Dear EuroCham Members,
We are well into spring and the first quarter of 2026 has already slipped through our fingers. The saying goes that time flies when you are having fun, but it may fly even faster when you are busy navigating a world that seems to shift on its axis every other day.
For the EU and Vietnam, the start of the year has been nothing short of dynamic. We elevated our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during European Council President Costa’s visit and welcomed Commissioner Síkela with a vibrant and crowded Global Gateway Business & Investment Forum. EuroCham also launched its 280-page Whitebook packed with insights from our 20 Sector Committees, alongside two very-data-intensive Business Confidence Index (BCI) reports.
As Vietnam entered a new phase just this month with the announcement of its Politburo for the new National Assembly term and its reshuffled top leadership, we have no doubts but all the warm congratulations and high expectations for the next chapter of growth. At the same time, EuroCham has been navigating its own season of renewal. Following our recent AGM, it is my honour to serve as your Chairman for one more year.
There is no hiding: we can all read the news on the geopolitical shapeshifting that is taking place. The world evolves and so must we. With trade policies re-inventing themselves every other month and supply chains suffering a thousand little (and big) cuts, the global business climate is more difficult to predict than ever before. Managing risk has become the main trade-off for many companies against future investments and projects. We hope that over the next year, EuroCham will prove its worth to all of you by offering insights and support, allowing our members to de-risk where possible.
In these ever more turbulent waters, EuroCham is here to be your steady ship.
Over the past year, together with our Board of Directors and affiliated Business Associations, we have worked to define more clearly what EuroCham must deliver in the years ahead.
The result is our Impact 2030 strategy. It is a strategic document that aims to clarify our vision: who we want to be and what our scope is. Our mission is simple: EuroCham is here to serve you, our members. And to create value for you and your business. For this, we must ensure (y)our voice is heard and that we are a constructive and outspoken partner to the Vietnamese government.
Any strategy is worth nothing if it does not have a solid foundation on which it is built. For Impact 2030, we have laid out 5 strategic pillars to make our vision happen:
- Membership value: We aim to increase the value members can derive from the many initiatives EuroCham offers and to ensure that the growth and success of your business remain at the absolute centre of our operations.
- One Team Europe: Europe is a beautifully diverse continent. If we want our voice to be heard and to truly make a difference in this country, we must look past our national differences. It is when we unite, even if this requires compromise, that we create lasting impact.
- Impactful advocacy: It is beyond doubt that we should stay true to our core mission since the establishment of EuroCham: to strengthen public-private dialogue and shape a better business landscape for all, both SMEs and MNCs.
- Fit for purpose: After simplifying the statutes last year, we want to review this year how we can make our Sector Committees as agile and impactful as possible. We will continue focusing on digital and data-driven insights from our BCI surveys to enable fact-based actions.
- Giving back to Vietnam: We are all running businesses in this vibrant country that we call our second home. We believe we should also be willing to give something back. Classes for the disadvantaged, knowledge sharing, environmental care programs or relief actions: all of these initiatives should converge in a common message that we care for the country we are working in. Over the next year, we will deploy new initiatives, and we hope that many of you will join us.
As stated before: there is no ignoring the global context. It is a given that the world is changing. Trade tensions, geopolitical instability, energy price volatility and supply chain disruption are weighing on business sentiment across all markets.
Still, the latest data also tells us something important: Vietnam keeps standing out.
In our latest Q1 2026 BCI released last week, the index moderated to 72.7. This is clearly less than last quarter, but it remains well above the last five years’ average. Even more telling, 93% of you stated you would recommend Vietnam as an investment destination. That is the highest endorsement rate we have ever seen. That stands for a powerful signal. Despite the turbulent landscape surrounding us, Vietnam retains its attraction for future investments. And the signal cannot be misunderstood: despite the global insecurity, you believe that the long-term horizon here is bright.
Many people asked me what this belief is based on. Personally, I believe that those who are here already understand that Vietnam’s resilience is its true superpower. Vietnam has repeatedly shown an ability to absorb shocks like no other. Its breathtaking agility allows the country to adapt to changes seamlessly, often before we even register the shift.
The numbers do not lie. Even with the crunch of new tariffs and fluctuating oil prices, the FDI influx and GDP growth of Q1 of this year outperformed Q1 of last year. No doubt we should brace for a bigger crunch as global conflicts prolong. You may call me an optimist, but I believe Vietnam’s much touted 10% growth ambition is a target waiting to be realised soon. That growth has to be seen against the actual geopolitical backdrop, which will surely impact its final outcome to a great extent (positively or negatively). But the odds are that Vietnam is positioning itself for a multi-year cycle of economic momentum.
A key driver behind the growth curve is the newfound political stability and continuing leadership of Party Chief and President Tô Lâm. Among the many initiatives he has launched, the message that rings loudest is his declaration that “the era of rising has arrived,” and that businesses will be the ones pushing us into this near future.
We come here to grow our companies, but we cannot deplete resources, especially human resources, faster than we can scale. For European companies, looking after their people is woven into their DNA. For Vietnam to truly rise, it must do the same. Nurturing the next generation is the definitive key to the future. This country has not the vast human spare capacity like China, Indonesia, or India. So, it needs to build an educational system that rivals its neighbours in quality instead of quantity.
We must all strive for substantive, sustainable growth.
New Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng reinforced this by laying out five strategic priorities for the 2026-2031 term: (i) a people-serving government, (ii) high & sustainable growth, (iii) future-proofing through education & training, (iv) systemic efficiency, and (v) responsible governance.
I am thrilled to say that all five of these priorities are deeply intertwined with our Impact 2030 plan. We have translated this outlook into 8 Strategic Projects for 2026, designed to amplify the growth of European businesses and Vietnam as a whole:
- Must-Win Battles & Whitebook Dialogue Week: Bridging business realities with policy ambitions, just as we have always done, but now more direct and intensely impact-driven. We aim to turn our 39 Must-Win Battles into policy reforms that translate into tangible economic outcomes, and look forward to bringing this vision to life during our full Whitebook Dialogue Week from 18 to 22 of May, in which we plan to visit all of the newly populated ministries.
- A Revamped GEFE Signature Event: Our Green Economy Forum & Exhibition is expanding to become GROWTH Economy Forum & Exhibition, to include not only green but also innovative and high-tech driven growth industries.
- SMEs Helpdesk: A dedicated lifeline to help our SME members navigate the nuanced local operating landscape by sharing experiences and first-line advice, whether you are settling in or trying to expand your footprint here.
- Giving Back to Vietnam: Meaningful initiatives are to be launched to show our appreciation for the generous support Vietnam has given us.
- Sector Committees’ Optimisation: Sharpening and elevating our advocacy by abandoning silos. We do not want to become an island but aim to join forces and will work hard to ensure that our voices are heard.
- Refreshed Business Awards: Celebrating your remarkable achievements with a brand-new event concept in Q4 2026 that replaces the Gala and aims to celebrate European food and drinks.
- Knowledge Sharing: 24 free webinars mapped out for 2026 to keep you updated on regulatory and business shifts. The next one is on 23 April: join us as we unpack our new BCI to help drive your strategies.
- Business Confidence Index – BCI: We plan to continue to expand our platform and turn it into your go-to place for more granular insights into what is driving this country forward.
Let’s catch up at our new webinar this Thursday 23 April
It is my personal pleasure to invite you to join us on EuroCham’s exciting journey ahead. If you face any operational hurdles, or if you spot an opportunity that requires a bit of pivoting from a larger platform, please reach out to us. Our EuroCham team is standing by to support your growth in every possible way.
To you, our valued members, whether you are part of our community directly, or through an affiliated national Business Association, or actively engaging with our Sector Committees, or as a Corporate Partner, I would like to thank you. We truly appreciate your presence and your continued trust.
I am excited to step into a new EuroCham year alongside my fellow Board members, and I promise that the EuroCham team and its Board will work hard to bring you even more value in the times to come.
Hope to catch up with you soon at one of the many events ahead of us.
Best regards,
Bruno Jaspaert
Chairman, EuroCham Vietnam
