The Vietnam-RoK Business Forum will take place in Ho Chi Minh City on May 20. (Source: AKC)

According to the ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC), events during the trade promotion visit will gather 20 Korean companies in the food and beverage (F&B) and consumer goods sectors, along with about 60 local businesses in Vietnam and Malaysia.

Key activities include a business forum, direct trade connection sessions, and on-site industrial surveys, helping Korean businesses update on ASEAN market trends and seek business cooperation opportunities.

In Vietnam, AKC, in collaboration with the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), will organize the Vietnam-RoK Business Forum in Ho Chi Minh City on May 20th, aiming to boost trade and investment cooperation between businesses of the two countries.

The forum will focus on discussing bilateral trade and investment trends, the Vietnam-RoK Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA), Vietnam's government trade policies, and opportunities to expand business networks.

Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) are expected to present strategies for Korean businesses to access the Vietnamese market, as well as prospects for future cooperation.

As part of the program, businesses will participate in on-site surveys in Ho Chi Minh City to understand Vietnam's industrial development model and global supply chain. Survey points include Binh Tay Food Joint Stock Company, established in 1960, and Hana Nguyen Technology, established in 2018.

Bilateral trade between the RoK and Vietnam is currently the largest in ASEAN, with Vietnam being the largest export market and the largest import partner of the RoK in the region. Two-way trade has rapidly increased over the past decade, reaching approximately 94.5 billion USD by 2025.

Vietnam's exports to the RoK mainly consist of electrical, electronic, and machinery products, reflecting Vietnam's deep integration into the global manufacturing supply chain. With GDP growth expected to remain above 6% in the coming years, Vietnam continues to attract strong international investment and trade flows, solidifying its role as a regional manufacturing hub.

According to AKC, the program is part of an initiative launched in 2025 by the agency to strengthen trade and investment cooperation between the RoK and ASEAN member countries.