AMSTERDAM — Dutch business leaders have expressed strong optimism regarding Việt Nam’s economic prospects, pointing to ongoing institutional reforms, high-tech innovation agendas, and plans for international financial centers as major catalysts for future investment.

The optimism was voiced during a business roundtable in Amsterdam chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng during his official working visit to the Netherlands. The high-level gathering brought together top officials from financial institutions, trade associations, and major Dutch corporations across key sectors including semiconductors, high technology, logistics, maritime services, renewable energy, and water management.

Deepening Economic and Trade Alliances

Addressing the delegates, Deputy PM Thắng highlighted the substantive growth in bilateral ties since the establishment of the Việt Nam–Netherlands Comprehensive Partnership in 2019. The Netherlands currently stands as Việt Nam’s largest trading partner within the European Union (EU) and serves as a vital gateway for Vietnamese exports into Europe.

Bilateral trade reached over US$6.74 billion during the first five months of 2026, marking a 21.9 percent increase year-on-year. As of late May 2026, Dutch investors held 476 active projects in Việt Nam with total registered capital exceeding $15 billion, consolidating the nation's position as the top EU investor in Việt Nam. Global powerhouses such as Heineken, Unilever, De Heus, and Philips continue to maintain a strong and successful presence in the country.

Strategic Cooperation in Emerging Sectors

Dutch enterprise leaders welcomed Việt Nam’s structural reforms, particularly its ambition to establish International Financial Centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Đà Nẵng. Delegates noted substantial potential for deeper collaboration in financial services, artificial intelligence, port infrastructure, shipbuilding, and green energy transition.

While pledging to expand capital commitments and explore new projects, business representatives emphasized the need for Việt Nam to maintain a stable, transparent, and predictable regulatory framework to support long-term investments.