Addressing the working session, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien highly valued the cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in particular, and EU - ASEAN relations in general. He emphasized that the Vietnam - EU partnership has developed comprehensively across all sectors, especially since the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into effect.

Currently, the EU stands as Vietnam’s 4th largest trading partner and 3rd largest export market. Notably, investment from European enterprises in Vietnam has witnessed robust growth in sectors such as high tech, renewable energy, logistics, the circular economy, and manufacturing and processing.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized that amidst a rapidly changing global and regional economic landscape, Vietnam and European businesses must foster closer and more trusted cooperation to jointly build new, sustainable supply chains.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien stated that the Vietnamese Government has set a strategic goal of becoming a high-income nation by 2045, anchored by the green economy, digital economy, and circular economy as key pillars. The country is currently implementing three strategic breakthroughs as institutional refinement, infrastructure development, and the cultivation of high-quality human resources.

According to the Minister, this presents a significant opportunity that Vietnam seeks to share with European partners, who possess abundant green finance, advanced technology, superior management expertise, and strong commitments to sustainable development to drive more substantive and deeper Vietnam - EU cooperation.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade remain steadfast in maintaining macroeconomic stability, improving the business environment, and refining institutions to ensure transparency, stability, and alignment with international commitments. Simultaneously, Vietnam welcomes and encourages European enterprises to expand their long-term investment and business operations in the country.

In an open and constructive atmosphere, both sides discussed cooperation directions for the coming time, focusing on sustaining bilateral trade growth momentum, expanding high-quality investment projects, and strengthening supply chain linkages. Discussions also centered on fostering cooperation in sustainable development, green and digital transitions, and further improving mechanisms and policies to facilitate operations for businesses from both sides.

Representing the EU - ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC), Chairman Jens Rubbert affirmed the Council's desire to continue accompanying Vietnam, regarding the country as a key partner within ASEAN. He highlighted that the EVFTA has served as a significant driving force for Vietnam - EU trade.

“Since the EVFTA came into effect, Vietnam's export turnover to the EU has increased by an average of 12 to 15% annually. This figure demonstrates the immense potential for further cooperation. Therefore, the EU - ABC aims to significantly expand business operations and investment in Vietnam,” he stated. 

During the working session, representatives from the EU - ABC and EuroCham Vietnam commended the Vietnamese Government's efforts in improving the business environment and fulfilling integration commitments. They also acknowledged the Ministry of Industry and Trade's leading role in industrial, trade, and energy cooperation.

The EU - ABC representative affirmed that the European business community views Vietnam as a strategic destination in their regional development strategy and wishes to further strengthen policy dialogues with Vietnam’s relevant authorities.

Concluding the session, both sides agreed to maintain regular communication and dialogue channels at both leadership and technical levels. They committed to timely information sharing and the removal of bottlenecks to foster trade and investment opportunities between Vietnam and the European Union, ensuring the partnership becomes increasingly substantive, effective, and sustainable.