Tran Phu Lu, deputy director of the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, speaks at a meeting to promote trade and promotion with Malaysia in HCM City. (Photo courtesy of the centre)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam and Malaysia, one of its mostimportant trading partners, have set a bilateral trade target of 18billion USD by 2025.
Speaking at a meeting on June 12, Tran Phu Lu, deputy director ofHCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), said the city willcontinue to improve its business climate and streamline administrativereform, including creating favourable conditions for Malaysian investors.
The ITPC under the city administration regularly organises activities tosupport city businesses to promote trade and investment, and expand exportmarkets, he said.
Vietnam and Malaysia have vowed to strengthen cooperation in tourism, culture,and science and technology, among other sectors, he said.
The visit by the Malaysian Prime Minister to Vietnam last year confirmed thestrategic relationship between the two countries, he added.
Bilateral trade reached nearly 14.8 billion USD last year with Vietnameseexports to Malaysia worth 5.57 billion USD and imports 9.1 billion USD.
HCM City’s total imports and exports with Malaysia last yearwere estimated at over 5.4 billion USD, up 8% year-on-year. As of the end of March, Malaysia invested in 329 projects in HCMCity with a total investment of nearly 4.9 billion USD, ranking sixth out of116 countries and territories investing in the city.
Malaysia is one of Vietnam’s 10 largest trading partners. The two countries arealso members of a number of new-generation free trade agreements, which helpboost bilateral trade.
The free trade agreements include the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA)and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).
Key Vietnamese exports to Malaysia include machinery and equipment and theirparts, computers, electronics and components, steel, petroleum, and chemicals.
The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973, which were upgradedto a strategic partnership in 2015./.
Former Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato Azmil Zabidi has highlighted the close relationship between the two countries, stressing that trade and tourism cooperation are potential areas that need to be promoted.
The Foreign Ministers of Vietnam and Malaysia on March 30 issue a joint press communique on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Vietnamese State, Government and National Assembly (NA) leaders on March 30 sent messages of congratulations to their Malaysian counterparts on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the two nations’ diplomatic relations (March 30, 1973-2023).
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his hope for close cooperation with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim in promoting the Vietnam-Malaysia strategic partnership during their meeting in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on May 10.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Tran Phu Lu, deputy director of the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, speaks at a meeting to promote trade and promotion with Malaysia in HCM City. (Photo courtesy of the centre) 
