ROLE OF THE MIDDLEMEN IN THE SUPPLY OF THE PROCESSING INDUSTRY. CASE STUDY: THE CENTRAL SOUTH REGION IN VIETNAM

摘要

The processing industry is playing an increasingly important role in Vietnam's overall economy. A study on the restructure in this sector across the Coastal Central South has demonstrated the dominating part that middlemen are taking in connecting thesupply, represented by fishers and farmers, to demand, represented by processing enterprises. Still, middlemen have gone further in establishing their influences on both, via assisting small producers in inputs for production while intervening the pricefixation traditionally practiced by processing enterprises. In deed, their leveraged position has come to the detriment of small-scale producers and processing enterprises. After examining specific constraints that have hampered potential development ofthe field, several recommendations are therefore proposed in favor of regulations and policy-marking processes at both business and industry levels. Once the tendency of extending this model is visible, it is hoped that suggested measures can encourageVietnam, which has so far been witnessing the mainstream of transition from the centrally planned to market-oriented economy, to successfully introduce far-reaching reforms.