The statement was made by Michael Behrens, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), at a conference on the 2017 Whitebook in Hanoi on March 2.
The Whitebook, annually published by EuroCham, provides a concise view of key concerns affecting European businesses in Vietnam in regards to trade, investment, growth and employment. This is the 9th edition of EuroCham’s annual advocacy publication on trade and investment.
Parts of this year’s Whitebook were dedicated to the EVFTA, its implementation and its impact on business. Behrens said the first estimates of EVFTA’s impact show clear gains for Vietnam’s growth and welfare, as well as for overall trade between the EU and Vietnam.
The country will be the bridge linking more than 500 million people in Southeast Asia and more than 500 million Europeans - "a fantastic prospect", Behrens said.
Attending the event, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong said the Whitebook was an effective tool for the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to review policies and devise better solutions to improve the efficiency of management systems.
Vuong said the European Union is one of Vietnam’s most important trading partners, adding that in 2016, the EU was Vietnam’s second largest exporter with a total export turnover of nearly US$34 billion, accounting for over 19 percent of the country’s total export turnover.
In the context of the upcoming bilateral trade treaty, expected to be implemented in 2018, MoIT will endeavor to enhance internal resources and improve the business environment, meeting the legitimate needs of local and European firms operating in Vietnam.
Attractive FDI destination
According to the Whitebook, with the expansion of market access for foreign investors, Vietnam is expected to witness a strong wave of foreign direct investment (FDI).
In addition to the numerous legal changes it has made in accordance with the treaty, Vietnam has fundamental elements that contribute to its continued growth.
Vietnam is in a demographic golden age, with 25 percent of its 90 million population between 10 and 24 years old. GDP per capita is increasing dramatically and Vietnam has the fastest-growing middle class in Southeast Asia (12.9 percent per annum over the period 2012-2020).
With its high literacy rate and education levels, comparatively low wages, connectivity and a central location within ASEAN, more and more foreign investors are choosing Vietnam as their hub to service the Mekong region and beyond, the book said.
Vietnam’s attractive profile is reflected in its welcoming approach to foreign direct investment (FDI) in manufacturing activities. The gradual opening of most service sectors under Vietnam’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) commitments schedule that began in 2007 was completed in 2015.
Domestic law has expanded market access in some sectors beyond those included in Vietnam’s WTO commitments. For example, foreign shareholding in public companies was previously capped at 49 percent but is now generally open for up to 100 percent foreign ownership.
Vietnam also grants investment incentives, including tax breaks, in areas such as high-tech, environmental technology, and agriculture, where European businesses are global leaders.
Source: VNA
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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