EVFTA: Opportunity for Vietnam-Netherlands trade cooperation
Benefits generated by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and challenges to Dutch investors in Vietnam are among the topics discussed at a virtual forum on September 9.
The virtual forum was jointly held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Benefits generated by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) andchallenges to Dutch investors in Vietnam are among the topics discussed at a virtualforum on September 9.
The event was jointlyheld by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), and theConfederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW).
Deputy Minister ofIndustry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong highlighted the strong developments of theVietnam-Netherlands trade and investment ties over the past time, and proposed ways to step up the links through optimising advantages of the EVFTA.
Lawyer Joost Vrancken Peeters, Chairman of theNetherlands Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, briefed the participants on the deal and outcomes of an online study on the demand for investment movement andsupply diversification of investors from the Netherlands and the EU.
Theforum focused on issues regarding production, manufacturing, export-import,logistics, customs, visa and human resources.
Accordingto the MoIT, the Netherlands is one of Vietnam’s two biggest export markets inthe EU. Tradebetween the two countries reached nearly 7.6 billion USD last year, withVietnam’s exports to the European country hitting 6.9 billion USD and itsimports, 661 million USD. In the first seven months of this year, Vietnam exported morethan 3.83 billion USD worth of goods to the Netherlands, up 0.46 percent year-on-year,even in the context that Vietnam’s total export revenue to the EU dropped 5.96 percent in theperiod./.
Vietnam and the Netherlands are natural partners in agriculture, especially hi-tech agriculture, since they have complementary strengths, experts told a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on November 14.
The Netherlands and Vietnam established diplomatic relations on April 9, 1973. Bilateral ties between the two countries are typical of dynamic and effective cooperation. The two sides agreed to build a comprehensive partnership.
Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and the Netherlands’ Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag engaged in a phone talk on September 1 to discuss ways to boost bilateral cooperation between the two sides.
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.
Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha urged countries to work together to remove supply chain bottlenecks, expand market access, strengthen cooperation in smart customs procedures, mutually recognise technical standards, and eliminate unnecessary protectionist barriers to boost trade and investment.
The event has gathered over 400 exhibitors from 16 countries and territories, with more than 980 booths showcasing a wide range of products and technologies in automotive components, electronics, repair and maintenance, bodywork, accessories, and customisation.
The latest order follows Vietjet’s commitment for 20 additional A330neo aircraft last month, bringing the airline’s total widebody aircraft on order to 40.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang acknowledged the target represents an important milestone for socio-economic development as well as a demonstration of the country’s aspiration for robust economic growth.
The price of E5 RON92 petrol is now capped at 20,631 VND (0.79 USD) per litre, up 1,169 VND from the previous adjustment, while RON95-III costs no more than 21,244 VND per litre, up 1,277 VND.
While German consumers are familiar with Vietnamese products such as coffee, seafood, tea, and spices, many other quality items remain relatively unknown in the market. The Selgros event not only helped introduce Bac Giang lychee to German consumers but also provided them with the opportunity to experience other Vietnamese agricultural products.
The article by Cuba’s Inter Press Service detailed how Vietnamese private enterprise Agri VMA leased 1,000 ha of land in Los Palacios district, Cuba’s westernmost province of Pinar del Río, for rice cultivation over a three-year period. The project’s first harvest in 2025 recorded an impressive yield of 7.2 tonnes per hectare, far exceeding the local average of 1.6 tonnes.
During the visit, office representatives held a working session with the Tipaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry and met with several prominent local businesses operating in key sectors including industry, agriculture, fisheries, food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and plastics.
A Nordic delegation to Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 in September will feature leading names in retail, consumer goods, logistics, and sustainable manufacturing, including global fashion giant H&M, offering fresh prospects for partnerships in fashion, textiles, and green supply chains.
The virtual forum was jointly held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers. (Photo: VNA) 
