The CPTPP 2026 Senior Officials - Business Dialogue and Business Matching Forum officially opened on the morning of July 22 as part of the Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2026.

The event brought together senior officials and chief negotiators from CPTPP member economies, alongside representatives from the business community, industry associations, and relevant organizations.

The event was organized to strengthen connections between government agencies and the business community while providing a platform to exchange views on opportunities and challenges arising from the implementation of the CPTPP.

The program underscored that the effective implementation of the Agreement depends not only on policy dialogue among governments but also on the active participation of businesses, which are the direct drivers of trade, investment, and regional value chain development. Through the forum, organizers aim to foster cooperation, facilitate the exchange of experiences, and enhance businesses’ ability to capitalize on the CPTPP commitments to expand commercial opportunities across member economies.

Connecting the perspectives of governments and businesses

At the opening ceremony, Ngo Chung Khanh, Deputy Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and Vietnam’s chief CPTPP negotiator at the senior official level, said that as the CPTPP Chair this year, Vietnam considers the dialogue an important opportunity to connect two different perspectives within a single forum.

According to the Vietnamese representative, from the perspective of businesses, decisions on investment destinations, supply chain organization, technology adoption, and priority markets are made every day, shaping the future direction of regional trade and investment.

Meanwhile, CPTPP member governments are considering how to further develop the Agreement amid a rapidly changing economic landscape, with emerging issues such as digital trade, the green transition, supply chain connectivity, and new forms of cross-border trade.

Ngo Chung Khanh, Deputy Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the MoIT and Vietnam’s chief CPTPP negotiator at the senior official level, delivers his opening remarks.

“The objective of today’s dialogue is to ensure that these two perspectives complement each other through a strategic, forward-looking exchange,” Ngo Chung Khanh emphasized.

Accordingly, the organizers hope to hear from the business community about opportunities in CPTPP markets, the capabilities businesses expect from partners across the region, and the factors that will influence their investment plans and business operations in the coming period.

At the same time, CPTPP senior officials also wish to share with businesses the directions currently being pursued by member economies, the issues under discussion within the institutional framework of the Agreement, and the areas with potential to deepen economic cooperation.

Through these exchanges, Vietnam expects to identify areas where the priorities of the business community align with those of member governments while also recognizing sectors that require stronger coordination in the future.

According to Ngo Chung Khanh, the CPTPP provides a solid foundation for dialogue by connecting economies from different regions and at different levels of development. The Agreement covers not only trade in goods but also trade in services, investment, government procurement, and many other important areas that have a direct impact on business decisions.

Promoting substantive cooperation and turning opportunities into projects

Ngo Chung Khanh said the true value of the CPTPP network depends on businesses’ ability to connect opportunities across different markets. A business may source raw materials from one member economy, manufacture in another, use professional services from a third economy, and distribute its products throughout the region.

The CPTPP provides a common framework and a stable, predictable environment to support such business models. However, businesses themselves are in the best position to identify where the next wave of commercial opportunities will emerge.

For that reason, the dialogue program was designed around four closely interconnected themes: trade facilitation; investment and supply chains; digital transformation; and the green transition. According to Ngo Chung Khanh, these are no longer separate policy issues but are increasingly becoming integral elements of a unified business strategy.

Specifically, businesses seeking to diversify supply chains require efficient logistics systems and customs procedures. Companies investing in digital transformation need assurance that they can operate seamlessly across multiple markets. Meanwhile, enterprises pursuing the green transition require access to technology, finance, skilled human resources, and reliable suppliers.

For governments, understanding these conditions is essential to assessing whether the work currently being carried out by CPTPP working groups is aligned with evolving business and market trends. At the same time, a better understanding of the CPTPP’s strategic directions and work programs will enable businesses to proactively identify new opportunities, formulate investment plans, and seek partners across the region.

“The dialogue is not merely an opportunity for governments to present ongoing work or for businesses to raise recommendations. It is also an opportunity to compare two forward-looking agendas: what businesses are preparing for and what CPTPP governments are working to facilitate. Where these agendas converge, efforts should be made to further strengthen alignment. Where differences remain, early dialogue will help both sides better understand the reasons behind them and adjust their approaches when necessary,” Ngo Chung Khanh said.

The Vietnamese representative also noted that the business matching session following the dialogue would add a practical dimension to the policy process. Policy dialogue helps shape strategic directions, but cooperation can only be realized when businesses find suitable partners, combine complementary strengths, and jointly implement concrete projects.

Through the forum, Vietnam expects to achieve two key outcomes. First, it aims to help CPTPP senior officials gain a clearer understanding of the trade priorities and development orientations of the business community operating across CPTPP markets. Second, it seeks to strengthen connections among businesses to transform opportunities created by the CPTPP into investment projects, supply chain partnerships, and new business initiatives.

As the CPTPP Chair, Vietnam remains committed to working closely with member economies to promote greater participation by the business community in the continued development of the Agreement. According to the Vietnamese representative, there is no immediate need to establish a complex institutional mechanism. More importantly, the process should begin with strategic, practical, and forward-looking dialogues that focus on the next stage of development for member economies and the business community.