On 11 December, the Hai Phong People’s Committee, in cooperation with the Foreign Investment Agency (Ministry of Finance), organised a conference titled “Haiphong Free Trade Zone – A Destination for a New Era”. The event highlighted the investment potential and opportunities in Hai Phong.
Attending the conference were Mr. Le Trung Kien, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee;
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Investment Agency (Ministry of Finance); Mr. Pham Van Thep, Head of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority; together with representatives of various enterprises. Representing EuroCham Vietnam was Chairman Bruno Jaspaert.
The conference highlighted three key requirements for the development of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Hai Phong:
- Establishing green standards, international standards, and digital standards;
- Ensuring clean energy usage, modern logistics, and sustainable trade practices;
- Enhancing cooperation to develop clusters in high-tech industries, electronic components, and advanced materials, while improving connectivity among seaports, logistics networks, and supporting industries.
Besides its role as a growth engine for the Northern Coastal Region and the Lang Son – Hanoi – Hai Phong economic corridor, the FTZ should be a component of broader national institutional reforms and trade infrastructure development.
Speaking at the conference, EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert emphasised that Hai Phong possesses strategic advantages and port infrastructure that position it to lead the development of next-generation FTZ models. He recommended that Hai Phong focus on three pillars to build an internationally compliant FTZ:
- Developing a transparent information gateway;
- Establishing a green, sustainable, and climate-resilient zone; and
- Advancing digitalisation through technologies such as AI and IoT to support cargo management, energy optimisation, and predictive maintenance.
EuroCham Vietnam remains committed to accompanying Vietnam and its provinces, including Hai Phong, in strengthening international collaboration and sustainable growth.
