Buenos Aires, September 30 — The Argentine Chamber of Commerce for Asia and the Pacific (Cámara de Asia) hosted a seminar on Thursday to connect enterprises, discuss business opportunities, and provide information on Asian markets, particularly those of Japan, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia. According to Cámara de Asia Executive Director Martín Lo Coco, Asia’s market size, economic growth, and diverse import demand make it an attractive region for Argentine businesses. As Argentina seeks to diversify its export markets, stronger access to Asia-Pacific markets is considered vital.
Vietnam Trade Counsellor in Argentina Ngô Mạnh Khôi highlighted key features of Vietnam’s economy and cooperation opportunities for Argentine businesses. In 2025, Vietnam’s GDP grew 8.02%, reaching $514 billion, with total merchandise trade reaching $930.05 billion, exports exceeding $475 billion, and imports at around $455 billion.
Vietnam’s economic and political stability, proactive international integration, and participation in multiple free trade agreements provide a foundation for the country to serve as a market of nearly 100 million people and a gateway to wider markets across the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam aims to maintain average annual GDP growth of at least 10% during 2026–2030, with goals of becoming a “developing country with upper-middle income” by 2030 and a “developed, high-income country” by 2050.
The country also seeks to accelerate industrialisation, innovation, digital transformation, and international integration, opening up opportunities for foreign partners and businesses. Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Argentina were established on October 25, 1973, and elevated to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2010.
The two economies are highly complementary, with Argentina strong in agricultural products, raw materials, and food, while Vietnam has strengths in processed industrial goods, electronics, machinery, footwear, and textiles. Bilateral trade has remained high, reaching approximately $4.27 billion in 2025, with Vietnamese exports to Argentina surging 68.7% in the same year. Negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Vietnam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) are underway, with the first round of negotiations taking place in Buenos Aires in late August.
Argentina also applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in June. As CPTPP Chair this year and one of ASEAN’s dynamic economies, Vietnam supports Argentina’s accession to the agreement. Argentine business representatives shared practical experience in trade and investment activities in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Indonesia during the seminar.
Vietnam emerged as a market with significant potential thanks to its strong growth, extensive free trade agreement network, and increasingly important role in regional supply chains.
