On the morning of October 14, 2025, in Hai Phong City, the Department of Multilateral Trade Policy under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, organized a workshop on the ASEAN Economic Community and the utilization of commitments in ASEAN free trade agreements to which Viet Nam is a member. The event attracted the attention of more than 200 participants representing businesses, industry associations, and state agencies.

The workshop was attended by Mr. Le Trieu Dung–Director-General of the Department of Multilateral Trade Policy (Ministry of Industry and Trade); Mr. Nguyen Cong Han– Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade; Mr. Bui Ngoc Hai– Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Department of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Doan Thi Thu Ha – Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association; Ms. Tran Minh Thu– representative of the Legal Department of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI); representatives of agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Department of Multilateral Trade Policy, Foreign Trade Agency); representatives of several departments, agencies, communes, and wards in Hai Phong City; and many business representatives.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Le Trieu Dung–Director-General of the Department of Multilateral Trade Policy (Ministry of Industry and Trade) – affirmed the crucial role and importance of the ASEAN region for Viet Nam’s economy in general and for enterprises in particular, for the following reasons:

(i) ASEAN holds a strategically important geopolitical position as the center of the Asia–Pacific region and has the world’s third-largest population;

(ii) ASEAN is geographically close to Viet Nam and shares cultural similarities and consumption habits;

(iii) Vietnamese enterprises can more easily meet ASEAN market requirements regarding both quality and pricing, providing a stepping stone for Vietnamese goods to enter other, more demanding markets;

(iv) ASEAN can serve as a platform for building, developing, and implementing economic–trade initiatives.

Sharing this view, Mr. Nguyen Cong Han– Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade – noted that ASEAN is a market of great interest to Hai Phong’s enterprises, who wish to expand business and import–export activities, especially for key products such as textiles, garments, and footwear.

Mr. Lê Triệu Dũng, Director General of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, delivered the opening remarks at the Workshop

The workshop program included three presentations by experts from the Ministry of Industry and Trade: (i) The ASEAN Economic Community – A 10-year review of the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2015–2025 and the Strategic Plan for the ASEAN Economic Community 2026–2030; (ii) The implementation, review, upgrading, and negotiation of free trade agreements within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners; (iii) Key updates in the rules of origin under ASEAN’s free trade agreements.

Ms. Nguyễn Hiền Lê, Officer of the ASEAN Division, Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, delivered a presentation on the topic "The ASEAN Economic Community – A 10-year review of the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2015–2025 and the Strategic Plan for the ASEAN Economic Community 2026–2030"

Mr. Nguyễn Văn Đức, Deputy Director of the ASEAN Division, Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, delivered a presentation on the topic "The implementation, review, upgrading, and negotiation of free trade agreements within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners"

Mr. Hoàng Đức Minh, Officer of the Rules of Origin Division, Foreign Trade Agency, Ministry of Industry and Trade, delivered a presentation on the topic "Key updates in the rules of origin under ASEAN’s free trade agreements"

The thematic discussion session on “Recommendations for the Footwear, Textile and Garment Sectors, and Other Exported Products to the ASEAN Market” featured an exchange and Q&A segment with experts from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, VCCI, and the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO)

The program also featured a thematic discussion session on “Recommendations for the leather–footwear and textile–garment industries, and other export products to the ASEAN market”, with a Q&A session involving experts from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, VCCI, and the Viet Nam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association.

Throughout the event, speakers from the public sector, VCCI, and industry associations engaged in substantive and constructive discussions, effectively supporting businesses in leveraging opportunities for economic cooperation with ASEAN markets and partners, aiming toward diversification and sustainable business development—especially in export markets under current conditions. The workshop also gathered feedback from agencies and enterprises to further enhance Viet Nam’s participation and effectiveness in ASEAN economic integration.

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