At a recent conference on mobilizing overseas Vietnamese resources in Europe, held in early June in Brussels, VBAB President Nguyen Thanh Vinh announced that the association had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Belgian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBBank), and five provinces in Vietnam with a view to promoting cultural exchange, tourism, trade, investment, sustainable development, training, and innovation between European and Vietnamese partners.

As part of this effort, Nguyen Thanh Vinh is scheduled to hold meetings with the localities that signed the MoU during upcoming trips to Vietnam. Beginning in late July, VBAB will also coordinate a visit by a leading Belgian company in port energy to explore cooperation opportunities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and some other localities.

Vinh emphasized that, in the context of Vietnam’s twin transitions to green and digital development, VBAB is prioritizing connections with Belgian partners that have expertise in clean energy, particularly hydrogen, renewable energy, and smart port planning. In addition to serving as a bridge, VBAB also monitors each cooperation project to ensure mutual benefit and concrete results. “We don’t pursue broad, unfocused matchmaking based on long lists of needs,” he said. “We target our efforts according to Vietnam’s development priorities in this new phase. All cooperation must be reciprocal, transparent, and effective.”

The VBAB leader also underlined the importance of managing the expectations of local residents and businesses, especially in connection and investment promotion programs.

Looking ahead, VBAB plans to participate in the Vietnam International Sourcing Expo in Ho Chi Minh City this September. The event will serve as a platform for domestic and international businesses to connect, trade, and identify solutions to global supply chain challenges. VBAB views this as an opportunity to better understand the real needs of Vietnamese enterprises and to share lessons learned from working with Belgium and EU partners.

Vinh noted that Belgium holds numerous advantages in port planning, logistics, water management, and clean energy, including offshore wind, hydrogen, and medical-use nuclear technologies. These are key focus areas in VBAB’s connectivity strategy. He also highlighted Belgium’s cultural significance within Europe, with Brussels being a vital destination for intensifying cultural and tourism exchanges between the two sides.

Alongside traditional exports such as agricultural products, textiles, and handicrafts, Vinh encouraged Vietnamese businesses to move toward higher value-added goods. VBAB has identified promising opportunities in education and training, particularly in game design, architecture, urban planning, and biotechnology, where Belgium excels.

Conversely, Vietnam can also serve as a source of high-quality human resources for Belgium, especially in information technology. Vinh recalled: “FPT once had a successful partnership with Belgian telecom operator Proximus, which clearly shows the potential of this model.”

As the European market increasingly prioritizes sustainable and reliable trade partners, VBAB views this as both a challenge and an opportunity for Vietnam. “Europe is a trusted partner, and they expect the same from Vietnam and other players in the supply chain. Vietnam is not just an exporter, it is also an emerging market for European goods. Recent reforms are making the Vietnamese economy more transparent and more sustainable,” Vinh stressed.

Source: VOV