Vietnam Seen as an Investment Destination, Says Prime Minister Le Minh Hung

On the afternoon of April 13, 2026, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung of Vietnam and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attended the Slovakia-Vietnam Business Forum 2026, held under the theme “Promoting Economic Cooperation, Expanding Bilateral Investment Opportunities.” Senior officials from ministries, trade promotion agencies, and more than 400 companies from both nations were in attendance. Over the past 76 years, economic, trade, and investment cooperation has been a pillar of Vietnam-Slovakia relations, with two-way trade in 2025 reaching US$1.78 billion. However, the results have not fully matched the potential for economic and trade collaboration between the two countries. The forum is expected to create connections and accelerate trade and investment cooperation in line with the strategic partnership framework that the two sides recently upgraded, as well as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the European Union. Speaking at the forum, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung described the event as of great significance, reflecting the two countries’ shared resolve to realize the framework of the Vietnam-Slovakia Strategic Partnership in the time ahead. The broad participation of Vietnam-Slovakia businesses signals confidence and high expectations for potential cooperation. The Slovak prime minister and his delegation were the first international guests to visit Vietnam after the leadership changes, marking an important milestone and opening prospects for closer cooperation going forward. Mr. Hung noted that upgrading the relationship to a Strategic Partnership makes Vietnam the first country in Southeast Asia to hold such a partnership with Slovakia. The decision sends a strong message of the two countries’ determination to generate momentum and open a new strategic space for mutually beneficial development. Mr. Hung also stated that Slovakia could become a strategic gateway for Vietnamese goods to reach the EU market. Conversely, Vietnam is also an attractive investment destination and a bridge for Slovak enterprises to expand into the ASEAN region. Looking ahead, Vietnam will continue to welcome and facilitate foreign investors and enterprises, including Slovak businesses, to cooperate, invest, and conduct long-term, sustainable business; pledging to stand by enterprises and to protect the legitimate rights and interests of investors from both within and outside the country, including the Slovak business community. Building on the spirit agreed by the two prime ministers during talks, Hung urged businesses of both sides to strengthen connectivity and cooperation, and to pursue investment and business in areas where each side has potential and demand. At the forum, in the presence of Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, companies from both sides exchanged seven memoranda of understanding on cooperation across multiple fields, including manufacturing, technology, healthcare, finance, infrastructure, real estate, environment and industrial park development. Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between enterprises of the two countries.