On 31 July, as part of his official visit to Vietnam, H.E. Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, participated in a working lunch with the EU Delegation to Vietnam and EuroCham.
The meeting, which took place in Hanoi, brought together:
From the European Commission and the EU Delegation –
- H.E. Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission
- H.E. Julien Guerrier, European Union Ambassador to Vietnam
- Nereo Peñalver Garcia, Senior Adviser (Cabinet Expert) to HR/VP Borrell
- Dr. Carsten Schittek, Minister Counsellor and Head of Trade Section of the EU Delegation to Vietnam
From EuroCham –
- Jean-Jacques Bouflet, Vice-Chairman
- Bruno Jaspaert, Advisory Board Member
- Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch, Advisory Board Member
- Dinh Nguyen, Vice-Chairman of the EuroCham Vietnam Green Growth Sector Committee and Head of its Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Working Group
- Van Nguyen, Head of EuroCham’s Hanoi Office cum External Relations Manager
The discussion covered a range of crucial topics affecting EU-Vietnam relations and economic cooperation:
- EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA): Participants examined the impact of the EVFTA on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam, assessing its role in strengthening economic ties between the EU and Vietnam.
- Sustainable Investment: The group explored strategies for successful and sustainable long-term investments in Vietnam, sharing insights on best practices and key factors for success.
- Investment Challenges: EuroCham representatives highlighted challenges faced by investors during both the investment phase and project operations, providing valuable feedback for policymakers.
- Energy Landscape: The meeting addressed Vietnam’s current energy situation and the country’s efforts to transition towards cleaner energy sources, a topic of increasing importance in the context of global climate commitments.
- Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP): Discussions included Vietnam’s plans to diversify its energy mix and the role of the JETP in supporting this transition.
- Labour Market: Participants examined the availability and conditions for highly skilled workers in Vietnam, a critical factor for foreign investors and companies operating in the country.
This high-level meeting underscores the importance of the EU-Vietnam relationship and the role of EuroCham in facilitating dialogue between European businesses and Vietnamese authorities. It provided a platform for frank discussions on the opportunities and challenges in the Vietnamese market, particularly in the context of the EVFTA and global sustainability goals.
