The Vietnam Trade Office in Austria reported that on December 10, the Vietnamese Embassy in Austria and IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems co-organized the Vietnam-Austria Cooperation Forum on skilled labor and training in Lower Austria.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang attended and delivered remarks at the Forum. Also present were Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang, IMC Krems Board Chairman Heinz Boyer, and Lower Austria representative Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister.

The event drew more than 300 participants, including universities, representatives of ministries from both countries, and nearly 30 Vietnamese companies in human-resource training, labor export, and trade.

At the Forum, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang commended IMC Krems for its scholarship and training program for 150 Vietnamese students. He emphasized Vietnam’s priority on “human-resource diplomacy,” adding that the Forum marked the first step toward establishing a cooperation framework in nursing, hospitality management and IT to learn Austria’s advanced expertise.

Providing an overview of Vietnam’s labor market, Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang said Vietnam has a large workforce of nearly 110 million people, with 65% in working age. More than 860,000 Vietnamese workers are currently employed abroad across more than 40 markets in sectors such as agriculture, biotechnology, IT, and nursing.

He noted that Austria and Vietnam share traditional cooperation, with Austria facing labor shortages and Vietnam having an abundant, diligent workforce especially with experience in seasonal agricultural work. He proposed two cooperation directions: vocational study programs combining cultural and language training, and seasonal agricultural labor that requires only recognition of Vietnamese skill certificates without foreign-language training.

IMC Krems Chairman Heinz Boyer introduced the university’s cooperation initiatives with Vietnam, beginning with partnerships in Hue city, Hanoi University and the University of Commerce. He described this as a unique model combining language training, medical education and employment. He expressed hope that educational cooperation would deepen bilateral friendship.

Lower Austria representative Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister praised the Forum as “an excellent event” for Vietnam and said Krems was the right location due to its openness to international cooperation. She emphasized the importance of understanding, confidence and time invested in supporting Vietnamese students.

The Forum consisted of three sessions: Session 1: Economy and skill-needs trends; Session 2: Practical skills education, tourism, healthcare, nursing, IT and life sciences; Session 3: Market connectivity and Vietnam-Austria trade opportunities.

On the sidelines, Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang met with Vietnamese students at IMC Krems, the Austrian Business Agency (ABA), and IMC University leadership. The Vietnam Trade Office and more than 20 Vietnamese companies showcased products, introduced their businesses, and met potential Austrian partners. Vietnamese companies also visited a wine-producing cooperative in Lower Austria.