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) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
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