From 19 to 22 October 2026, EuroCham Vietnam’s annual mission to Brussels brought European businesses’ experience and priorities directly to EU policymakers. This annual EuroCham trip is our golden opportunity to discuss practical ways to strengthen EVFTA implementation, improve investment conditions, and advance cooperation in trade, technology, and the green transition.
Led by EuroCham Vietnam Chairman Bruno Jaspaert and accompanied by EU Ambassador to Vietnam H.E. Julien Guerrier, the full EuroCham’s delegation includes:
• H.E. Julien Guerrier, EU Ambassador to Vietnam
• Bruno Jaspaert, EuroCham Chairman; CEO of DEEP C
• Jean-Jacques Bouflet, EuroCham Vice-Chair in charge of Advocacy
• Rita Mokbel, EuroCham Vice-Chair; President & CEO of Ericsson Vietnam & Myanmar
• Minh Nguyen, EuroCham Vice-Chair in charge of External Relations; Partner & Head of Advisory at Forvis Mazars
• Alexander Ziehe, Chairman of German Business Association in Vietnam, Vice President Southeast Asia of Hettich Group
• Bruno Sivanandan-Roques de Borda, Co-Chair of EuroCham’s Digital Sector Committee; Founder of Cycle
• Paul-Antoine Croizé, Co-Chair of EuroCham’s Food, Agri & Aqua Business Sector Committee; Managing Director of M Delta
• Delphine Rousselet, EuroCham Executive Director
• Van Nguyen, EuroCham External Relations Manager
• Tram Hoang, EuroCham Senior Media & Communications Officer
• Duyen Dao, EuroCham Project Executive
Continue reading for key highlights from each day in our mission.
Day 1 – 18-19 Oct: Building Shared Opportunity
• Strengthening Diplomatic Cooperation: We began on Sunday, 18 October, with H.E. Nguyen Huong Tra, Vietnam’s new Ambassador to Belgium and Head of Mission to the EU. We congratulated her on her appointment and discussed closer collaboration, starting with this week’s business roundtable with H.E. President Tô Lâm.
• Unlocking Greater Value from the EVFTA: On Monday, we continued our dialogue with H.E. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, following our September 2025 roundtable in Hanoi. Beyond the trade balance, we explored how Europe’s technology and expertise can complement Vietnam’s manufacturing capabilities and growing market. Addressing duplicate certification, uneven implementation, intellectual property enforcement, and barriers to healthcare innovation would help the EVFTA create more value.
• Enabling Investment through Practical Cooperation: With Commissioner for International Partnerships H.E. Jozef Síkela Cabinet, headed by Lucie Šestáková, the conversation turned to what makes investment possible: predictable rules, clear procedures, and stronger implementation capacity, particularly in sustainable transport & mobility, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and critical raw materials. Cooperation on provincial training, digital administration, and regulatory expertise can help Vietnam’s reforms deliver results while enabling European businesses to contribute.
• Advancing Sustainable Agri-Food Trade and Healthcare Access: Our exchange with DG AGRI Head of Unit G3 in charge of Asia & Australia, Catherine Combette, and DG SANTE Acting Head of Unit A5 on Bilateral International Relations, Rui Ludovino, brought the discussion back to people. We discussed science-based food safety rules, faster approvals, traceability and antimicrobial resistance, alongside access to innovative medicines and medical technologies. Key concerns were raised about recent changes to the Food Safety Law, SPS requirements as technical trade barriers, and counter-effective Special Consumption Tax affecting legitimate businesses.
This shared ambition for growth continues at GEFE: Growth Economic Forum & Exhibition in March 2027, convening European expertise and Vietnamese businesses to advance these partnerships.
Day 2 – 20 Oct: Taking the Conversation Forward
• Advancing Practical Follow-Up on EVFTA Implementation: Following Monday’s dialogue with Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, we worked through the details with DG TRADE: market access, EVFTA preferential tariff utilisation, and secure, sustainable investment. Both sides agreed to follow up with practical evidence and business priorities to support continued work on EVFTA implementation.
• Expanding Opportunities for Agri-Food Trade: Building on our DG AGRI exchange, we met members of Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen’s Cabinet. Food safety, resilient agriculture, and public health are closely connected. We discussed opportunities for agri-food exports on both sides and support for producers tackling antimicrobial resistance. We also raised taxation and illicit trade concerns affecting wines and spirits.
• Strengthening Investment Conditions through Strategic Dialogue: Vice-Chairman Jean-Jacques Bouflet then led our meeting with Erik Kurzweil, European External Action Service (EEAS) Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific. We discussed Vietnam’s promising business outlook alongside the bottlenecks still holding companies back. Investment reforms, stronger investor protection, and evolving digital regulation & rules of origin were central to the exchange.
• Connecting European and Vietnamese Business Priorities: In parallel, Chairman Bruno Jaspaert led our conversation with members of European Council President António Costa’s Cabinet. With the Vietnamese President’s Brussels visit fast approaching, we discussed priorities for deeper economic cooperation and strategic projects that could bring European and Vietnamese businesses closer together.
These conversations come at a time of strong business confidence. Now entering its 16th year, our BCI records a score close to 80, among the higher levels in its history, despite global uncertainty and persistent administrative hurdles. The coming meetings and this week’s high-level business roundtable offer further opportunities to address those hurdles and advance investment discussions. Looking ahead, GEFE27 will bring European expertise and investment together with Vietnam’s bussiness and development needs.
Day 3 – 21 Oct: Advancing Competitiveness and the Green Transition
• Partnering with BusinessEurope: EuroCham discussed with BusinessEurope an inclusive EU–Vietnam dialogue that reflects industry’s needs. Priorities included investment in advanced and green sectors, trade scrutiny, competitiveness pressures, and differing digital regulations.
• Addressing Environmental Compliance and Circular Economy Challenges: With Commissioner Jessika Roswall’s Cabinet, we reaffirmed the value of continued senior-level engagement. We raised import-export licensing, knowledge-transfer requirements, and challenges in recycling capacity. EUDR implementation, particularly coffee, and energy-price volatility, were concrete areas for follow-up.
• Translating Climate Ambitions into Industrial Action: With DG CLIMA, we discussed how shared climate ambitions can translate into credible action. Updated climate commitments, transparent carbon-market rules, and alignment with EU mechanisms were central. Cooperation in green steel, cement, aluminum, and heat pumps could help industries cut emissions while strengthening competitiveness and supply chains.
• Enabling Investment in the Energy Transition: With DG ENER, we focus on delivering the energy transition. Grid constraints, regulatory uncertainty, and gaps in battery storage safety standards continue to hold back investment. Funding coordination, European technical expertise, and workforce development can help advance reliable clean power and energy security.
Day 4 – 22 Oct: Growing with Vietnam also means contributing to the communities around us
On the 22nd of October, EuroCham delegation led by Chairman Bruno Jaspaert attended the High-Level Business Roundtable that brought together Vietnam General Secretary and President H.E. Tô Lâm, European Commission Executive Vice-President H.E. Roxana Mînzatu, First Vice-President of the Belgian Senate H.E. Andries Gryffroy and leaders of major European and Belgian businesses.
Organised by Vietnam Ministry of Finance and the Embassy of Vietnam in Belgium, this exceptional roundtable showcased how European expertise, investment, and technology can support Vietnam’s development priorities and create opportunities for both sides. EuroCham members DEEP C Industrial Zones Vietnam, Ericsson, HEINEKEN Vietnam, Hettich Vietnam, John Cockerill, Leonardo and Siemens brought practical business perspectives to a shared growth agenda.
The occasion marked also the launch of Give Back to Vietnam, EuroCham’s new initiative under its IMPACT 2030 strategy, connecting European business resources, expertise and networks with Vietnamese community needs and aspirations. Its first partnership took shape through the exchange of a memorandum of understanding with the Aquitara Philanthropic Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation. Together, we will support An Vui Mart, an initiative that helps families affected by Agent Orange establish neighbourhood shops right at their homes. Shop ownership, practical assistance, and business coaching will enable families to build livelihoods while continuing to care for loved ones at the same time.
For European businesses that have made Vietnam their home, long-term commitment extends beyond investment. Give Back to Vietnam opens another avenue to contribute, and we invite businesses and partners to join us.
The event also concluded EuroCham’s Annual Mission to Brussels. Across discussions spanning trade, energy, healthcare, agriculture, climate, and digital development, EuroCham encountered keen interest in Vietnam’s potential as a regional economic frontrunner. The mission connected that strategic attention with EuroCham members’ experience, bringing both investment opportunities and the conditions needed to realise them.
Please read the full press release for further details on the event HERE.
We thank our counterparts for making space for the constructive exchanges as we work towards a stronger EU–Vietnam partnership. And, we extend our sincere appreciation to Air France for supporting its 2026 Brussels Mission.
