As Vietnam and Australia elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, economic and trade cooperation between the two countries—particularly with the state of South Australia—is transitioning from strategic vision to concrete business engagement.

A significant milestone was the First Vietnam–Australia Trade Promotion Program, held on January 29 in Ho Chi Minh City. The event brought together nearly 100 Vietnamese and Australian enterprises operating across a wide range of sectors, including information technology, artificial intelligence, automation, education and training, import–export, agriculture and food, real estate, and tourism. The program is expected to serve as a direct bridge connecting the business communities of both countries during this new phase of bilateral cooperation.

Speaking at the event, Mr. David Dean, President of the Australia–Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (AVCC), South Australia, stated that Vietnam is emerging as one of the priority markets for Australian businesses. According to Mr. Dean, in addition to its impressive economic growth, Vietnam offers an increasingly open investment environment, creating substantial opportunities for collaboration, particularly in South Australia’s areas of strength such as agribusiness and food, technology, education, and innovation.

From the Vietnamese business community’s perspective, demand for direct engagement with Australian partners is growing steadily. Mr. Vo Son Dien, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association (HUBA) and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Supporting Industries Association (HASI), noted that as global supply chains continue to be restructured and green growth standards gain greater importance, transforming strategic cooperation into concrete projects has become an urgent priority. He emphasized that bilateral trade promotion programs should go beyond networking activities and instead focus on fostering long-term, effective, and sustainable partnerships.

Lisa Hoang, Vice President of AVTM, CEO of Impact Investment Consultancy, representatives presenting commemorative gifts to Vietnamese business associations.

A key highlight of the program was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Vietnamese business organizations and the Australia-Vietnam Trade Mission (AVTM) ; the Australia–Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (AVCC). The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in trade promotion, investment facilitation, and market expansion while providing greater support for member enterprises in both countries.

As part of the event, dynamic Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking sessions were held, focusing on key industries including import–export, technology, real estate, and tourism. These sessions enabled participating companies to exchange business information, explore partnership opportunities, and establish valuable commercial connections.

From the business sector, Mr. Pham Duc Thuan, Director of HLS Thuan Hai Import–Export Co., Ltd., shared that the company successfully established connections with Australian partners to promote exports of Vietnamese agricultural and seafood products while exploring opportunities to import premium Australian products, including honey and wine, into the Vietnamese market.

At the regional level, South Australia is emerging as one of Vietnam’s key economic partners. In 2024, two-way trade between Vietnam and South Australia reached approximately AUD 837 million, making Vietnam the state’s sixth-largest export market. According to industry analysts, supported by a stable political and diplomatic relationship and growing interest from the business communities of both countries, Vietnam–South Australia economic and trade relations are expected to continue expanding in a more practical and results-oriented manner, generating long-term benefits for both sides as well as for the Vietnamese community in Australia.

Source: Ho Chi Minh City Supporting Industries Association (HASI)