On the morning of 14 November 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Multilateral Trade Policy (Ministry of Industry and Trade – MOIT), in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, organized the workshop entitled “The ASEAN Economic Community and Leveraging Commitments under ASEAN Free Trade Agreements for Vietnam’s Key Export Sectors”. The event attracted the participation of around 100 delegates, including representatives from enterprises, industry associations, and government agencies.

The workshop was attended by Ms. Nguyen Viet Chi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Multilateral Trade Policy; Mr. Nguyen Truong Thi, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade; Mr. Vu Xuan Hung, Representative of the Legal Department, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Ho Chi Minh City Branch (VCCI-HCM); representatives of relevant units under MOIT (the Department of Multilateral Trade Policy, Import–Export Department, and Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam); along with a large number of businesses operating in Ho Chi Minh City.

Delivering the opening remarks, Ms. Nguyen Viet Chi emphasized the critical role of ASEAN for Vietnam’s economy and for the operations of Vietnamese enterprises for several reasons: (i) ASEAN occupies a strategically important geopolitical position at the center of the Asia–Pacific region, with the world’s third-largest population; (ii) ASEAN is geographically close to Vietnam and shares cultural similarities and consumer habits; (iii) Vietnamese enterprises can more easily meet market requirements in terms of quality and pricing, making ASEAN a stepping stone for Vietnamese goods to penetrate more demanding markets; and (iv) ASEAN serves as a platform for conceptualizing, developing, and implementing economic–trade initiatives.

Mr. Nguyễn Trường Thi, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, spoke at the seminar. (Photo: Xuân Anh/TTXVN)

Sharing this view, Mr. Nguyen Truong Thi, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, underscored that ASEAN remains one of the priority markets for the city’s business community. In the context of heightened global trade volatility and increasingly intense competition, he stressed that greater understanding of ASEAN commitments—particularly those related to trade remedies—would enable enterprises to be more proactive in their import–export activities, mitigate risks, and enhance market access efficiency.

The workshop featured four presentations delivered by experts: (i) The ASEAN Economic Community – Implementation progress, upgrade reviews, and negotiations of ASEAN FTAs and ASEAN+ agreements; (ii) Trade remedies within ASEAN free trade agreements; (iii) Key updates on rules of origin under ASEAN FTAs; (iv) Recommendations for export sectors targeting ASEAN markets that are of particular interest to local enterprises; followed by an exchange and Q&A session with experts from MOIT and VCCI.

Throughout the event, speakers from governmental bodies, VCCI, and industry associations engaged in substantive and constructive discussions, effectively supporting enterprises in seizing economic cooperation opportunities with ASEAN and its partner markets. The workshop contributed to efforts toward diversifying and sustainably expanding export activities in the current context. It also recorded valuable feedback from government and business representatives aimed at further enhancing Vietnam’s effectiveness in ASEAN economic integration./.

Source: Compiled by the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam