The 2026 Vietnam-EU Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, themed "Shaping the future green economy and new value chains", will take place in Hanoi on the afternoon of November 4, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The year 2026 opens a new chapter in Vietnam-EU relations, as the two sides have upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The ministry said this provides a foundation for expanding economic, trade and investment cooperation.
More than six years after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement took effect, bilateral trade continues to grow. However, fluctuations in international markets are putting growing pressure on businesses on both sides to strengthen their competitiveness, resilience and ability to adapt.
The global shift toward green growth and sustainable development, together with the restructuring of global supply chains, is creating new demands while opening opportunities for Vietnam and the EU to develop new value chains and cooperation models.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is organising the forum with the EU Delegation to Vietnam, the EU-ASEAN Business Council and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam. Participants will include ministry leaders, government agencies, diplomatic missions, international organisations, local authorities and business communities from Vietnam and Europe. A high-level European business delegation organised by the EU-ABC and EuroCham will also visit Vietnam in connection with the forum.
The forum aims to strengthen policy dialogue and promote economic, trade and investment cooperation. It will give government agencies and businesses on both sides a direct channel to exchange market information, promote trade and investment, and establish business partnerships.
Against a backdrop of volatility in the global economy and trade, as well as rising demands for the green transition, sustainable development and global supply-chain restructuring, the forum will allow the ministry to discuss Vietnam's economic, trade and industrial development orientations directly with major European corporations. It will also present policies and cooperation opportunities.
Presentations and panel discussions will cover green industry, the energy transition, logistics, green finance, trade facilitation and the development of new value chains. Participants will also discuss links between European corporations and Vietnamese businesses, improving domestic suppliers' capacity, attracting quality investment and promoting technology transfer.
Stronger business links could create more opportunities for Vietnamese companies to participate in regional and global supply chains. Local authorities will be able to present their strengths and investment incentives and connect directly with European partners on cooperation in various sectors.
By linking policy dialogue with practical business needs, the forum is expected to help turn Vietnam-EU cooperation potential into concrete trade and investment opportunities. It will also give both sides an opportunity to use the EVFTA more effectively, expand markets for Vietnamese goods and businesses, and draw on Europe's capital, technology and management expertise.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
