Workers at a manufacturing plant of mobile phone spare parts in Vietnam (Illustrative image. Source: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – European firms continued to beoptimistic about the business environment in Vietnam, according to the EuroCham’slatest Business Cl🎃imate Index (BCI).
Accordingly, the BCI for the first quarter of 2018 is 78points, up 1 point from the previous quarterly survey. However, the percentage of respondents rating the businesssituation as excellent dropped by nearly 10 percent, with an increase of 7percent in respondents describing the situation as good. Negative responses wereat almost the same level as in Q4 of 2017. More respondents showed their confidence of a stable and continuouslyimproving macroeconomic scenario in Vietnam with a 9 percent increase, whilethose expecting no change in the next quarter increased by nearly 10 percent. The survey showed that inflation was not a major concern forEuroCham members, with 84 percent believing it will have either no or minorimpact. Regarding headcount, the number of businesses expecting tomaintain the current size of their workforce remained at 40 percent, while 12percent will significantly increase their workforce. Responses indicatingintention to reduce headcount a little bit accounted for 5 percent compared to 10percent in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, 45 percent of the respondents said they intend tomaintain their level of investment, a 9 percent rise. EuroCham Co-Chairman Nicolas Audier said that the BCI surveyresults for Q1, 2018 continued to show positive expectations from EuroCham memberstoward Vietnam, albeit not at the same levels of optimism as in 2016. “EuroCham hopes that this interest inspires the VietnameseGovernment to improve the business environment further, particularly regardingthe changes to the legal framework that will enable Vietnam to fulfil itscommitments under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, expected to come intoforce later this year,” he said. Audier noted that even though the BCI score is very positive(78 out of 100), there is still quite some legal and regulatory work to do inVietnam. He added that EuroCham is confident that current hurdles to liberalisationwill be surpassed and the next survey will again reflect an excellent outlookfrom the perspective of the European and Europe-related business community inVietnam.-VNA
EuroCham President Michael Bahren has affirmed his agency’s commitments to supporting and encouraging European businesses to forge stronger partnerships with Vietnam.
Vietnam is expected to become the EU’s largest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) once the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) comes into effect in 2018, according to Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh.
The European Union (EU) wants to ratify the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) in 2018 and put it into force as soon as possible, the EU’s chief negotiator Mauro Petriccione has said.
Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh had a working session with European Union (EU) officials to foster economic and trade cooperation and settle existing problems, thus speeding up the signing and ratification of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the bloc and Vietnam.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
The analysis from an investment perspective shows that the economy’s growth has been heavily capital‑driven, yet efficiency remains low as reflected by Vietnam’s Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR) being significantly higher than global and regional averages. This underscores the imperative to enhance capital‑use efficiency.
Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha urged countries to work together to remove supply chain bottlenecks, expand market access, strengthen cooperation in smart customs procedures, mutually recognise technical standards, and eliminate unnecessary protectionist barriers to boost trade and investment.
The event has gathered over 400 exhibitors from 16 countries and territories, with more than 980 booths showcasing a wide range of products and technologies in automotive components, electronics, repair and maintenance, bodywork, accessories, and customisation.
The latest order follows Vietjet’s commitment for 20 additional A330neo aircraft last month, bringing the airline’s total widebody aircraft on order to 40.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang acknowledged the target represents an important milestone for socio-economic development as well as a demonstration of the country’s aspiration for robust economic growth.
The price of E5 RON92 petrol is now capped at 20,631 VND (0.79 USD) per litre, up 1,169 VND from the previous adjustment, while RON95-III costs no more than 21,244 VND per litre, up 1,277 VND.
While German consumers are familiar with Vietnamese products such as coffee, seafood, tea, and spices, many other quality items remain relatively unknown in the market. The Selgros event not only helped introduce Bac Giang lychee to German consumers but also provided them with the opportunity to experience other Vietnamese agricultural products.
The article by Cuba’s Inter Press Service detailed how Vietnamese private enterprise Agri VMA leased 1,000 ha of land in Los Palacios district, Cuba’s westernmost province of Pinar del Río, for rice cultivation over a three-year period. The project’s first harvest in 2025 recorded an impressive yield of 7.2 tonnes per hectare, far exceeding the local average of 1.6 tonnes.
During the visit, office representatives held a working session with the Tipaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry and met with several prominent local businesses operating in key sectors including industry, agriculture, fisheries, food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and plastics.
A Nordic delegation to Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 in September will feature leading names in retail, consumer goods, logistics, and sustainable manufacturing, including global fashion giant H&M, offering fresh prospects for partnerships in fashion, textiles, and green supply chains.
Workers at a manufacturing plant of mobile phone spare parts in Vietnam (Illustrative image. Source: VNA) 
