The EU is one of Vietnam’s most important partners - two-way trade turnover surged from 2010’s US$17.75 billion to US$24.29 billion in 2011.
In the first seven months of 2012, it reached US$15.47 billion, up 20.39% over the previous year.
Vietnamese exports to the EU soared by 33.5% in 2011. Foreign direct investment from EU member nations contributed more than 12% of Vietnam’s FDI total for the same year.
The EU’s official development assistance commitments to Vietnam hit a record US$1 billion in 2012. EU investors are present in all important Vietnamese economic sectors, with 562 projects capitalized at US$7.6 billion.
These projects boast high rates of technology and management method transfer, greatly contributing to Vietnam’s economic growth.