Somoy journal correspondent:
The 1st Vietnam–Bangladesh Business Forum and B2B Trade Connecting Event 2026 was successfully held at the InterContinental Dhaka, organized by the Foreign Market Development Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam in coordination with the Embassy of Vietnam in Bangladesh and the Vietnam Business Society in Bangladesh (VBS).
After more than a year of interruption due to political developments, the forum marked a strong return, attracting around 200 Bangladeshi enterprises alongside 25 Vietnamese companies representing key sectors including software production, pre-engineered steel buildings, mechanical and electrical engineering, fertilizer manufacturing, agricultural and forestry processing, tourism, and import-export trade.
Notably, Vietnamese industrial machinery and electric motor manufacturers under the “Made in Vietnam” brand were showcased, along with new Vietnamese medical tourism services aimed at Bangladeshi clients.
Prior to the main forum on May 18, a market-sharing session was held between the organizing committee, Vietnamese enterprises already operating in Bangladesh, and the visiting delegation. The session provided practical insights on legal frameworks, tariffs, cultural factors, and technical barriers to facilitate smoother business engagement.
The forum’s theme, “Leveraging Potential & Trust for Mutual Success,” highlighted the growing complementarity between the two countries and reaffirmed confidence in strengthened cooperation following Bangladesh’s recent political transition and 2026 elections.
On the Bangladeshi side, senior representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated, alongside delegates from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Potato Exporters Association, and other professional bodies. A total of 215 Bangladeshi enterprises joined sector-matched discussions.
Speaking at the event, Nguyễn Mạnh Cường highlighted the achievements of Vietnam–Bangladesh relations over 53 years of diplomatic ties and emphasized expanding trade and investment cooperation.
Lê Thị Mai Anh stressed the strong compatibility of the two markets and called for deeper collaboration to enhance value creation and sustainable growth.
Đỗ Văn Trong reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting business connectivity and maintaining a continuous presence to facilitate bilateral trade development.
Several business agreements were signed during the B2B matchmaking sessions, including:
A distribution agreement for high-tech welding machines and Vietnamese mechanical equipment between Hong Ky Company and Padma Communications Ltd.
A medical tourism service contract for Bangladeshi clients traveling to Vietnam between ASIA DMC Vietnam and Rupsha Air Services Pvt. Ltd.
An agreement to establish the “Vietnam–Bangladesh House” between Bangladesh–Vietnam Development Support Company and Tele Tell Communications, located at Uday Tower, Gulshan-1, Dhaka. The initiative, supported by both embassies, aims to promote cultural exchange, language training, and product cooperation between the two countries.
The forum also announced future initiatives, including the development of a shared trade demand database, quarterly B2B matching sessions, agricultural cooperation based on Vietnam’s farming models in Bangladesh, and vocational training programs for Bangladeshi workers preparing for employment in Vietnam.
The event concluded with positive outcomes, reinforcing long-term economic cooperation and opening new opportunities for mutually beneficial growth between Vietnam and Bangladesh.
