HCM City (VNA) –The Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association (Viforest) convened its fifth congress for the 2025–2030 term in Ho Chi Minh City on December 11, outlining key tasks to support sustainable growth in the new period.
According to Viforest’s report, the sector maintained solid expansion over the past five years despite global trade fluctuations. Export revenue from wood and wooden products rose from 10.33 billion USD to 16.2 billion USD and is forecast to exceed 18 billion USD in 2025, keeping Vietnam the leading exporter in Asia and among the world’s top five.
These results were attributed to stronger coordination among enterprises, forest growers and state agencies, along with Viforest’s role in assisting firms with technical regulations, market information and trade-remedy responses. The gradual strengthening of the legal timber supply chain has also helped the industry meet stricter requirements in major markets.
However, Viforest noted that the sector continues to face structural challenges, including rising political and trade competition, origin fraud risks and tariff pressure. Limited management capacity and weak information coordination in some enterprises have slowed their reaction to market changes. Increasingly demanding standards on green production and emission reduction, particularly under the EU’s new deforestation regulation (EUDR) pose added difficulties for small and medium-sized firms.
For the 2025–2030 term, Viforest aims to reinforce its role as a hub for innovation, build long-term development plans and expand cooperation with ministries and international partners to support the sector’s green transition. The association identified five priorities, helping enterprises expand markets, strengthening branding, developing high-value products, promoting deeper processing and improving system-wide coordination and trade promotion.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Quoc Tri acknowledged Viforest’s contributions and called for faster adoption of new approaches to meet emerging standards, particularly those on legal timber and emissions. He also underscored the need to strengthen the legal timber supply chain and promote the image of a transparent, environmentally responsible processing industry.
The congress elected a 31-member Executive Committee for the new term, with Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Chairman of AA Corporation, chosen as Viforest President. He said the sector aims not only to expand export scale but also to increase added value, bringing greater benefits to forest growers.
To achieve the export target of 25 billion USD by 2030, he emphasised three directions: enhancing competitiveness through stronger linkages; building a national brand for Vietnamese wooden products; and diversifying markets, product lines and distribution channels.
He stressed the need for a resilient supply chain, improved production capacity, investment in green manufacturing and a data system aligned with international standards.
Viforest also encouraged enterprises to increase their presence at major global trade fairs, deepen connections with foreign partners and make better use of Vietnam’s overseas trade offices. Domestically, upgrading specialised exhibitions would help position Vietnam as a key destination for international buyers./.
