Uruguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Valeria Csukasi Cabrera and Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Pham Tan Cong (Photo: Truong Dang)

A relationship with great potential

During the official visit to Vietnam from August 18 to 20, Uruguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Valeria Csukasi Cabrera had a working session with Mr. Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), to promote economic and trade relations between the two countries, which still have much potential but have not been adequately exploited.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the VCCI Pham Tan Cong assessed that although the trade relationship between Vietnam and Uruguay is still modest, it is on the path of positive growth. He emphasized that complementary sectors such as agriculture, food processing, information technology services and tourism are pillars that can shape the cooperative relationship in the future.

“Uruguay can become a gateway for Vietnamese goods to penetrate deeper into the South American market. Conversely, as a member of the CPTPP, Vietnam can also support Uruguay in expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr. Cong affirmed.

According to Deputy Minister Csukasi, the Uruguayan Government identifies Vietnam as one of its priority strategic partners in the Asia region. She said that this working group includes representatives of the Uruguayan Trade and Investment Promotion Agency – with the aim of increasing contacts and establishing a bilateral trade cooperation network.

The two sides agreed to soon organize online business seminars, exchange field delegations and establish a direct information channel between trade promotion agencies. These steps are expected to bridge the business communities of the two countries to increase access to each other's markets.

Vietnam – Mercosur Bridge

Ms. Csukasi’s visit took place shortly after the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro (July 2025), where Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with the President of Uruguay and proposed promoting negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Mercosur bloc – an economic alliance of which Uruguay is a founding member.

Data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade shows that two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Uruguay reached 170 million USD in 2024, up 35.4% over the previous year.

In 2025, the growth rate continued to break out. In the first 7 months of the year, the total turnover reached 121 million USD, up 88.5% over the same period in 2024. Of which, Vietnam’s exports to Uruguay reached 67.6 million USD (up 46%), while imports from Uruguay reached 54 million USD (up 195%).

VCCI pledges to promote trade and investment relations between Vietnam and Uruguay (Photo: Truong Dang)

Vietnam's main export items include: footwear, textiles, electronic components, seafood, phones, rattan and bamboo products, ceramics, steel and plastics. In the opposite direction, Vietnam mainly imports wood, textile and footwear materials, pharmaceuticals, milk, chemicals and animal feed.

Deputy Minister Csukasi expects that Uruguay's high-quality products such as beef, milk and pharmaceuticals will soon be present in the Vietnamese market, while Uruguayan consumers will also be able to access typical products such as Vietnamese coffee and tea.

Not only stopping at trade cooperation, the Uruguayan Deputy Minister said that the two sides are implementing a number of academic exchange projects and student exchanges in the fields of science, technology and culture. Uruguay has opened an international cultural exhibition space at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this country and invited Vietnam to participate in the exhibition in the capital Montevideo.

“Geographical distance cannot hinder the goodwill and determination of both nations. We are looking for creative ways to promote mutual understanding, especially among the youth,” Ms. Csukasi emphasized.

At the end of the working session at VCCI, the two sides agreed to continue to maintain regular dialogue between relevant agencies, creating conditions for the business community to access policies and markets. Both Vietnam and Uruguay aim to elevate their relationship from diplomatic cooperation to a comprehensive development partnership, connecting in economy, culture and people.