Promoting Vietnam – Sri Lanka Business Cooperation

The meeting was attended by Mr. Poshitha Perera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam, and Mr. Phi Trong Duc, Acting Director of VCCI Northern Coastal Branch, along with more than 20 representative enterprises from the Vietnam Industrial Park Supply Chain Business Association.

On March 16, 2026, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vietnam held a working session and cooperation exchange with VCCI Northern Coastal Branch and enterprises in Hai Phong.

The working session went beyond diplomatic formalities, serving as an economic dialogue where both sides explored untapped potential and cooperation opportunities between the two business communities.

Speaking at the meeting, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka praised the strong transformation of Hai Phong, highlighting its role as a key logistics hub in northern Vietnam. He also expressed his interest in strengthening connections between local enterprises and Sri Lankan partners.

From a strategic perspective, he noted that although Vietnam and Sri Lanka have not yet established a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Sri Lanka’s efforts to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) would serve as an important gateway for deeper integration into ASEAN value chains, with Vietnam as a key link.

Regarding trade structure, the Ambassador emphasized the complementary nature of the two economies. Sri Lanka is particularly interested in importing Vietnam’s key products such as coffee, cashew nuts, textiles, and footwear. In return, Sri Lanka’s signature products, including Ceylon tea and high-end garments, are seeking to expand their presence in the Vietnamese market.

To further promote cooperation, the Ambassador invited Vietnamese enterprises to attend Sri Lanka Expo 2026 this June, a large-scale event focusing on key sectors such as gemstones, pharmaceuticals, high-tech agriculture, and logistics.

In response, Mr. Phi Trong Duc affirmed VCCI’s role in supporting enterprises to expand internationally. He noted that Hai Phong is not only a major gateway for trade but also home to some of the most modern industrial parks in Vietnam.

He emphasized that fostering practical connections between domestic and international businesses is a priority, and that cooperation with Sri Lanka could go beyond trade to include port management and global logistics supply chains. VCCI, he added, will act as a reliable focal point to connect reputable Vietnamese enterprises with partners in South Asia.

The meeting was attended by enterprises from the Vietnam Industrial Park Supply Chain Business Association (Team KCN) and other representative businesses in Hai Phong.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the active participation of enterprises from the industrial supply chain sector. Ms. Pham Thi Ha Thu, Northeast Regional Director of the association and CEO of Nam Ninh Petro, highlighted the growing capacity of Vietnamese supporting industries and the opportunity to diversify both input sources and export markets through cooperation with Sri Lanka.

From a sectoral perspective, Mr. Le Huong Duong, Director of Green and More JSC, expressed strong interest in Sri Lanka’s agricultural and herbal resources, noting the potential for joint development of health-related products for export markets.

In the services sector, Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh, Director of Minh Viet Trading and Service JSC, suggested developing spiritual and heritage tourism routes between the two countries, emphasizing the need for direct flights and more flexible visa policies to unlock this potential.

Additionally, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Ha, Chairwoman of the Hai Phong Women Entrepreneurs Association, underlined the readiness of women-led businesses to explore cooperation opportunities, particularly in textiles, handicrafts, and education.

Overall, both sides acknowledged significant room for expanding bilateral cooperation. With Vietnam maintaining stable economic growth and Sri Lanka showing strong recovery momentum, the goal of reaching USD 1 billion in bilateral trade is considered achievable through enhanced cooperation mechanisms and more direct business promotion activities.