Slovakia can serve as a strategic gateway for Vietnamese goods to access the European Union market. Conversely, Vietnam stands as an attractive investment destination and a vital bridge for Slovak businesses looking to expand into the ASEAN region, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.
The Vietnamese Government leader made the statement while addressing the Slovakia-Vietnam Business Forum held on April 13 as part of the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s official visit to Vietnam.
The event was attended by leaders from various ministries, departments, trade promotion agencies, and more than 400 businesses from both sides.
PM Hung affirmed that the forum demonstrates the shared determination of both governments to realize the Vietnam-Slovakia Strategic Partnership framework in the coming period.
Earlier, during high-level talks, the two leaders adopted a Joint Statement on upgrading bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. The move makes Vietnam the first country in Southeast Asia to establish a Strategic Partnership with Slovakia.
The Vietnamese Government leader acknowledged that the current scale of bilateral trade and investment cooperation is not yet commensurate with the potential and strengths of each nation. He emphasized that there remains vast room for cooperation, particularly in sectors where the two economies are highly complementary. Such synergy could lead to the formation of joint value chains targeting both regional and global markets.
The two governments have committed to creating favorable conditions for businesses from both countries to expand their cooperation. This includes deeper integration into global value chains and the effective utilization of free trade agreements, most notably the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
In the spirit of the consensus reached during their talks, PM Hung urged the business communities of both countries to strengthen their networks and promote investment and business cooperation in areas of mutual strength and complementarity.
He emphasized a focus on key sectors, including industrial manufacturing and processing, high technology, renewable energy, the green transition, logistics, supply chain connectivity, innovation, digital transformation, as well as education and high-quality human resource development.
The Prime Minister highlighted that Vietnam identifies science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation as its strategic breakthroughs. Simultaneously, the country is accelerating the development of synchronous infrastructure, green transition, and climate change adaptation to bolster productivity, competitiveness, and the strategic autonomy of the national economy.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that Vietnam remains a welcoming and conducive environment for foreign investors, specifically those from Slovakia, seeking long-term and sustainable ventures. He committed that the Government would accompany, support, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all investors.
Addressing the forum, PM Fico expressed confidence that the open and friendly atmosphere from his talks with PM Hung would permeate the forum, enabling businesses to reach concrete cooperation agreements and realize the newly upgraded Strategic Partnership framework.
The Slovak PM affirmed that his government is committed to creating the most favorable conditions to implement cooperation initiatives within this new diplomatic framework.
Describing Vietnam as one of the fastest-growing nations in the world, PM Fico noted that Vietnam has clearly defined its short-term and long-term strategic development goals, backed by the high determination of its people. He emphasized that Slovakia seeks to continue building and deepening its partnership with Vietnam across a wide range of fields.
Analyzing the complex global landscape and its impact on global supply chains, the Slovak PM stated that during their talks, the two leaders clearly identified cooperation priorities through specific programs and projects.
In particular, Slovakia aims to boost its exports to Vietnam and achieve tangible progress in sectors such as nuclear energy, mechanical engineering, machinery manufacturing, the defense industry, cybersecurity, the automotive industry, and healthcare—fields where Slovakia possesses strengths and Vietnam has significant demand.
Furthermore, Slovakia welcomes the promotion of labor cooperation and encourages Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Slovakia. The country is also exploring the establishment of direct flights between Vietnam and Slovakia, simplifying tourist visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens, and considering visa exemptions for official passport holders.
Seeking partnership, expanding connectivity
At the forum, businesses from both countries showcased their potential, strengths, cooperation needs, and specific investment opportunities. The Slovak side expressed a strong interest in finding Vietnamese partners capable of providing services and goods, while also promoting exchanges to form joint ventures across various sectors.
Key sectors of interest for Slovak businesses include food and beverage technology, information and communication technology (ICT), green technology, renewable energy, telecommunications, construction, mechanical engineering, finance, the defense industry, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, cybersecurity, export insurance, and legal services.
A total of seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged at the Forum, focusing on several key sectors including manufacturing, technology, healthcare, finance, infrastructure, real estate, the environment, and industrial park development.
In 2025, bilateral trade turnover reached $1.78 billion, with Vietnam recording a trade surplus of $1.7 billion. In terms of investment, Slovakia currently has nine projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of approximately $247 million, while Vietnam has one investment project in Slovakia valued at $447,000.
