A US delegation of about 46 business, government, port, industry, and education leaders are paying a five-day trade mission to Vietnam from April 8-12.
According to the US Embassy in Vietnam, the delegates will spend two-and-a-half days each in Hanoi in Ho Chi Minh City. Trade mission activities include bilateral meetings with Vietnamese leaders, visits to various manufacturing facilities and innovation centres, meetings with cultural and higher education leaders, as well as business networking and product promotion events. Much of the itinerary is focused on strengthening trade and collaboration opportunities in advanced technology sectors such as agriculture, clean energy, and artificial intelligence.
The delegation includes Commerce Director Michael Fong, Agriculture Director Derek Sandison, Office of Financial Management Director David Schumacher, state senators Joe Nguyễn and June Robinson, and state representatives My-Linh Thai and Steve Tharinger.
The Commerce delegation is focused on strengthening collaboration between Washington and Vietnam on advanced technology, renewable energy and clean technology, forestry, maritime, and a strong STEM workforce. The Agriculture delegation is focused on expanding business connections, promoting Washington food agricultural products, and learning more about opportunities in the Vietnamese market. Delegates represent products including wheat and wheat flour, apples, wine, cherries, and hay.
Washington’s study and trade mission follows President Biden’s visit in September 2023 to announce the elevation of the United State’s relationship to Vietnam under the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Vietnam is among the fastest-growing economies in Asia with several advanced manufacturing sectors setting up shop in the country. Washington companies with a presence in Vietnam include Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Brooks and SSA Marine.
In 2023, Vietnam was Washington state’s 5th largest export market when including agriculture such as apples, wheat, and dairy. The United States and nine international partners launched the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with Vietnam in 2022 that provides investment and technical expertise to help Vietnam transition its energy sector and reach net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050. More than 90,000 Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American people live in Washington today.
