Promoting cooperation on next-generation economic zones

On August 10, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang received and held a working session with a delegation from the World Free Zones Organization (WFZO), led by Nasser Al Madani, Chief Advisor of WFZO.

The WFZO delegation included Nasser Al Madani, Chief Advisor of WFZO, and Matthew Stephenson, PhD, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WFZO.

Representing the MoIT were leaders and representatives of the Foreign Market Development Department, which served as the focal unit for the meeting; the Vietnam Industry Agency; the Trade Remedies Authority of Viet Nam; the Agency of Foreign Trade; the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency; and the Department of Planning, Finance and Enterprise Management.

Opening the meeting, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang warmly welcomed the WFZO delegation to the MoIT and highly appreciated the organization’s role in promoting international cooperation, facilitating knowledge sharing and connecting networks of economic zones and free trade zones around the world.

The Deputy Minister expressed confidence that the visit would open up practical opportunities for cooperation between Viet Nam and WFZO in the coming period.

WFZO representatives highly valued Viet Nam’s potential and dynamic pace of economic development within ASEAN, while expressing their desire to strengthen cooperation with the MoIT in developing next-generation economic zone models, connecting Viet Nam with international networks, attracting high-quality investment, and sharing experience and policy information.

Helping Vietnamese businesses participate more deeply in supply chains

During the working session, the two sides exchanged views on the development of economic zones and free trade zones, as well as orientations for cooperation in the coming period.

Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang said Viet Nam is continuing to improve and develop its system of economic zones towards modern, green, smart and innovation-driven models. Hai Phong and Da Nang are among the pioneering localities in developing new models of economic zones and free trade zones.

With a view to deepening cooperation, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang proposed that WFZO work alongside the MoIT in several areas of support.

These include sharing international practices to help improve the legal framework; providing advice on the implementation of next-generation economic zone models, including ecological, smart, high-tech and free-tourism models; providing capacity-building training for management officials and local authorities while serving as a bridge for investment promotion and the promotion of Viet Nam’s business environment; jointly organizing workshops and business networking forums; and supporting efforts to attract multinational corporations in priority sectors such as semiconductors, high technology, new energy and logistics, thereby helping Vietnamese businesses participate more deeply in global supply chains.

In addition, the Deputy Minister highly appreciated WFZO’s proposal to explore the establishment of a Southeast Asia regional representative office in Viet Nam.

She affirmed that the MoIT stands ready to coordinate with relevant agencies in studying the possibility of cooperation, provided that it is consistent with Vietnamese law.

In response to the proposals put forward by the MoIT, WFZO representatives expressed strong appreciation and readiness to mobilize the organization’s network of members and experts to support Viet Nam in sharing experience, conducting policy research and developing green, smart and modern economic zone models.

WFZO representatives also introduced the OneZone digital platform, a tool designed to help management agencies and industrial park infrastructure businesses access information, connect with investors and reach international networks of experts. In addition, WFZO representatives welcomed the proposal and expressed their readiness to coordinate with Viet Nam in studying the possibility of hosting the WFZO World Congress in Viet Nam in the coming period, tentatively in 2029.

The working session took place in an open, constructive and effective atmosphere. The two sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges, strengthen coordination between their respective focal points and study ways to concretize areas of cooperation in the coming period, contributing to the development of economic zones and free trade zones while strengthening international investment connectivity.