Vietnam – South Korea Investment and Trade Cooperation Conference Boosts Business Connections and Expands Investment Opportunities
During July 14–15, 2026, a Vietnamese investment and trade promotion delegation, led by Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director General of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, conducted a series of working sessions, field surveys, and specialized seminars in South Korea. The delegation included representatives from Hung Yen Province, specialized agencies, 10 industrial zones, and the Vietnamese business community, aiming to strengthen economic cooperation, exchange experiences in modern economic zone development, and advance the “Go Global” program.
Survey the Incheon Free Economic Zone Model and Promoting Cooperation with KBIZ and KITA
Kicking off the series of activities on July 14, 2026, in Incheon, the delegation surveyed and held a working session with the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ). The delegation was received by Ms. Jun Hyenju, Director of the IFEZ Investment Cooperation Division, alongside representatives from specialized departments. The Vietnamese side comprised representatives from Vietrade, leaders of Hung Yen Province, officials from provincial departments and agencies, as well as representatives from industrial parks and enterprises.
During the meeting, IFEZ representatives introduced its development model, which integrates industry, urban development, logistics, services, technology, and high-quality human resources. Assessing this model, Director General Vu Ba Phu noted that IFEZ’s experiences offer practical reference value for Vietnam in developing synchronized infrastructure, attracting strategic investors, and harmoniously connecting industry, urban areas, and services. Vietrade affirmed its readiness to serve as a bridge to foster concrete cooperation between IFEZ and Hung Yen Province.
Regarding local development orientations, Mr. Le Quang Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Hung Yen Provincial People’s Committee, stated that the province occupies a strategic position within the Northern Key Economic Region. The Hung Yen Economic Zone, with a planned area of approximately 305.83 km², is envisioned as a new growth driver, prioritizing high-tech sectors, electronics, semiconductors, robotics, advanced materials, logistics, energy, data centers, R&D, and innovation. Currently, South Korea has approximately 210 FDI projects in Hung Yen with a total registered capital of around USD 2.9 billion. Hung Yen Province proposed that IFEZ share its expertise in planning, management, strategic investor attraction, building innovation ecosystems, smart infrastructure, and business support services, while also joint-organizing survey delegations for business matching.
On the afternoon of the same day in Seoul, the delegation worked with the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (KBIZ). The host delegation was led by Mr. Kim Hee-joong, Executive Director and Head of the Economic Policy Department at KBIZ. At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Ba Hai, Deputy Director of the Center for Promotion of Trade and Investment Support (Procen – Vietrade), highly commended KBIZ’s role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—the core force driving supporting industries, strengthening supply chain links, and fostering innovation. Vietrade expressed its desire to leverage KBIZ’s member network to connect South Korean enterprises seeking investment opportunities, production expansion, and supply chain diversification in Vietnam.
According to KBIZ, SMEs account for approximately 89% of all South Korean enterprises, employ 80% of the workforce, and generate an export turnover of about USD 118 billion. KBIZ manages a network of roughly 3,000 member companies across key sectors including auto parts, raw materials, semiconductors, and manufacturing. Furthermore, KBIZ implements various support programs in cosmetics, AI, e-commerce, and home shopping, and has organized numerous large-scale business matching events in Vietnam. Both sides agreed to continue driving cooperation forward across five key areas: organizing industrial investment promotion conferences, researching and building value-chain maps for key industries, arranging survey trips to localities and industrial parks, boosting import-export cooperation and trade promotion, and jointly implementing activities under the “Go Global” initiative to help businesses expand internationally.
Also as part of the itinerary on July 14 in Seoul, Director General Vu Ba Phu and the Vietnamese delegation attended the 80th Anniversary Ceremony of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) at the Coex Convention & Exhibition Center, alongside more than 1,000 delegates representing the South Korean government, diplomatic corps, and business community.
Expand Bilateral Cooperation Among Enterprises and Organizing the Investment Promotion Conference at KOTRA
On July 15, 2026, in Seoul, the Vietnamese delegation visited and worked with LX International Corporation. The delegation was received by Mr. Park Tae Jun, Vice President of the corporation, along with department representatives. Here, Director General Vu Ba Phu lauded LX International’s experience and global network, expressing a desire to connect the corporation with specific investment opportunities in Vietnam and Hung Yen.
Representing Hung Yen Province, Mr. Le Quang Hoa highlighted the province’s advantageous position connecting Hanoi, major industrial hubs, seaports, and economic corridors, as well as the expansion space of the Hung Yen Economic Zone (305.83 km²). The province proposed that LX International explore cooperation in industrial park infrastructure, integrated industrial-urban-service complexes, logistics and warehousing centers, green energy and sustainable development, digital infrastructure, and emerging industries, while linking the corporation’s global partner network with the province. LX International shared its investment strategy and cooperation needs in Vietnam. Both sides agreed to maintain technical-level exchanges to clarify investment criteria and study the organization of on-site survey trips.
On the afternoon of July 15, the Vietnam – South Korea Investment and Trade Cooperation Conference was solemnly held at the headquarters of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). The event was co-organized by Vietrade and KOTRA, accompanied by consultancy firm AVA Global, drawing over 100 South Korean enterprises alongside representatives from 10 industrial zones and Vietnamese businesses.
The conference was attended by Mr. Vu Ho, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to South Korea; Mr. Kang Kyung-sung, President and CEO of KOTRA; Mr. Kim Tae Hyung, Head of INVEST KOREA (KOTRA); Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director General of Vietrade; Mr. Le Quang Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Hung Yen Provincial People’s Committee; and Ms. Tran Thi Tuyet Huong, Vice Chairwoman of the Hung Yen Provincial People’s Council.
Speaking at the event, KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung emphasized the goal of raising bilateral trade turnover to USD 150 billion by 2030, expanding cooperation in infrastructure, nuclear energy, science and technology, climate change response, and human resource training. He noted that KOTRA is actively supporting Korean enterprises through its Korea Desk and Support Centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Ambassador Vu Ho affirmed that relations between the two countries are experiencing favorable momentum, and the Embassy will work closely with KOTRA to turn opportunities into concrete projects. Director General Vu Ba Phu affirmed that Vietrade stands ready to connect and provide information to build sustainable supply chains.
During the conference, delegates heard four in-depth presentations. Mr. Nguyen Ba Hai (Deputy Director of Procen – Vietrade) presented an overview of Vietnam’s investment environment, featuring a market of over 100 million people, an extensive FTA network, and a orientation toward attracting high-quality FDI. Representative from KOTRA’s M&A Investment Department, Mr. Kim Tae Hyung, Head of INVEST KOREA introduced overseas investment support programs and the M&A Catalog in Vietnam, revealing that its M&A program has successfully facilitated 95 small and medium-scale deals since 2013, accompanied by advisory packages covering legal, accounting, and customs matters, as well as up to 50% coverage of due diligence costs. Mr. Le Quang Hoa represented Hung Yen Province to outline its potential and incentive policies for attracting investment into industrial park infrastructure, economic zones, logistics, semiconductors, electronics, and smart cities. Subsequently, Ms. Nguyen Xuyen, Director of AVA Global, presented an overview of the delegation’s 10 industrial parks, giving South Korean investors a comprehensive and diverse perspective on the infrastructure and potential of these investment destinations.
Immediately following the presentations, direct B2B matching sessions took place between representatives of Hung Yen Province, the 10 industrial parks, Vietnamese enterprises, and South Korean investors. Notably, during this session, Bao Hung International Joint Stock Company finalized an agreement and recorded an export order for a 40HQ container of Bao Hung-branded sponge cakes valued at over VND 400 million.
The two-day trade and investment promotion series (July 14–15, 2026) in South Korea concluded successfully, effectively combining direct working sessions with multinational conglomerates and broad-based business networking, laying the groundwork for substantive and effective future cooperation between the two nations.
B2B business matching activities between enterprises of the two countries.
Compiled from the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency Website (Vietrade)
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