EuroCham will assist Vietnam in accessing a larger market than Europe

I am quite interested in agriculture policies

First and foremost, congrats on your new role as Chairman of EuroCham. What are your thoughts?

EuroCham Chairmanship is critical since we represent eight European business associations. Each association appoints one representative to the EuroCham Management Board.

EuroCham Chairperson also represents 1,300 European companies. With the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), various European corporations have focused on investing in Vietnam, and many have done so; they are also concerned about the government's policies. They are constantly eager to share their thoughts for Vietnam in order to improve its orientation and potential to attract new investment sources from outside.

I used to work in agriculture, thus as EuroCham Chairman, I pay close attention to agricultural policy and initiatives. I believe that, given Vietnam's existing agricultural export value and prospects, European enterprises may play a significant role in export promotion and the manufacturing of clean, safe food goods for the Vietnamese people and the export market.

How would you rate Vietnam's development policy in recent years, particularly after measures promoting investment were implemented?

Vietnam has signed a number of free trade agreements in comparison to other nations during the last twelve years, demonstrating that Vietnam intended to expand its market; Vietnam accepts that it needed to collaborate with many other countries to build the economy.

On March 19, at the high-level session of the annual Vietnam Business Forum with the theme "Business community in partnership with the Government of Vietnam in fostering green growth," the Minister of Planning and Investment contrasted the Philippines and Vietnam.

The Philippine economy was eight times the size of Vietnam's 25 years ago, and Vietnam has already surpassed the Philippines. This is due, in part, to the investment contribution of foreign firms (FDI) as well as the collaborative effort of Vietnamese enterprises.

EuroCham routinely collaborates with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to find ways to engage with the government to implement the most recent economic policies. As compared to other nations, Vietnam led the world in total economic development last year.

Vietnam and the EU have yet to make use of the opportunities provided by EVFTA

EuroCham has had numerous tangible efforts to promote EVFTA in the past, so how do you carry out these tasks in your new role?

I believe that the signing of EVFTA between Vietnam and the EU was a significant event. Unfortunately, the acceptance and execution of the agreement between the two parties have been difficult, so we have yet to take use of the opportunities provided by EVFTA.

EuroCham, in collaboration with the Embassies, Ministries, and sectors involved, will seek solutions to implementation challenges. For example, Vietnamese businesses aspire to sell to Europe, but many small and medium-sized companies with high-quality products have yet to establish a brand. Meanwhile, European governments erect excessive or unsuitable technical barriers. EuroCham will make a statement on these issues.

On the Vietnamese side, ministries and departments can't always agree on a policy, and businesses aren't sure which one to adopt. These challenges are addressed in EuroCham's "White Book," which was released in 2021. We also propose ways to enhance and better attract more investment and opportunities from the free trade agreement.

So, which industries, in your opinion, have the potential for European enterprises and Vietnam to develop their partnership in the future?

In terms of agriculture, I believe that Vietnamese firms have sold fruits, tea, coffee, and a variety of other items to Europe. Nonetheless, a lot of export items are still underutilized.

And it is critical to examine the situation; although in the past, Vietnam concentrated on output and the number of sales, it is now converting from output to quality, and we must consider improving the value of Vietnamese agricultural goods.

Certain firms are performing very well in promoting Vietnam's image and brand in the European market, but several items have yet to do so. With EuroCham's experience, we can assist Vietnamese firms in building their brands in order to reclaim a greater market share in Europe.

What you just mentioned matched the desire of MARD Minister Le Minh Hoan., the contemporary agriculture of Vietnam has faced many difficulties and difficulties, notably the issues connected to fragmented production, 'high yield, low price'. How does EuroCham connect European firms to Vietnamese' in order to assist farmers in transitioning from an agricultural production perspective to an agricultural economy attitude?

We will communicate through a variety of means. This year, EuroCharm will organize a number of conferences with a number of provinces and cities, including the MARD, for Vietnamese businesses interested in exporting agricultural products to Europe and those interested in exporting agricultural products to meet and exchange business cooperation opportunities.

Second, numerous European nations, including the Netherlands, Germany, and France, are commemorating 50 years of diplomatic collaboration with Vietnam this year. As a consequence, nations will send high-ranking leaders to Vietnam, together with a number of firms, to assess investment and collaboration opportunities. These EuroCham excursions will bring Vietnamese and European businesses together to foster collaboration.

Thank you!