On April 15, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Ho Chi Minh City Branch (VCCI-HCM), in coordination with the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Vietnam and other partners, organized the Vietnam – Slovakia Business Forum.

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Cong Vinh delivered remarks at the forum

At the forum, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Cong Vinh stated that the city always values and promotes comprehensive cooperation with Slovak partners through cultural, educational, and business connectivity activities. Particularly, as the city enters a phase of accelerated development in fields that will shape competitiveness in the coming decade—such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, data centers, cloud computing, industrial robotics, automation, and smart manufacturing—Ho Chi Minh City is not only seeking investors but also partners for research and development, workforce training, and the building of industrial and high-tech value chains.

He also emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City is committed to offering Slovak businesses a large and dynamic market, while standing ready to accompany them in the long term in areas of mutual potential, including precision engineering, the automotive industry, information and communication technology (ICT), and engineering training. The city’s authorities will continue to advance institutional reforms, develop digital infrastructure, improve logistics, enhance human resource quality, and create the most favorable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Slovakia.

Vietnamese and Slovak enterprises engaged in direct B2B networking at the forum

From the Slovak Embassy in Vietnam, Chargé d’Affaires Marian Veres shared that Vietnam serves as an important gateway for Slovakia into Southeast Asia, expressing hope that Slovakia will likewise become a key gateway for Vietnamese businesses entering Europe. As part of the European market of nearly 500 million people, Slovakia is ready to attract more Vietnamese enterprises, while also increasing successful investments in Vietnam in the future.

The Slovak delegation attending the forum included representatives from government agencies and 60 leading Slovak enterprises across diverse sectors such as defense industry, renewable energy, automotive, electromechanics, construction, ICT, medical equipment, food and beverages, smart infrastructure, logistics, finance, and trade consulting.

Mr. Simonak, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, delivered remarks at the forum

According to Mr. Simonak, the visit aimed to further deepen economic ties and effectively tap into new opportunities between Slovakia and Vietnam, particularly by translating partnerships into concrete business outcomes. While both countries have built a solid foundation in traditional manufacturing sectors, there remains significant untapped potential in specialized industries where both sides can collaborate for development.

Representatives of Slovak enterprises noted that B2B networking activities and several memoranda of understanding signed between Slovak and Vietnamese business communities will help lay the foundation for sustainable partnerships and foster new business relationships.

From the perspective of trade and industry promotion, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice President of VCCI, emphasized that to further strengthen economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Slovakia, both sides need to leverage their respective strengths and better utilize opportunities arising from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Consideration should also be given to opening direct flight routes and cargo transport lines to support business expansion.

He added that the business communities of both countries should take a more proactive approach in seeking cooperation opportunities through trade and industry promotion activities such as business forums, trade fairs, and exhibitions. Rather than merely assessing potential, enterprises should accelerate efforts to seize opportunities and effectively utilize the Vietnam–EU FTA to achieve stronger results in 2026.