PM Chính Calls for Stronger EU Investment, Green Transition Cooperation
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Thursday reaffirmed the Vietnamese Government’s determination to swiftly address challenges faced by foreign investors and called on European enterprises to deepen their engagement in Việtnam’s fast-growing, green-transition economy.
The Prime Minister delivered the message during a working session with a visiting delegation from the EU–ASEAN Business Council (EU–ABC) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Việtnam (EuroCham), led by EU–ABC Chairman Jens Rübbert and EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert.
Congratulating EuroCham on the successful organisation of the Green Economy Forum 2025 (GEF 2025) in Hànoi — an event coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Việtnam–EU diplomatic relations — PM Chính highlighted the dynamic and substantive growth of bilateral ties across multiple sectors.
He noted that trade between Việtnam and the EU reached US$54.6 billion in the first nine months of 2025, an 8.4 per cent increase year-on-year. The EU remains Việtnam’s seventh-largest investor, with 2,743 valid projects and nearly US$32 billion in cumulative registered capital as of September 2025.
The Prime Minister revealed that both sides are actively discussing a roadmap to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a move expected to create a stronger framework for trade and investment cooperation in the years ahead.
PM Chính also outlined Việtnam’s long-term development goals, stressing its ambition to become a nation with modern industry and upper-middle income status by 2030, and to achieve high-income status by 2045. With GDP growth projected to surpass 8 per cent in 2025, the country aims to build momentum toward double-digit growth during the 2026–2030 period.
He said Việtnam’s strategy places science, technology, and innovation at its core, supported by three strategic breakthroughs: infrastructure development, institutional reform, and high-quality human resources. He invited European businesses to engage in Việtnam’s “game-changing, status-transforming” projects that aim to facilitate efficient and effective investment.
Expressing sympathy for Vietnamese communities affected by recent floods, EU–ABC Chairman Rübbert and EuroCham Chairman Jaspaert noted that the EU had provided €850,000 in support, complemented by an additional US$88,000 raised by the European business community in Việt Nam.
The European representatives praised Việtnam’s rising global stature and its strong economic performance despite global headwinds. They highlighted the anticipated upgrade of Việtnam’s stock market status by FTSE Russell — from a frontier market to a secondary emerging market — expected to take effect in September 2026, a development projected to significantly boost foreign investment and capital market growth.
European businesses reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in fields where the EU holds competitive advantages, including science and technology, digital transformation, and green energy transition, contributing to Việtnam’s aspiration for an independent and resilient economy.
Underlining the positive spirit of cooperation, PM Chính urged the EU and its business community to continue effective implementation of the EU–Việtnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and further enhance market access. He also called for deeper collaboration in green transition, digital transformation, clean agriculture, and advanced human resource training.
To unlock new investment opportunities, he encouraged European enterprises to advocate for the remaining seven EU member states to ratify the EU–Việtnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). The Prime Minister also appealed to the business community to support Việtnam’s efforts in urging the European Commission to lift the “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports, reaffirming Việt Nam’s commitment to sustainable fisheries and the stability of supply for the EU market.
