GEVA 2026 Project Wrap-Up: Advancing Green Exports

After one year of implementation, the Swiss government-funded GEVA 2026 program—co-managed by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Vietrade and operated by KisStartup JSC—officially closed at the Summary Conference on April 5. The event brought together representatives from the Trade Promotion Department, ITC in Vietnam, project experts and partners, more than 10 outstanding enterprises (representing 25 participating companies), and media agencies.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Nguyen Dang Tuan Minh, CEO of KisStartup, said participating enterprises showed clear changes in mindset and actions after one year. She added that KisStartup aims to continue developing green export support services to accompany Vietnamese enterprises in the long term.

Key outcomes of GEVA 2026

GEVA project coordinator Mr. Luu Trong Hieu said the program delivered several concrete results. It launched three self-assessment toolkits on the greenexport.vn platform, covering a green business model, voluntary sustainability standards (VSS), and readiness for green exports.

GEVA also organized five training courses across Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre, Dak Lak, and Gia Lai, attracting 485 participants. The program recruited 25 enterprises for incubation and acceleration, providing more than 270 hours of intensive 1:1 consulting across seven areas and conducting on-site surveys at 15 enterprises.

In market connections, GEVA supported 17 enterprises to participate in Vietnam Sourcing Expo 2025 and five enterprises to take part in the Taiwan Lunar New Year Fair 2026. It also backed promotional activities at VIPO 2026 and facilitated four online conferences with Taiwan, Canada, the EU, and Japan.

Standards as a foundation for sustainable development

Mr. Bui Khanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Center for Organic Agriculture Development Support, said the standards should not be viewed as a burden but as a foundation for sustainable development. Within GEVA, enterprises gained access to three practical tools to self-evaluate the degree of “green,” “sustainable,” and “export-ready.”

He noted that while Vietnamese agricultural products already appear in many international markets, much of the higher value remains with foreign distributors. He said Vietnamese enterprises therefore need to strengthen capacity and apply sustainability standards to meet market requirements and gradually expand their position in higher-end segments.

Building brands and export narratives

Ms. Vu Thu Van, CEO of Richard Moore Associates and a consulting partner in the program, said she understood enterprises’ challenges in brand-building. She emphasized that rebranding is only part of the process, describing branding as a long-term effort.

She added that many firms still struggle to differentiate between domestic and export customers and have not systematized their strategies. She said GEVA targeted this gap by helping enterprises reposition their narrative and brand value.

Enterprises cite changes after one year

Ms. Nguyen Dang Tuan Minh said GEVA experts identified two major limitations among enterprises: weak online export capability, particularly on websites and sales channels; and a lack of clear narrative about impact. She referenced feedback from a Canadian importer that the market is saturated and needs a new story, saying GEVA helped enterprises write the green export story.

Representatives from participating enterprises shared examples of progress:

• Ms. Le Thi Hang of Detech Coffee said GEVA helped improve export capacity and better understand customer requirements and green consumption trends through the Taiwan Lunar New Year Fair 2026.
• Mr. Y Nie Pot, Director of Ede Cafe, said the program shifted their mindset toward green exports, built a shared brand story, defined core values, and enabled coffee exports to the US.
• Ms. Ta Thi Thu Hien, Director of XNK Hong Ha, said the company improved its green business model and shipped its first container to Taiwan right after participating in the Taiwan Lunar New Year Fair 2026.
• Mr. Pham Dinh Thanh, Director of Green Alliance, said GEVA helped improve export communications channels. He added that through on-site surveys, the company expanded its cultivation area and gained more confidence in its near-term export strategy.
• Ms. Tran Phuoc Hau, Deputy General Director of Pearl Group, said the company reviewed and streamlined its main communication channels and clarified how to tell a sustainable story to reach target customers. She said GEVA will continue supporting Pearl Group in developing new business activities, including coffee and instant pho.

Other companies including DACE, Essence Forest, RainCoffee and The Cil Coffee also said they clarified their brand stories, aiming for green certificates and circular economy models.

Looking ahead

GEVA’s organizers said the program is not only ending but also opening a new chapter for Vietnamese enterprises to bring green agricultural products and sustainable stories to international markets. KisStartup committed to supporting the sustainable green export community’s development.

“Starting with more than 20 decent enterprises, together, we are writing the story of Vietnam’s green exports,” Ms. Minh said.