Economic and trade ties between Vietnam and New Zealand have developed continuously since the upgrade of bilateral ties to strategic partnership in September 2009, and the upcoming visit to New Zealand by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is an occasion for leaders of both countries to discuss orientations to further consolidate political trust and multifaceted cooperation.
Processing tra fish fillets for export (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Economic and trade ties between Vietnam and New Zealand have developed continuously since the upgrade of bilateraltie🏅s to strategic partnership in September 2009, and the upcoming visit to New Zealand by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is an occasion for leaders of both countries to discuss orꩲientations to further consolidate political trust and multifaceted cooperation.
According to the Vietnamese Ministry ofIndustry and Trade’s Asia-Africa Market Department, Vietnam is now the 14th largest trade partner of New Zealand. Meanwhile, New Zealand stands as the 38th biggest trade partner of Vietnam.
In 2022, two-way trade hit 1.4 billion USD, up 5.7% from2021. A year later, it dropped to 1.3 billion USD, of which, Vietnam's exportsto New Zealand reached 648.9 million USD, down 7.1% annually, mostly mobilephones and components, computers, electronics and spare parts, seafood, cashewnuts, footwear. Its major imports from New Zealand consisted of milk and dairyproducts, fruits, wood, textile and footwear materials, leather and footwear, machinery,equipment, tools, spare parts, scrap iron and steel.
As of November 2023, New Zealand invested in 52projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 208.35 million USD,ranking 39th out of 143 countries and territories investing inVietnam. They focused on real estate business, education and training,processing and manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, administrativeand support services, construction, among others.
In particular, New Zealand has committed toproviding Vietnam with 26.7 million NZD in non-refundable Official DevelopmentAssistance (ODA) from July 1, 2021 to July 30, 2024, focusing on agriculture,climate change adaptation, educat𝄹ion and COVID-19 response.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Diensaid given theirmembership in various cooperativeframeworks and their complementaryeconomies, both Vietnam and New Zealand are actively pursuing deeper integration into the global economy. He said the two sides have agreed to work together to hold business and trade events, and share experience and information between their Government agencies and business communities to curb the reduction in trade. At the recent meeting of the Vietnam-NewZealand Joint Economic and Trade Commission, Deputy Minister of Industry andTrade Phan Thi Thang proposed coordinated efforts to achieve the 2 billion USD trade target set by their leaders, with a focus on tradeand investment, hi-tech agriculture and agricultural trade, safe agriculturalsupply chains, labour, education and training, aviation tourism. Tocapitalise on the available potential and opportunities for trade, the Vietnamese firms areadvised to thoroughly study free trade agreements (FTAs) ofwhich both countries are members, work out long-term strategies,follow stringent regulations and quality standards of the target market andactively join trade promotion activities like fairs and exhibitions to connectwith potential partners and showcase their products./.
New Zealand’s Chief of the Defense Force Air Marshal Kevin Short on July 17 hosted a reception for Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, in Wellington.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh on January 23 had a working session with New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Trenede Dobson on cooperation between the two sides in the field of climate change response.
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters have agreed to foster coordination between the two foreign ministries so as to strengthen cooperation between the two nations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to New Zealand on March 10 - 11 is expected to help further intensify the two countries’ political trust and multifaceted cooperation and develop bilateral relations more fruitfully.
An online seminar on strengthening trade relations through international trade fairs, held by the Vietnam Trade Office in India on June 25, saw the participation of nearly 50 Vietnamese seafood companies and 50 Indian enterprises in sectors of processed food, agricultural products, fruits, and spices.
The vehicles will be deployed for mail and parcel delivery by Hanoi Post, marking another step in the strategic partnership between the two firms since 2021. With this batch, the total number of electric motorbikes Honda has supplied to Vietnam Post has reached 405, operating primarily in key cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
With participation from major players representing countries such as Russia, China, Japan, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, Vietbuild 2025 is expected to present a wide range of environmentally friendly and innovative products and services, especially building materials, machinery, and interior and exterior decoration.
Bulgaria holds strengths in sectors that align well with Vietnam’s development focus, including information technology, software, electronics, energy and the environment, startups and innovation, agriculture and food processing, logistics, and freight services.
Vietnam Airlines is pursuing an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) roadmap to reduce emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and adopt sustainable aviation fuels. It is also investing in workforce development, corporate culture, and international management practices.
Thailand's largest retailer, Central Retail Corporation (CRC), will invest over 45 billion THB (1.38 billion USD) through 2027 to expand mainstream markets and accelerate growth across Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Vietnam.
Vietnam ranks among Asia’s top producers and exporters of denim, with hundreds of factories producing denim fabric and garments. Vietnamese denim products are now exported to over 70 countries.
In 2024, durian was a leading export among Vietnam’s fruits and vegetables, earning a record of 3.3 billion USD and accounting for 46% of the sector’s total export value. China was the largest market, importing 3.2 billion USD worth of durians, or 97% of the total.
The arrival of this first wind power equipment shipment signalled the Trung Nam Ca Na seaport’s infrastructure readiness and its entry into a new phase of development, aligned with Vietnam’s adjusted National Power Development Plan VIII.
PM Pham Minh Chinh has called on global tech giants to bolster cooperation with Vietnam to assist with the country's efforts to drive a startup and innovation ecosystem.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had meetings with leaders from multinational corporations on June 25, advancing Vietnam’s infrastructure development as well as food processing sector, on the sideslines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin city.
According to UOB, following the US’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs of 46% on Vietnamese goods on April 2, around 80% of Vietnamese businesses have proactively taken measures to respond to potential impacts.
As one of the most prestigious annual international events in the industry, the expo serves as a prime platform for enterprises to connect, exchange valuable experience, and explore reliable collaboration opportunities with both domestic and international companies.
Organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and Trade Office, Vietnam's national booth showcases catalogues and product samples from over 30 Vietnamese companies, spanning key sectors such as agriculture, seafood, food and beverages, footwear, textiles, furniture, plastics, construction materials, and industrial machinery.
Processing tra fish fillets for export (Photo: VNA) 
