At the conference on green transformation in agricultural and food production for EU market expansion held on November 13. (Photo: VNA)

At the event, co-hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the European Commission (EC), Le Hoang Tai, Deputy Director of the ministry’s Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, highlighted the importance of the bloc as one of the country's leading trade and investment partners. He said the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) have helped the Southeast Asian nation step up trade cooperation, attract investment, and easier access to technology transfer.

Tai noted Vietnam is implementing the commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 through its national green growth strategy. In this context, the MoIT will continue to assist domestic businesses in adopting ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards, promoting green technology investment, and advancing sustainable production models to enhance competitiveness and deepen participation in global value chains.

From the EU perspective, Jean-Jacques Bouflet, Vice Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), underscored the importance of the European Green Deal (EGD) in shaping sustainable policies. However, he acknowledged the challenges Vietnamese exporters face, such as the bloc’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Bouflet stressed that compliance with these standards, while necessary, also opens significant opportunities for Vietnamese companies to integrate further into global supply chains. The collaboration between the EU and Vietnam in areas like renewable energy, circular economy, and technology transfer will accelerate sustainable development and carbon neutrality goals for both sides.

Ömer Oktay, sustainability development director at UK-based importer Voicevale, praised the two sides’ growing cooperation potential in producing and trading green-standard products. He noted that while the EU’s demand for sustainable goods is rising, Vietnam possesses significant advantages given its rich natural resources as well as strong commitment to green development, and high environmental and social standards.

During the conference, the MoIT’s Information Technology Application Center (INTEC), the RoK’s Tridge company, and Vietnam’s TOPVN JSC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to bolster exports of Vietnamese agricultural and food products through modern digital platforms. The parties also pledged to develop an agricultural and food database to help domestic businesses manage information effectively, thereby improving their competitive edge in the international market.