HCM CITY — A seminar held on September 30 aimed to discover the trade potential between Việt Nam and Australia and seek solutions to enhance market access and expansion in HCM City.

The event is co-organised by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of HCM City (ITPC), the Australian Consulate-General in HCM City, the Việt Nam Trade Office in Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Việt Nam (AusCham).

Lê Anh Hoàng, deputy director of ITPC, said the bilateral relationship between Việt Nam and Australia had been continuously strengthened and developed across many fields in recent years.

In particular, the two nations upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024, while HCM City has signed MoUs with Australian states and territories which are Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory.

Therefore, it has laid an important foundation for boosting ties in politics, the economy, investment, education, science and technology, innovation and sustainable development.

In the trade sector, the deputy director highlighted that in the first seven months of this year, total Việt Nam–Australia import-export turnover reached US$9.79 billion, up 20 per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, in HCM City, economic and trade relations with Australia are also recording positive results, he added.

According to the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, total HCM City-Australia import-export turnover reached $1.56 billion in nearly nine months of 2026, of which exports to Australia reached $985 million, up 16.3 per cent in the same period.

He noted that Australia offers great potential with its high purchasing power and diverse demand for Việt Nam's key exports, from industrial goods, machinery, textiles and footwear to agricultural products and processed foods, he added.

The city is also seeking co-operation with Australia in many fields such as technology, logistics, education, clean energy, green development and high value-added industries.

However, Australia has strict technical barriers, especially regarding food safety, biosecurity quarantine, traceability and sustainability.

Therefore, to successfully enter this market, businesses should proactively understand local laws, consumer trends and distribution systems, he said.

Kate Wallace, the Australian consul-general in HCM City, said this seminar comes at an important moment, following General Secretary and President Tô Lâm's visit to Australia in August 2026, which reaffirmed the two nations' commitment to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and deepening co-operation in trade, investment, innovation and economic resilience.

The two countries have established a strong foundation for economic co-operation through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and the Australia-Việt Nam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy.

The consulate said these frameworks identify Việt Nam as one of Australia's most important economic partners in the region and highlight opportunities across agriculture, education, energy, advanced manufacturing, professional services, technology and innovation.

“Our governments are also building cooperation in new and strategic areas. The Australia-Vietnam Digital Economy partnership is creating opportunities in digital trade, e-commerce, fintech, and digital transformation. Meanwhile, the Joint Statement on Economic Resilience Cooperation reflects our shared commitment to building resilient supply chains, supporting energy transition, and strengthening cooperation in critical minerals, emerging technologies, and sustainable growth,” she mentioned.

These initiatives are reinforced by a strong network of trade agreements, including the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which provide businesses with greater certainty, lower barriers and improved market access.

Furthermore, Australia and Việt Nam are highly complementary economies.

Wallace also emphasised that "Australia can support Việt Nam's growing demand for quality food, education, healthcare, technology and professional expertise. At the same time, Việt Nam's strengths in manufacturing, processing and innovation position it as an increasingly important partner in Australian and regional supply chains."

Nguyễn Mạnh Hiệp, trade consul at the Việt Nam Trade Office in Australia, said Australia is a very promising market for Vietnamese businesses and that Vietnamese goods are becoming popular in the Australian market, from garments, footwear and electronics to agricultural products.

To effectively export to the Australian market, he advised businesses to leverage FTAs by proactively restructuring their supply chains and mastering the specific rules of origin for each item. They should also keep transparent records of all input materials and production processes to meet strict verification and post-clearance audits by the Australian Border Force (ABF), even after goods have cleared customs. — VNS