Conference discusses business-investment opportunities for EU firms
More than 100 multinational groups from the EU operating in Singapore took part in an online conference on September 25 to gain insights into new investment and business opportunities in Vietnam following the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) taking effect.
EVFTA opening up space for bilateral trade to grow further. (Photo: VNA)
Singapore (VNA) - More than 100 multinational groups from theEU operating in Singapore took part in an online conference on September 25 to gaininsights into new investment and business opportunities in Vietnam following theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) taking effect.
In her opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tao Thi ThanhHuong spoke of Vietnam’s economic achievements, such as 7 percent GDP growth,low inflation, an improved sustainable growth index, and reduced poverty, amongothers.
She emphasised the thriving nature of economic ties between the countryand the EU. Bilateral trade hit 54.6 billion USD in 2019, and the EU iscurrently Vietnam’s 5th-largest foreign investor, with over 2,200projects worth 24.67 billion USD.
Huong noted that the EVFTA are opening up space for bilateral trade togrow further, while EU companies now have favourable conditions to conduct businessin Vietnam and find a gateway to the 655 million people throughout SoutheastAsia.
The conference provided information on Vietnam’s business climate, new economicpolicies, and preparations for the deal now it has taken effect. It also discusseda number of topics of interest to EU firms, like the digital economy ande-commerce, technology, and technological solutions in production, and ways toapproach the Vietnamese market.
It was co-organised by the Vietnam Embassy and Trade Office in Singapore,the EU-ASEAN Business Council, the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce,and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam./.
Shipments of Vietnamese fishery products to the EU in August, the first month the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement took effect, increased by around 10 percent over July, demonstrating the positive effect of the deal.
Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue on September 23 said the European Union (EU) is a significant economic and trade partner of Vietnam, including Hanoi.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
The analysis from an investment perspective shows that the economy’s growth has been heavily capital‑driven, yet efficiency remains low as reflected by Vietnam’s Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR) being significantly higher than global and regional averages. This underscores the imperative to enhance capital‑use efficiency.
EVFTA opening up space for bilateral trade to grow further. (Photo: VNA) 
