[Hanoi, Friday, 11 April 2025] The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) has officially launched the 2025 edition of its Whitebook – the Chamber’s flagship publication featuring in-depth policy recommendations from its 19 Sector Committees. Arriving at a time of heightened global uncertainty, this 16th edition Whitebook introduces a bold strategic lens: “Must-Win Battles” – a set of urgent policy priorities aimed at enhancing Vietnam’s resilience, reinforcing its competitive edge, and accelerating its integration with the European Union. It serves as a practical roadmap for sustainable economic growth in a fast-changing global environment.
The launch event, held in Hanoi, brought together high-level delegates from the Vietnamese government, business community, and diplomatic corps – both in person and online. Among the distinguished guests were Mr. Phạm Quốc Hùng, Deputy Chief of People’s Supreme Court, alongside senior representatives from Vietnamese ministries, provincial People’s Committees, departments, and the European diplomatic corps.
Sponsored by CropLife Vietnam, Nutrition Foods Group, PharmaGroup, De Heus, and European Standards Medicines, the event provided a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas and strengthening cooperation between European investors and Vietnamese policymakers.
EuroCham invites all stakeholders to explore the full insights and practical recommendations outlined in the 2025 Whitebook. Both the Vietnamese and English editions are now available for public access.
Business Confidence in a Changing World
The 2025 Whitebook arrives at a pivotal moment. The newly imposed tariffs and heightened geopolitical volatility, quickly evolving by the minute, are posing challenges for Vietnam’s export-driven economy. While most firms have yet to alter their investment strategies, there is a strong and urgent demand for decisive reforms to preserve confidence and sharpen Vietnam’s competitive edge.
In this context, the 2025 Whitebook delivers a timely and strategic call to action. It urges policymakers to fast-track critical reforms and capitalise on Vietnam’s strategic position as a gateway for EU to ASEAN. With practical, sector-specific recommendations, the Whitebook addresses a central question: How can Vietnam continue to attract and retain foreign direct investment in 2025 while advancing its long-term sustainable growth agenda?
“In this moment of global flux, Vietnam’s ‘bamboo diplomacy’ must be grounded in long-term and balanced economic alliances,” said EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert. “The European business community, represented here with EuroCham, is a stable, values-driven partner – here for the long haul. Our Whitebook reflects this partnership, offering pragmatic solutions drawn directly from the business frontline.
“Despite global headwinds, the Vietnamese Government’s 8% GDP growth target for 2025 remains unchanged – a sign of its continued ambition. To achieve it, Vietnam must focus on reinforcing internal strengths while maximising the benefits of its external partnerships,” he added.
A New Framework: Must-Win Battles
For the first time, the Whitebook presents a cross-sectoral framework centred around five Must-Win Battles: entry visa policy, immigration and airport infrastructure, work permits, VAT refunds, and customs procedures. These core issues are widely recognised as fundamental to ease of doing business. These issues, frequently cited across industries, are essential to improving the ease of doing business. Addressing them will significantly reduce administrative barriers, boost investor confidence, and improve Vietnam’s long-term economic performance.
Alongside this, EuroCham’s 19 Sector Committees have outlined targeted recommendations in critical areas – from semiconductor supply chains and green finance to sustainable agriculture and EV infrastructure – each offering clear, actionable proposals informed by member insights, ranging from dynamic SMEs to multinational enterprises.
A summary of all the Sector Committees’ must-win battles can be found from page 30 of the Whitebook.
Advocacy That Drives Real Impact
In 2024 alone, EuroCham sent over 111 formal letters and conducted more than 200 meetings with government ministries, agencies, and provincial leaders. These engagements contributed directly to our high-level dialogues with the Prime Minister, the National Assembly, the Party’s Central Economic Committee, and other bodies shaping Vietnam’s economic policy – ensuring that the voice of European businesses is heard where it matters most.
“We are not just advocating – we are driving change together,” noted Jean-Jacques Bouflet, EuroCham Vice-Chairman in charge of Advocacy. “Our Sector Committees at EuroCham remain committed partners in Vietnam’s development journey. The Whitebook recommendations stem from shared objectives – a prosperous, sustainable, and innovative Vietnam that fulfils its tremendous potential on the global stage.
The decisions made today will shape Vietnam’s development trajectory for decades to come. By embracing forward-looking policies that align with global best practices, Vietnam can accelerate its transformation while ensuring that progress benefits all its citizens.”
A Shared Commitment to Progress
A recurring theme throughout the launch was the enduring strength of the EU–Vietnam partnership – a beacon of stability amid today’s increasingly fragmented trade landscape.
Speaking at the event, EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier reaffirmed Europe’s long-standing commitment to open and fair trade: “Free and fair trade is in Europe’s DNA and is the backbone of our prosperity and competitiveness. The EU is determined to work with partners, and with Vietnam, in responding to the new reality for the global economy.”
Ambassador Guerrier highlighted the upcoming fifth anniversary of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) as a key moment to take stock of progress and renew ambition: ““The EVFTA has clearly demonstrated how trade and investment flows can grow when we build on a solid framework. We must make full use of this agreement to unlock its full potential.”
The Time for Reform is Now
As regional competition intensifies – where neighbouring countries are offering more favourable tariff regimes and investor demands continue to rise – Vietnam stands at a defining juncture. To remain a magnet for quality investment, decisive and swift action is essential.
Encouragingly, the momentum for change is present on both sides.
With the EU poised to invest in long-term, high-quality, and sustainable initiatives, the window for transformative change is now. At the same time, the Vietnamese Government has shown a strong commitment to administrative reform and procedural streamlining – developments that have reassured the confidence of European investors choosing Vietnam as their second home.
This mutual commitment is reflected in the latest results of EuroCham’s Q1 2025 Business Confidence Index (BCI), conducted just before a major trade policy shift in Washington. The BCI, alongside the Whitebook, signals not only continued presence but also active engagement from European investors, all working toward a stronger, more competitive Vietnam.
Charting a Strategic Path Together
At the Whitebook Launch, EuroCham experts brought forward direct insights from the business frontlines, offering practical recommendations to support Vietnam’s sustained prosperity. One message rang loud and clear throughout the room: the time to act is now.
EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert remarked: “While this is undeniably a challenging period – marked by rapid changes and global uncertainty – it also presents a golden opportunity. Vietnam can consolidate its core strengths, cultivate trusted and sustainable trade partnerships, and fully leverage its extensive network of free trade agreements to attract more strategic FDI. At the same time, ongoing efforts to update and strengthen the legal framework will lay the groundwork for sustainable, long-term growth.
“This Whitebook is a compass – for both Vietnam and Europe – to steer through today’s storms and towards tomorrow’s opportunities,” concluded Chairman Jaspaert.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Guerrier echoed this optimism, calling on both sides to seize the moment: “Together, the EU and Vietnam can transform today’s challenges into new avenues for mutually beneficial trade and investment. The upcoming visits by EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with the planned upgrade of EU-Vietnam relations, will mark important milestones on this path toward a shared future.”
###
About EuroCham Vietnam
Founded in 1998, the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) has established itself as the unified voice of the European business community in Vietnam. With offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, we represent a diverse spectrum of companies, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to multinational corporations. EuroCham plays a crucial role in shaping policy dialogues, fostering bilateral trade and investment, and fortifying economic ties between Europe and Vietnam, particularly within the framework of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
EuroCham Vietnam boasts a substantial membership base comprising over 1,400 companies, solidifying its position as one of the largest foreign chambers operating in Vietnam. We function as the “chamber of chambers,” encompassing nine prominent national European business associations in Vietnam, which include:
- Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (Beluxcham)
- Central and Eastern European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (CEEC)
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry Portugal-Vietnam (CCIPV)
- Dutch Business Association Vietnam (DBAV)
- French Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vietnam (CCIFV)
- German Business Association (GBA)
- Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (ICHAM)
- Nordic Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (Nordcham)
- Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (SCCV)
EuroCham’s diversified influence is underpinned by our extensive network of 19 specialised Sector Committees. Serving as think tanks within their respective industries, these committees provide invaluable expertise, steer policy recommendations, and stimulate industry-specific dialogues. This organisational framework guarantees that the concerns and viewpoints of diverse sectors are actively considered, thereby moulding EuroCham’s cross-sectoral agenda and magnifying its overall influence.
For more information about EuroCham, visit: www.eurochamvn.org.
For media enquiries, please contact:
EuroCham Vietnam Media & Communications Officer
Ms. Tram Hoang – tram.hoang@eurochamvn.org
