The Export Forum, along with workshops, seminars, business networking activities, and the Viet Nam International Sourcing Expo 2025, is a series of events co-organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City under the Government’s scheme on promoting the direct participation of Vietnamese enterprises in foreign distribution networks by 2030.
The Forum aims to facilitate connections between international distribution channels and foreign importers with domestic manufacturing and exporting enterprises, thereby effectively supporting Vietnamese businesses to integrate deeper into the global production and supply chain and adapt to the volatile and unpredictable market trends.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang shared that in 2024, Vietnam’s import and export turnover reached more than USD 786 billion, with exports reaching USD 405 billion, a 14.3% increase, including 37 items exceeding the USD 1 billion mark and 8 items over USD 10 billion. In the first seven months of 2025, Vietnam’s total import and export turnover neared USD 515 billion, up 16.3% compared to the same period last year.
Notably, exports to FTA markets have shown positive recovery. New-generation FTAs such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and UKVFTA, along with a series of previously signed and implemented bilateral and multilateral FTAs, have created an extensive market network, becoming a driving force for Vietnamese businesses and industries to confidently step onto the global stage.
Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang asserted that these figures reflect an important shift in Vietnamese enterprises’ business model from pure processing to becoming product development partners and co-creators with global brands.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang delivers the opening speech.
Consequently, the international business community perceives Vietnam as a leading production hub in the region, capable of supplying a diverse range of competitively priced and high-quality products.
Moreover, following the pandemic and recent geopolitical and economic uncertainties, many corporations, retail/wholesale distribution channels, and e-commerce platforms are intensifying their diversification strategies to ensure sustainable supply sources and have chosen Vietnam as a strategic location in their global supply chains.
“Today’s Forum brings together enterprises representing the demands of the global market, Vietnamese businesses supplying goods internationally, and numerous service, consulting, and logistics companies ensuring the smooth operation of the supply chain. This is an opportunity for us to jointly assess the opportunities and challenges facing Vietnam and the global market. At the same time, we can identify strengths to promote and weaknesses to address for Vietnamese enterprises,” said Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang.
The Forum featured two main discussion sessions. The first session, themed “Diversifying Markets through Integrating Vietnamese Exports into the Global Distribution Chain – A Strategic Direction in the Green-Digital Era,” focused on the role of the international distribution system in market expansion for Vietnamese goods.
The second session, titled “Enhancing Competitiveness in Green and Digital Transformation,” discussed the stringent market requirements, from ESG standards and carbon transparency to digital transformation – factors that are becoming the “passports” for enterprises in the international business arena.
The discussions brought together prominent international distribution corporations and importers who directly promote Vietnamese products globally, along with domestic enterprises showcasing their export capabilities, and the participation of service, consulting, and logistics companies, which are crucial links in ensuring the smooth operation of the supply chain.
During the program, delegates engaged in open and candid exchanges, sharing practical experiences from various perspectives: manufacturing enterprises, importers, distribution organizations, and support units. These discussions not only helped identify opportunities and challenges for Vietnam in the context of volatile global trade but also suggested feasible solutions to enhance competitiveness, leverage existing strengths, and address existing limitations.
The 2025 Export Forum served as a knowledge-sharing and collaboration platform, laying a solid foundation for Vietnamese businesses to integrate more deeply and sustainably into the global supply chain.
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