The survey was conducted on more than 500 SMEs in Vietnam in the first quarter of this year by the Acorn Marketing and Research Consultancy company.

President and CEO of HSBC Vietnam, Thomas Tobin, said that the survey showed that an overwhelming number of respondents are positive about the outlook of the country’s economy and international trade transaction volume.

According to the study, 76 percent of the respondents believed that the Vietnamese economy would record a growth rate of more than 8 percent in 2007 while 74 percent said they are poised for business expansion within the next six months.

Key reasons behind the SMEs’ sunny outlook include Vietnam's continued economic development and increasing border trade between SMEs and their Chinese partners.