MEKONG PARTNERS / MENTORSHIP & EXPORT READINESS
From export ambition to practical readiness.
Mickaël Driol’s contribution to DBAV’s Ready to Export (R2E) mentorship programme: helping Vietnamese SMEs prepare for international growth.
THE PROGRAMME
Building stronger connections between Vietnam and international markets.
Ready to Export is implemented by the Dutch Business Association Vietnam (DBAV), with support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). It helps Vietnamese SMEs strengthen export readiness and connect with Dutch and European markets and supply chains.
The programme combines practical training, expert mentoring and business connections. Its current 2026–2027 phase focuses on agriculture, manufacturing, and textiles and garments. This page describes Mickaël’s earlier mentorship contribution; programme arrangements and participation opportunities are managed by DBAV.
Explore the official R2E programme ↗MICKAËL’S CONTRIBUTION
Turning business plans into decisions that can be executed.
As an R2E mentor, Mickaël worked with Vietnamese SMEs preparing for international markets. The support connected export objectives with the commercial and operating fundamentals needed to pursue them.
Markets, channels & positioning
Challenge market choices, sharpen product positioning and assess how the business will reach international customers.
Pricing, margins & cash flow
Stress-test unit economics and pricing decisions so growth plans remain aligned with financial and operational capacity.
Sequencing, reliability & governance
Translate the export plan into operating priorities, supplier expectations and a workable sequence of next steps.
BEYOND THE INITIAL PROGRAMME
Mentorship that continues into implementation.
At the request of a small number of mentees, Mickaël continued providing support over the following twelve months. The work moved beyond pitch preparation to practical business decisions and cross-border execution.
A published reflection on progress
In his December 2025 retrospective, Mickaël reported that one mentee ranked fourth among 43 companies and another reached the top ten. He also described an eco-friendly products business progressing towards repeatable sales in European markets and through Amazon.
The emphasis was on better positioning, more deliberate market selection and stronger supply and compliance readiness, alongside circular-economy principles and opportunities for local artisans.
Read Mickaël’s R2E reflection on LinkedIn ↗SHARING EXPERIENCE / BUILDING CAPABILITY
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