Prime Minister hosts reception for EU-ABC and EuroCham delegation

The Prime Minister highlighted the dynamic and substantive progress in Viet Nam–EU ties across multiple areas. Bilateral trade in the first nine months of 2025 reached US$54.6 billion, up 8.4 percent year-on-year. The EU remains Viet Nam's seventh-largest foreign investor, with 2,743 valid projects worth nearly US$32 billion as of September 2025.

Both sides are actively discussing a roadmap to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is expected to create a new framework to further boost trade and investment cooperation in the coming years.

Pham reaffirmed Viet Nam's goals of becoming a developing nation with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030, and a high-income developed nation by 2045. The economy continues to show strong momentum, with GDP growth projected to surpass 8 percent in 2025, laying the foundation for potential double-digit growth during 2026–2030.

He stressed that national development is built on science, technology, and innovation, supported by three strategic breakthroughs: infrastructure, institutions, and high-quality human resources. He invited European enterprises to join Viet Nam's "game-changing, status-transforming" projects to enable effective investment.

Both EU–ABC Chairman Jens Rübbert and EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert expressed deep sympathy for Vietnamese communities affected by recent floods, noting that the EU has provided EUR 850,000 in relief aid, alongside US$88,000 donated by the European business community in Viet Nam.

They praised Viet Nam's rising global stature and its resilient economic performance despite global challenges. Notably, they applauded the expected upgrade of Viet Nam's stock market by FTSE Russell from frontier market to secondary emerging market status, effective September 2026—a move anticipated to significantly boost FDI inflows and capital market development.

European businesses reiterated their commitment to enhancing cooperation and investment in sectors where the EU has strong advantages, such as science and technology, digital transformation, and green energy, thereby contributing to Viet Nam's independent and self-reliant economy.

Recognizing this cooperative spirit, Prime Minister Pham called on the EU and its business community to work closely in implementing the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and expanding market access. He also urged stronger collaboration in green transition, digital transformation, clean agriculture, and high-quality workforce training.

To create new momentum for investment, he encouraged European firms to advocate for the swift ratification of the EU–Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by the remaining seven EU member states.

Finally, he asked the business community to support efforts urging the European Commission (EC) to soon lift the "yellow card" warning on Vietnamese seafood exports, acknowledging Viet Nam's substantial progress and ensuring stable supply for the EU market./.