On 6 June 2025, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brussels held a high-level seminar titled “EVFTA: 5 Years of Implementation and Beyond”, bringing together leaders from the Vietnamese and EU governments, as well as key stakeholders from the business community.
The event provided a platform to assess the impact of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) after five years in effect and to discuss pathways for enhancing future cooperation under this landmark trade agreement.
The seminar opened with keynote speeches from senior officials, including:
- H.E. Mr. Nguyen Van Thao – Ambassador, Head of Mission of Viet Nam to the EU
- Madame Nguyen Minh Hang – Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam
- Mr. Iuliu Winkler – Vice Chairman, Committee on International Trade (INTA), European Parliament
- Madame Maria Martin Prat – Deputy Director General for Trade, European Commission
The seminar also welcomed senior representatives from the Vietnam’s Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Belgian Senate, EU’s DG Trade, Embassy of Vietnam to EU, FESI, CEELA, among others.
Upon invitation, Mr. Bruno Jaspaert – Chairman and Ms. Delphine Rousselet – Executive Director represented EuroCham at this seminar.
In the panel on “Enhancing Future Cooperation with EVFTA,” EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert emphasised that Vietnam remains one of the most dynamic and attractive trade partners for the EU. Explore key points from Mr. Jaspaert’s discussion below:
Strong Trade Outcomes and Growing Confidence
Five years after the implementation of the EVFTA, trade between Vietnam and the European Union has seen remarkable progress. Since the agreement came into effect, the total trade volume has surged by 40%, with exports from Vietnam to the EU exceeding 127 billion USD.
This robust trade performance is mirrored by increasing confidence in Vietnam’s business environment. According to EuroCham’s Business Confidence Index (BCI) for Q1 2025, sentiment among European businesses operating in Vietnam rose to 64.6 points — the highest score recorded in over two years. This optimism demonstrates the strong belief in Vietnam’s potential as a long-term trade and investment partner.
Vietnam’s Rising Era and Strategic Vision
Looking ahead, Vietnam is positioning itself as a regional leader in economic growth and sustainability. The government has outlined ambitious development goals, including becoming one of the world’s top 15 destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI), achieving GDP growth of 8–10 percent in the coming years, and reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In support of these objectives, Vietnam is also implementing comprehensive reforms to reduce administrative burdens by 30%, aiming to create a more transparent, efficient, and business-friendly regulatory environment.
He also reiterated EuroCham’s commitment to Vietnam’s development through policy dialogue and advocacy. In 2025, EuroCham’s Top 5 Must-Win Battles focus on concrete policy actions to reduce regulatory bottlenecks, support green growth, and improve competitiveness.
EuroCham Vietnam would like to sincerely thank all speakers and panellists for their invaluable insights (listed in order of speech):
- Mr. Phung Duc Tien, Vice Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
- Ms. Dora Coreia, Director Africa, Caribbean and Pacific, Asia (II), Trade and Sustainable Development, Green Deal, DG Trade
- Mr. Tran Ngoc Quan, Trade Counselor of Embassy of Vietnam to EU
- Mr. Jerome Pero, General Secretary of FESI
- Ms. Alice O’Donovan, General Secretary CEELA
- Mr. Võ Văn Hoan, Vice Chairman of People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City
- Nguyen Duc Khuong, Chairman of AVSE Global
- Dr. Ignacio Sanchez Recarte, Secretary General of CEEV
- Mr. Frédéric Hai-Au Nguyen – P&V Group
- Ms. Luyen Minh Hong, DDG of Economic Diplomacy of MOFA
- H.E. Mr. Andries Gryffroy, First Vice President of Belgian Senate
EuroCham is proud to support stronger EU-Vietnam trade ties through the EVFTA and remains committed to being a bridge between European investors and the Vietnamese market.
