HCMC – Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Dac Thanh has met with German business executives in Vietnam to promote deeper economic cooperation, especially strengthening partnerships between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The German Business Association (GBA), the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam), and Deutsches Haus Ho Chi Minh City jointly welcomed Thanh at the GBA Business Roundtable on May 21.
The meeting addressed key issues in Vietnam-Germany diplomatic relations, the current operations of German businesses in Vietnam, their economic contributions, and challenges they face.
In his remarks, Ambassador Thanh praised the German business community for supporting technology transfer, innovation, and sustainable development – key pillars in boosting the global competitiveness of Vietnamese SMEs.
Tran Duy Phong from the Ministry of Science and Technology proposed strengthening connections between SMEs from both countries, particularly in key sectors such as renewable energy, smart manufacturing, the knowledge economy, and digital technology.
He also emphasized deepening cooperation in research and development, technology transfer, and vocational training in Germany’s areas of excellence such as automation, artificial intelligence, big data, and bilateral startup support programs.
During the discussion, company representatives expressed the need for mechanisms to support short-term training and internal exchange programs across subsidiaries of multinational corporations.
In response, Dac Thanh emphasized the Vietnamese Government’s ongoing efforts to streamline administrative procedures, notably by reducing the number of bureaucratic levels from three to two, to foster a more business-friendly environment.
He reiterated that simplifying labor and visa requirements for training programs is part of a broader effort to build an open, equitable, and globally integrated national training system.
In the face of global uncertainties, Thanh reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to deeper global integration and its active participation in a transparent and rules-based international trading system.
The event holds special significance as Vietnam and Germany jointly commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a partnership built on trust, mutual respect, and comprehensive cooperation.
Moreover, 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the GBA, one of the first foreign business associations established in Vietnam. Over the past three decades, GBA has evolved into one of the most influential business advocacy groups, with nearly 400 members, serving as a strategic bridge between German businesses and Vietnamese authorities.
