford School of Public Policy.
As Vietnam enters its fifth decade of Đổi Mới, the conference highlighted both the scale of the country’s economic achievements and the policy choices that will shape its ambition to become a high-income, technologically advanced and sustainable economy.
