Amid the continued growth of Vietnam’s Industry and Trade sector, the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden has contributed to market expansion, business connectivity and investment attraction.

Despite persistent challenges to global trade from geopolitical tensions, protectionism and the greening of supply chains, Vietnam’s Industry and Trade sector maintained positive growth momentum in the first half of 2026. Beyond impressive import-export figures, the sector’s achievements were also reflected in the expansion of market opportunities, more effective utilization of new-generation free trade agreements and significant innovation in trade promotion activities.

At the forefront of this process is Vietnam’s network of overseas Trade Offices, which directly connects businesses, monitors market developments, provides policy advice and accompanies Vietnamese enterprises in their efforts to enter international markets.

To discuss the results achieved and directions for developing Nordic markets in the coming period, Industry and Trade Newspaper spoke with Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy, Commercial Counsellor of Vietnam in Sweden, concurrently responsible for Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Latvia.

Expanding Market Space and Diversifying Partners

Reporter: Looking back at the first six months of 2026, how do you assess the key achievements of the Industry and Trade sector, particularly in import-export activities, market development and international economic integration? In your view, what were the most significant developments in trade promotion and market expansion?

Commercial Counsellor Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy: Looking back at the first six months of 2026, the Industry and Trade sector maintained positive growth momentum despite continued impacts from geopolitical conflicts, protectionist trends and increasingly stringent requirements related to the environment, emissions and traceability.

Total import-export turnover reached nearly USD 550 billion, up more than 27% year on year, of which exports exceeded USD 266 billion. Processing and manufacturing continued to account for a large share of export turnover, demonstrating that Vietnam’s production capacity and position in international supply chains continue to strengthen.

In terms of international economic integration, an important achievement lies not only in making effective use of existing FTAs, but also in proactively expanding market space and diversifying partners.

The conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association, EFTA, represents an important step forward, opening up additional access to high-purchasing-power markets while creating new opportunities for cooperation in technology, innovation, clean energy and sustainable development.

In trade promotion, a notable shift has been the move toward greater depth and substance. Activities are evolving from simple promotion and participation in trade fairs toward proactive supply-demand matching, bringing international importers and distribution systems directly to Vietnam to assess production capacity, meet local companies and explore long-term cooperation opportunities.

Vietnam International Sourcing, VIS, is a clear example of this new approach. Through exhibitions, business matching, specialized forums and company visits, VIS is gradually becoming a platform for international buyers to access Vietnamese supply sources, while helping domestic enterprises better understand market requirements, strengthen their capabilities and participate more deeply in global supply chains.

Alongside this transformation, the role of Vietnam’s overseas Trade Offices is receiving greater attention and assuming increasing importance in market development. The Trade Office network is clearly shifting from a supporting role toward one of building connections and opening pathways for Vietnamese goods.

Reporter: Within the broader growth of the Industry and Trade sector in the first half of 2026, how has the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, concurrently responsible for Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Latvia, contributed to maintaining export growth, expanding markets and effectively tapping opportunities in the Nordic region? Could you share some results that demonstrate these contributions?

Commercial Counsellor Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy: In the first six months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports to key markets covered by the Trade Office continued to record strong growth.

Exports to Sweden increased by 19.6%, Denmark by 29.9%, Norway by 47.2% and Latvia by 36.9%. These are positive results given that the Nordic region has very high requirements regarding quality, environmental standards, traceability and sustainable development.

Within this overall performance, the Trade Office has promoted its role as a focal point for market development by proactively researching demand, providing information and policy alerts, identifying and verifying partners, connecting businesses and helping resolve difficulties encountered during market entry.

At the same time, the Trade Office has organized and brought numerous Nordic business delegations to Vietnam to assess the investment and business environment, evaluate production capacity, and meet local authorities, industry associations and companies, thereby generating concrete trade and cooperation opportunities.

The effectiveness of these activities is reflected not only in export growth, but also in expanding investment relations.

By the end of the first half of 2026, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Latvia had 359 investment projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital of approximately USD 4.44 billion.

Notably, many Nordic investment projects are in sectors where the region is a global leader, including technology, clean energy, green manufacturing, the circular economy and sustainable development, all of which align closely with Vietnam’s direction for transforming its growth model.

These results demonstrate the Trade Office’s increasingly prominent role in connecting markets, attracting high-quality resources and converting cooperation potential into tangible outcomes, thereby contributing to more substantive and sustainable trade and investment relations between Vietnam and the Nordic region.

Building Competitiveness for Vietnamese Businesses

Reporter: As Nordic markets increasingly impose stringent requirements on sustainable development, green transition and traceability, what should Vietnamese businesses prepare in order to make effective use of EVFTA opportunities and enhance their competitiveness in the region? How will the Trade Office support them in this process?

Commercial Counsellor Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy: In the Nordic region, sustainability is no longer merely an added-value factor. It has become a condition for products to enter and maintain their position in the market.

In addition to quality and price, importers increasingly pay attention to the origin of raw materials, emissions levels, packaging recyclability, labor conditions and corporate responsibility throughout the supply chain.

This trend has become even more evident as the EU implements the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, CBAM, from early 2026, new packaging regulations from August 2026 and the EU Deforestation Regulation, EUDR, for certain product groups from the end of 2026.

Vietnamese businesses therefore need to view green transition as part of their business strategy rather than simply responding when customers demand it.

First, businesses must fully understand rules of origin in order to utilize EVFTA tariff preferences. At the same time, they should develop transparent traceability systems, control input materials, measure emissions and invest in technology, clean energy and environmentally friendly packaging.

International certifications should be selected according to the specific sector and importer requirements, rather than pursued indiscriminately.

Another important requirement is thorough research into individual market segments and the development of long-term relationships with partners.

Although Nordic markets are relatively small in population, they have high purchasing power and place strong emphasis on reputation, transparency and supplier reliability. Businesses that meet these requirements can not only sell in one country, but may also gain access to broader distribution systems and supply chains across the EU.

The Trade Office will continue supporting businesses by providing updates and early warnings on new regulations, advising on market requirements and rules of origin, verifying partners, and connecting Vietnamese companies with importers, distribution systems and Nordic supply chains.

The objective is not merely to help businesses secure more orders, but more importantly to help them gradually strengthen their capabilities, meet green standards and establish a sustainable position in Nordic markets.

Reporter: In the second half of 2026, what tasks and solutions will the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden prioritize in order to further expand markets, support businesses, make effective use of FTAs, and contribute to export growth and the broader development targets of the Industry and Trade sector?

Commercial Counsellor Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy: In the second half of the year, our priority is to shift strongly from activity-based promotion toward targeted support that identifies specific partners and follows cooperation through to concrete results.

In the immediate term, we are focusing on organizing a Nordic business delegation to attend Vietnam International Sourcing, VIS 2026, combined with B2B meetings, visits to production facilities, seaports and logistics systems, with the aim of generating concrete opportunities for orders, investment and supply-chain cooperation.

In addition to VIS, the Trade Office will coordinate with relevant agencies, associations and partners to organize Nordic business delegations to attend Vietfish 2026 and Vietnam Foodexpo 2026.

These delegations will not only seek supplies of Vietnamese seafood, agricultural products and processed foods, but will also introduce advanced Nordic technologies, equipment and solutions for aquaculture, seafood processing, food production, energy efficiency, emissions reduction and quality management.

Through these activities, the Trade Office aims to promote two-way cooperation by linking trade with technology transfer, investment and value-chain upgrading.

The Trade Office will also continue to closely monitor market developments and provide early updates and warnings regarding green standards, traceability, packaging and supply-chain responsibility.

At the same time, we will support businesses in selecting suitable products, market segments and partners, making effective use of the EVFTA and proactively preparing for new opportunities arising from the Vietnam-EFTA Free Trade Agreement.

Reporter: Thank you very much for the interview.

Alongside export promotion, the Trade Office will step up efforts to attract high-quality Nordic investment projects in clean energy, green technology, logistics, the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing.

The goal is to turn information into opportunities, and connections into orders, investment projects and substantive technology partnerships, thereby helping expand markets and improve the quality of growth in Vietnam’s Industry and Trade sector.