Business meeting between Spain and Vietnam at the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Once this agreement was finalized, The Asian country becomes Spain's most important trading partner within the ASEAN regionFor this reason, following his visit to Madrid yesterday, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, together with the State Secretariat for Trade, through ICEX Spain Export and Investment, and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), organized a business meeting between the two countries. The Vice Minister of Industry and Trade of the Asian country, Pham Thi Thang, led the meeting with the various business leaders. Last April, both governments agreed to strengthen trade and economic cooperation. On that occasion, Pedro Sánchez led the delegation that traveled to Ho Chi Minh City. 

 

Spain takes another step towards internationalization

 

Today, Vietnam represents a strategic investment opportunity for Spanish companies in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, sustainable agribusiness, renewable energy, railway infrastructure, digital technology, and maritime logistics. The Asian nation is firmly committed to economic modernization and opening up to foreign capital, consolidating its position as an emerging hub in Southeast Asia for companies seeking to expand in a dynamic region with increasing institutional stability and policies favorable to international investment. In this vein, during the meeting at the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, the leadership of Spanish companies in sectors strategic for Vietnam, such as infrastructure and clean energy, was highlighted on several occasions, and the commitment to strengthening economic relations between the two countries was emphasized.

 

At the welcoming ceremony, Roger Guasch, director of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, and Inmaculada Riera, director general of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, provided an opportunity to share and explore new avenues for collaboration. According to data provided by the Chamber of Commerce itself, up to 400 Catalan companies from various sectors (agrifood, chemical, textile, etc.) currently export regularly to the Asian country. Riera affirmed the Ministry of Industry and Trade's strong commitment and support for internationalization: “There are increasingly more long-term opportunities for a wide range of companies. Diversification involves Asia, and Asia involves Vietnam.” 

 

Vietnam, Asian power 

 

Similarly, Juan Luis Gimeno, Director General of Economic and Commercial Intelligence, took the opportunity to celebrate the joint commission. Gimeno, who was also speaking at the business forum, emphasized the vital importance of “building bridges and seeking new opportunities.” He drew on past achievements to highlight the work that had been done. “An agreement was signed in 2009, and in 2020, a free trade agreement was signed between the European Union and Vietnam. We were one of the first European countries to ratify the investment agreement. We remain committed to the APRI.” 

 

In 2024, bilateral trade reached a record $4.720 billion, an increase of almost 20% compared to the previous year, making Spain Vietnam's fifth-largest trading partner in the European Union. From Vietnam, Pham Thi Thang anticipates that both sides will strive to surpass $8.000 billion in the coming period. In sectors such as energy, Spain is interested in promoting cooperation with Vietnam in the field of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power. 

 

Both sides also expressed their desire to promote cooperation in the railway sector, and Spain's experience was highlighted as a potential positive contributor to the development of new trains and tracks in Vietnam. According to Gimeno, the Deputy Minister had the pleasure of testing the high-speed train yesterday. “Vietnam has a growing population. Hence, the importance of tourism. Vietnam has everything it needs to be a tourism powerhouse. Nearly 20.000 Vietnamese tourists visit Spain annually,” stated the Director General of Economic and Commercial Intelligence. Furthermore, both sides expressed their desire to establish direct flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Madrid and Barcelona to promote trade, investment, and tourism. Pham Thi Thang emphasized the commitment to making Vietnam an investment destination. 

 

Strengthening relations between countries

 

The presentations continued with remarks from Álvaro Schweinfurth, Deputy Director of International and Multilateral Organizations at the Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organizations (CEOE), focusing on strengthening relations between the two countries. He also presented the current business and investment environment in Vietnam and discussed the potential, advantages, and opportunities for business cooperation between the two nations. 

 

Under the direction of Nguyen Quang Vinh, from the Foreign Investment Agency and the Ministry of Finance, numerous cooperation opportunities and digital transformation have been assessed. They aim to position Vietnam as a hub for Southeast Asia. There are approximately 44.000 projects with an investment of around 66 million: “Vietnam will continue to promote the green industry. The goal is to develop financial technology.” Meanwhile, Tran Diem Lan has prioritized strengthening agricultural cooperation, leveraging the incentives of the EVFTA (European Green FTA). Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Vietnam) to facilitate access for each country's agricultural and food products to the markets of the other. 

 

From the Ministry of Defense, To Tung Lam affirmed the need to strengthen close coordination. Numerous training activities are planned, as well as pilot training: “We hope that cooperation will continue to improve the type of aircraft, in order to achieve self-sufficiency.” The day concluded with a presentation by Ana de Roselló on supporting Spanish-Vietnamese business projects through public funding.