Seoul (VNA) – A conference was held in Seoul on July 14 to foster investment and trade cooperation and strengthen business connectivity between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).
The event, taking place at the headquarters of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), was part of a Vietnamese trade delegation’s working trip to the Northeast Asian nation.
Addressing the conference, Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho said bilateral relations are currently enjoying the best conditions, underpinned by what he described as the three key factors of “favourable timing, geographical advantages, and strong public support”.
He noted that during recent exchanges, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed the determination to elevate their countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a deeper, more substantive, and more effective manner, with economic cooperation, investment, science – technology, and innovation serving as new growth drivers.
According to the ambassador, Vietnamese ministries and sectors are working to remove institutional bottlenecks, improving the investment environment and supporting businesses. Meanwhile, local authorities are shifting from an administrative mindset to a service-oriented approach, competing by governance quality, infrastructure, and human resources.
He highlighted Hung Yen as a typical example of this transformation. Traditionally known as a land rich in history and culture, the northern province is now emerging as a dynamic industrial and service hub in the Hanoi Capital Region, with increasingly modern infrastructure, convenient transport connectivity, and a business-friendly administration that regards corporate success as a yardstick of its governance effectiveness.
The Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK, he said, will continue working closely with KOTRA, ministries, agencies and localities, including Hung Yen, to strengthen links with Korean corporations, business associations, and investment funds, helping translate today's opportunities into concrete investment projects.
Introducing Hung Yen's potential, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Le Quang Hoa said that following the recent administrative merger, Hung Yen remains among Vietnam's leading localities in terms of economic scale, growth, industrial output, budget revenue, investment attraction, and other socio-economic indicators.
The province's economy exceeded 12 billion USD in 2025 and is targeting growth of at least 10% this year, with economic output expected to surpass 14 billion USD. During the first six months of 2026, it posted growth of over 10%, ranking fifth among Vietnam's 34 provinces and cities.
Hoa said the RoK is the third-largest foreign investor in Hung Yen, with 210 projects worth 2.9 billion USD in registered capital. However, Korean investment has yet to fully reflect the strengths of Korean corporations or the province's strategic location, industrial infrastructure, and development potential.
He expressed his hope that the visit to the RoK will help expand cooperation in investment, trade and economic development while creating direct connections with Korean investors and multinationals.
Hung Yen is seeking suitable partners in a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing and processing, digital infrastructure, semiconductors, electronics, green energy, logistics centres, urban development, industrial infrastructure, seaport and tourism, the official added.
At the conference, participants also received updates on the Korean Government's outbound investment support programme, prospects for investment collaboration with Vietnam, and investment opportunities in Vietnamese industrial parks.
Following the discussion session, Vietnamese enterprises and industrial park developers held business-to-business (B2B) meetings with Korean companies to explore partnership and investment opportunities./.
