Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung holds talks with U.S. businesses
Within the framework of his working visit to the U.S., Le Manh Hung, Minister of Industry and Trade, held meetings and working sessions with U.S. associations, conglomerates, and the business community to discuss orientations for promoting investment and business, as well as strengthening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Holding talks with the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America
During a working session with leaders of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) on July 14, 2026, Minister Hung affirmed that Vietnam is an important link in the global footwear supply chain of the U.S., while emphasizing that maintaining a stable, fair, and predictable trading environment is a shared interest of businesses and consumers of both nations. The Minister requested that the FDRA continue to promote its role representing the business community, enhancing exchanges with the U.S. Government and relevant agencies to support appropriate trade policies, thereby contributing to consolidating a stable, long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation framework between Vietnam and the U.S.
Matt Priest, President and CEO of the FDRA, affirmed that Vietnam is a strategic partner and a vital source of footwear supply for the U.S. market. According to Matt Priest, the production capacity, product quality, and reliability of Vietnamese enterprises have contributed to creating an efficient supply chain for many U.S. brands and retailers. The association emphasized that maintaining a stable supply chain with Vietnam not only benefits businesses but also helps guarantee the interests of U.S. consumers.
The FDRA leadership stated that the association has been actively engaging with the USTR, the White House, and the U.S. Congress to reflect the perspectives of the business community, while affirming that it will continue to accompany and support Vietnam in policy dialogues with U.S. agencies, contributing to maintaining a stable trade environment, enhancing supply chain resilience, and promoting sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
The working session further affirmed the consensus between Vietnam and the U.S. footwear business community in protecting the supply chain built over many years, while leveraging the role of business associations in promoting Vietnam-US economic and trade relations toward stability, balance, and mutual benefit.
Holding talks with leaders of ExxonMobil
Also on July 14, 2026, the MoIT leader worked with leaders of ExxonMobil to discuss orientations for strengthening energy cooperation and promoting the corporation's investment and business activities in Vietnam.
At the meeting, the Minister highly appreciated ExxonMobil's contributions to Vietnam's energy sector and the Vietnam - U.S. energy cooperation. The Minister affirmed that Vietnam regards ensuring energy security as a strategic priority, while expressing hope that ExxonMobil would continue its long-term partnership with Vietnam across the entire energy value chain. The Minister suggested that the corporation accelerate the implementation of existing cooperative projects, actively study new investment opportunities, and expand cooperation with Petrovietnam and Vietnamese enterprises in oil and gas, LNG, petrochemicals, and energy infrastructure. The Ministry of Industry and Trade committed to coordinating closely with ministries, sectors, and localities to create favorable conditions for ExxonMobil's investment and business activities in Vietnam.
ExxonMobil leaders highly valued Vietnam's reforms in improving the investment and business environment, affirming that Vietnam remains an important market in the corporation's development strategy. ExxonMobil updated the progress of its projects in Vietnam and stated that it is reviewing its investment portfolio based on global energy and petrochemical market developments. The corporation affirmed that re-evaluating projects is a routine investment management activity that does not alter its long-term commitment to Vietnam, while expressing a desire to further expand cooperation in energy, trade, and investment.
Both sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges to accelerate joint projects, study new investment opportunities, and expand energy cooperation, thereby contributing to strengthening economic, trade, and investment relations between Vietnam and the U.S.
Holding talks with leaders of GE Vernova
Within the framework of these activities, Minister Hung also held a working session with leaders of GE Vernova to promote cooperation in energy, high-tech industries, and supply chains, while exchanging orientations for expanding the corporation's investment and business operations in Vietnam.
Appreciating GE Vernova's contributions to Vietnam's energy sector, Minister Le Manh Hung emphasized that GE's technology and equipment are present in many key power projects, including the Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 LNG power plants, contributing to ensuring energy security and effectively implementing Power Development Plan VIII. The Minister requested GE to continue expanding its investment in Vietnam, prioritizing equipment supply for gas-fired power projects, stepping up technology transfer, human resource development, and supply chains, while participating deeper in large-scale energy and industrial infrastructure projects. Against the backdrop of the positive development of Vietnam-US economic and trade relations, the Minister also urged GE to leverage its role and voice with U.S. agencies and partners, contributing to consolidating a stable and favorable cooperative environment for businesses from both sides.
Leaders of GE Vernova affirmed that Vietnam is one of the corporation's few top priority markets globally, while assessing Vietnam as a key strategic partner of GE in Asia. GE stated it would continue to expand its presence in Vietnam by providing modern gas turbine technology and power transmission equipment, promoting technology transfer, training human resources, and developing the energy industrial ecosystem. The corporation also expressed a desire to enhance cooperation in digital transformation, supply chains, and strategic minerals, while committing to coordinating closely with Vietnamese competent authorities to resolve difficulties, accelerate project progress, and continue sharing the substantive cooperation results between GE and Vietnam with relevant U.S. authorities, contributing to promoting stable and sustainable development of bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties.
Holding talks with the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC)
In addition, on July 16, 2026, Minister Le Manh Hung, along with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the U.S. and leaders of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs, worked with leaders of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) to discuss orientations for boosting economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries.
At the meeting, Minister Le Manh Hung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government continues to improve the investment and business environment, promote the development of the digital economy, energy transition, and innovation, and build a stable, transparent, and predictable economic and trade cooperation framework with the US. The Minister requested that the USCC continue to fulfill its role as a bridge between the business community and the US Government, supporting the early conclusion of negotiations on the Vietnam - U.S. Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade Agreement, thereby contributing to a favorable business environment for enterprises of both nations.
The two sides discussed cooperative orientations in artificial intelligence, the digital economy, digital trade, intellectual property, energy, healthcare, and cybersecurity, while agreeing to continue strengthening policy dialogues, promoting investment, innovation, and developing sustainable supply chains.
USCC leaders highly valued Vietnam's reform efforts and investment environment improvements, affirming that they will continue to accompany and promote cooperation between the U.S. business community and Vietnam, contributing to deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and economic - trade relations between the two countries.
Attending a seminar with the US - ASEAN Business Council (USABC)
On the afternoon of July 16, 2026, Minister Le Manh Hung, alongside the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the U.S. and leaders of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Home Affairs, Science and Technology, and Agriculture and Environment, attended a seminar with the business community members of the U.S. - ASEAN Business Council (USABC). The seminar attracted participation from numerous leading US corporations such as Apple, Meta, Coca-Cola, Boeing, Qualcomm, Visa, Dow, Procter & Gamble, Target, Excelerate Energy, and Philip Morris International, along with many Vietnamese enterprises.
At the seminar, Minister Le Manh Hung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government continues to improve the investment and business environment, promote the development of high-tech sectors, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, energy, and supply chains, while striving to early conclude negotiations on the Vietnam - U.S. Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade Agreement, aiming to build a stable, transparent, and predictable economic and trade cooperation framework. The Minister requested that the U.S. business community continue to expand investment, accompany Vietnam, and voice support for this process.
U.S. enterprises highly appreciated Vietnam's reforms, acknowledging the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in resolving difficulties for businesses, while exchanging proposals to promote cooperation in technology, energy, aviation, e-commerce, logistics, and supply chain development.
On the sidelines of the seminar, Minister Le Manh Hung received leaders from Meta, Apple, and Coca-Cola. The Minister requested that these companies continue to expand investment, enhance technology transfer, develop supply chains in Vietnam, and coordinate closely with functional authorities to address difficulties and obstacles during their operations. On the corporate side, the leaders of these conglomerates affirmed their long-term investment commitments to Vietnam, highly valued the efforts to improve the investment and business environment, and expressed their desire to continue partnering with Vietnam in innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable development. For Coca-Cola, the Minister acknowledged the enterprise's long-term investment commitment and hoped the corporation would continue to expand investment, increase the localization rate, and develop the domestic supply chain.
The series of activities with the U.S. business community further affirmed the role of enterprises as vital bridges in Vietnam - U.S. economic relations, contributing to building a consensus to accelerate the early conclusion of negotiations on the Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade Agreement, towards a stable, long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation framework between the two nations.
