New impetus to promote energy cooperation

On September 18, at the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) headquarters in Hanoi, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long met with German Ambassador Helga Margarete Barth to discuss the implementation of the Vietnam-Germany Energy Partnership (EP) framework.

The talks focused on promoting bilateral energy investment projects while addressing challenges facing German investors in Vietnam’s energy sector. Representatives from the MoIT’s Foreign Market Development Department, the Electricity Regulatory Authority, and the Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Industrial Promotion also attended.

Deputy Minister Long stressed that the EP framework, established on July 3, 2025 during Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan’s visit to Berlin, would provide new momentum to elevate bilateral energy cooperation. Both sides have already agreed on a draft Operational Plan (OP) covering September 2025 to December 2026 to be launched soon.

Ambassador Barth welcomed opportunities to expand German energy investments in Vietnam while highlighting difficulties faced by German companies. Deputy Minister Long outlined measures to resolve these issues and reaffirmed the MoIT’s commitment to facilitating German investors in line with Vietnamese law.

Both sides recognized the importance of the Vietnam-Germany Joint Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation in shaping policies, connecting businesses, and expanding industrial and energy partnerships. They agreed to hold the committee’s third session in Hanoi in late November 2025.

Deputy Minister Long also noted that the MoIT would accompany Vietnamese leaders on an official visit to Germany later this month and proposed close coordination with German partners to ensure the success of related activities, further deepening the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership.

Germany: Vietnam’s 17th Largest Investor

Germany remains Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner in Europe, accounting for more than 17% of Vietnam’s exports to the EU. In 2024, bilateral trade exceeded USD 11.7 billion, up 5.5% year-on-year, with Vietnam’s exports at USD 7.9 billion and imports at USD 3.8 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 4.1 billion.

As of August 2025, bilateral trade reached USD 8.82 billion, up 13.8% year-on-year. Vietnam’s exports to Germany hit USD 6.2 billion (up 17.7%), while imports stood at USD 2.61 billion (up 5.4%).

German investment in Vietnam remains modest relative to potential. As of August 31, 2025, Germany had 505 valid projects with total capital of USD 2.917 billion, ranking 17th among 185 foreign investors in Vietnam. Over three-quarters of projects and two-thirds of investment capital are concentrated in manufacturing, processing, technical services, ICT, banking, and insurance.

Both countries continue to expand cooperation in energy, manufacturing, and processing industries, reinforcing their partnership as trade and investment ties grow stronger.

In the first 8 months of 2025, the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Germany reached over USD 8.82 billion, an increase of 13.8% compared to the first 8 months of 2024. Of which, Vietnam's exports to Germany reached over USD 6.2 billion and imports reached over USD 2.61 billion, up 17.7% and 5.4% respectively over the same period in 2024.