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Giấy phép số 4978/GP-TTĐT do Sở Thông tin và Truyền thông Hà Nội cấp ngày 14 tháng 10 năm 2019 / Giấy phép SĐ, BS GP ICP số 2107/GP-TTĐT do Sở TTTT Hà Nội cấp ngày 13/7/2022.
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Vietnam and Slovakia held the Vietnam–Slovakia Business Forum in Hanoi on the afternoon of 13 April, bringing together more than 400 enterprises from both countries. The event was organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in cooperation with the Slovak Embassy in Vietnam and the Slovak Investment and Trade Promotion Agency (SARIO), with the participation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, along with leaders from relevant ministries and trade promotion agencies.
Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng highlighted the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Slovakia, noting that economic, trade and investment cooperation has been a core focus over more than 75 years. He said that during Prime Minister Robert Fico’s visit, the two countries formally approved a Joint Statement upgrading their relationship to a Strategic Partnership—making Vietnam the first Southeast Asian country to establish such a partnership with Slovakia.
“This milestone not only reflects the close ties between the two countries but also conveys a strong message about the determination of the two Governments and senior leaders to unleash new momentum, opening up a broader space for strategic development in the time ahead,” Lê Minh Hưng said.
Lê Minh Hưng described Vietnam as one of the most dynamic economies in the Asia-Pacific region, with a population of over 100 million. He cited 2025 GDP of around $514 billion and total import-export value surpassing $930 billion, placing Vietnam among the world’s major trading economies. He also noted GDP growth of 8.02% in 2025 and 7.8% in Q1 2026, and said Vietnam is a member of 17 Free Trade Agreements.
He added that Slovakia is an important gateway for Vietnamese enterprises to access Central and Eastern Europe and the EU, while Vietnam is an attractive destination for Slovak enterprises to enter the ASEAN market.
While both sides reported positive outcomes, they said the scale of trade and investment between the two countries—particularly among business communities—remains below potential. The leaders pointed to a still-large cooperation space, citing the complementary nature of Vietnam’s and Slovakia’s economies.
Prime Minister Robert Fico said Vietnam is one of Slovakia’s most important trading partners in Southeast Asia. He noted that although Slovakia is not a large country, its industry is among the most advanced in Europe, supported by a long history, and can serve as a foundation for expanding cooperation in areas including defense industry, mechanical engineering, cybersecurity, automotive industry, and healthcare.
Fico also pointed to Slovakia’s strengths in nuclear energy, while Vietnam is advancing nuclear power development, describing it as a promising area for future cooperation.
On investment, Slovakia welcomed projects from Vietnam, including those from FPT Corporation, and expects to attract more Vietnamese projects. On trade, Fico said the bilateral trade balance remains imbalanced and that Slovakia hopes to boost exports to Vietnam through concrete, practical projects.
He also praised Vietnam’s skilled workforce and expressed a desire to deepen cooperation on labor exchange and working opportunities for Vietnamese workers in Slovakia. Fico said Slovakia expects the partnership between the two business communities to be based on mutual interests, mutual respect, respect for international law, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, with tangible results supported by solid political foundations.
In the new context, Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng said Vietnam is promoting a growth model centered on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, linked to green and sustainable development to strengthen competitiveness and economic self-reliance. He said Vietnam welcomes and offers favorable conditions for foreign investors, including Slovak enterprises, to cooperate and invest long-term, and that the Vietnamese government will accompany, support, and protect investors’ legitimate rights and interests.
The two sides agreed to focus on five priority areas for cooperation:
The forum also included agreement to continue strengthening cooperation, exchange, and mutual support in regional and international forums. Both sides said the cooperation potential remains large and emphasized that the business community should be more proactive in connecting and implementing concrete projects, while governments will work to create favorable conditions for trade and investment activities.
During the forum, seven MoUs were signed between Vietnamese and Slovak enterprises in the presence of the two Prime Ministers. The MoUs cover areas including manufacturing, technology, healthcare, finance, infrastructure, real estate, environment, and industrial park development. The results are expected to provide new momentum for bilateral economic cooperation and create concrete investment opportunities for enterprises from both countries in the near term.

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