GOV'T PROPOSES ESTABLISHMENT OF FREE TRADE ZONE IN HAI PHONG CITY
The Government has submitted a prosposal to establish a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the northern port city of Hai Phong to the National Assembly. If approved by the legislative body, the FTZ shall be allowed to pilot special mechanisms and policies to attract investment and spur exports and research and development activities.
FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2025: AGRO-FORESTRY-FISHERY EXPORTS RISE BY 10.7%
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports totalled 21.15 billion USD in the first four months of 2025, up 10.7% year-on-year. Agricultural products contributed 11.6 billion USD, forestry products 5.56 billion USD, fishery products 3.09 billion USD, and livestock products 178 million USD.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT CONTINUES TO POUR INTO VIỆT NAM
Việt Nam has attracted US$13.82 billion in newly registered foreign direct investment (FDI) since the beginning of this year, marking a nearly 40 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, while disbursed capital has reached $6.74 billion, the highest level recorded in the past five years, reflecting strong investor confidence in the Vietnamese market.
HCM CITY AIMS TO MATCH SINGAPORE IN STARTUP GROWTH, INNOVATION
HCM City aims to develop a startup and innovation environment on par with Singapore’s, so that investors no longer need to go abroad to launch their ventures, its Department of Science and Technology has said. Lâm Đình Thắng, its director, said fostering entrepreneurship and innovation requires the coordinated involvement of four key groups: investors, academia, banks, and government.
E-COMMERCE TO SUPPORT FARMERS WITH MARKET ACCESS
The Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Centre for E-commerce and Digital Technology (eComDX) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading e-commerce enterprises, including Shopee and TikTok Việt Nam, along with departments of industry and trade from Lai Châu, Thái Nguyên, Lạng Sơn, Yên Bái and Điện Biên provinces.
VIỆT NAM’S COFFEE EXPORTS REACH $4.2 BILLION IN FIRST FIVE MONTHS
As of mid-May 2025, Việt Nam exported over 736,000 tonnes of coffee, earning US$4.2 billion, according to the Department of Customs. While export volume declined by 5.5 per cent year-on-year, export value surged by 56 per cent thanks to a sharp rise in average prices. Domestically, coffee prices in the Central Highlands reversed course on May 24, falling by VNĐ2,500 ($0.096) - VNĐ3,300 per kilogramme.
PUBLIC FUNDING A LIFELINE FOR CONSTRUCTION AMBITIONS
Public investment is being deemed a lifeline for construction materials manufacturers such as cement and steel producers, which are currently under mounting pressure from fierce competition and shrinking export markets. Vietnam’s construction sector was anticipated to enter a more promising growth phase this year, following two challenging years marked by a stagnant real estate market, legal bottlenecks, and capital shortages.
