National Assembly representative Truong Xuan Cu: Import and export continue to be a bright spot for the economy.

National Assembly representative Truong Xuan Cu - from the Hanoi delegation - noted this during an exchange with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper.

"Bright spots" in the economy

- In 2025, total import and export turnover will reach a historic milestone of over 930 billion USD, the highest ever. What are your thoughts on this achievement of the economy?

Representative Truong Xuan Cu: The results achieved in 2025 show that import and export continue to be a bright spot for the economy, placing Vietnam among the top 15 countries with the largest trade volume in the world. This is an impressive result in the context of a global economy still full of uncertainties, with international supply chains affected by trade conflicts and geopolitical fluctuations.

*National Assembly representative Truong Xuan Cu - Hanoi delegation. Photo: Quynh Nga*

Specifically, according to a report by the General Statistics Office (Ministry of Finance), in the first 11 months of 2025, merchandise exports reached US$430.14 billion, an increase of 16.1% compared to the same period last year, while imports reached US$409.6 billion (an increase of 18.4%). This difference helped Vietnam's trade balance establish a surplus of over US$20.53 billion after 11 months.

Also, in the first 11 months of 2025, 36 product categories achieved export turnover exceeding 1 billion USD, accounting for 94.1% of total export turnover (with 8 product categories exceeding 10 billion USD, accounting for 70.3%). Furthermore, the structure of export product groups is increasingly oriented towards the core of industrialization, increasing the proportion of processed goods exports and decreasing the proportion of raw and semi-processed goods.

For example, in the first 11 months, exports of processed industrial goods reached US$381.72 billion, accounting for 88.7%; agricultural and forestry products reached US$35.58 billion, accounting for 8.3%; aquatic products reached US$10.32 billion, accounting for 2.4%; and fuels and minerals reached US$2.52 billion, accounting for 0.6%.

The year 2025 is of particular importance, being the final year of the 2021-2025 five-year socio-economic development plan, a year of acceleration, breakthroughs, and reaching the finish line. Meanwhile, investment, exports, and consumption are the three main drivers of economic growth.

Therefore, these achievements not only affirm Vietnam's increasingly prominent position on the global economic map, but also reflect the persistent efforts of the business community and the flexible management of the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

This impressive growth demonstrates strong adaptability and the ability to effectively utilize free trade agreements, while also opening up expectations for a new, more sustainable and far-reaching phase of development for our country's international trade activities. This is a crucial foundation for Vietnam to continue its breakthroughs and affirm its role as a reliable and dynamic partner in the global supply chain.

- Exports play a crucial role in driving economic growth. In your opinion, where does the driving force behind Vietnam's export growth come from?

Representative Truong Xuan Cu : The driving force behind export growth comes from many factors, but several key pillars are clearly visible. First, the Government has been strongly involved with many comprehensive support solutions for the economy, including export activities, such as: proactively negotiating with partners on tariff issues, supporting businesses in market information and warnings, and resolving difficulties and obstacles in businesses' production and business projects.

In addition, focus on thoroughly reviewing, cutting, and simplifying regulations and administrative procedures related to investment, production, and business activities, ensuring a reduction of at least 30% in processing time and at least 30% in business costs (compliance costs); abolishing 30% of unnecessary business conditions; and continuing to extend and reduce taxes to alleviate difficulties for production and business activities, promote the development of the private economy, and mobilize resources for investment and development.

*The textile and garment industry makes a significant contribution to the country's export turnover. Photo: Quynh Nga*

As the leading agency in managing and overseeing import and export activities, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has promptly identified difficulties and risks from export markets to advise and propose solutions for developing export markets. Trade promotion and dissemination of information about free trade agreements to help businesses better understand and utilize them have also continued to be effectively implemented.

On the business side, there is increasing focus on investing heavily in technological innovation, deep processing, and packaging improvements, helping Vietnamese products to penetrate the global market more effectively.

Besides major export markets such as the United States, the EU, China, Japan, and ASEAN, we have focused on expanding exports to potential markets such as India, Russia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Expanding and diversifying markets is one of the key strategies helping Vietnam maintain export growth momentum amidst slowing global trade and increasingly stringent greening requirements.

Creating momentum for a breakthrough in trade.

- How would you assess the Ministry of Industry and Trade's leadership and management of import and export activities during the past term, especially in the context of a volatile global economy?

Representative Truong Xuan Cu: The role of the Ministry of Industry and Trade is clearly demonstrated in the picture of Vietnam's import and export growth, especially when the global economy is still subject to many unpredictable fluctuations. The result of placing Vietnam among the top 15 countries with the largest trade volume in the world not only reflects the capabilities of businesses, but also serves as proof of the Ministry's decisive, coordinated, and timely leadership over the past period.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has proactively grasped market trends, updated international supply and demand information, and flexibly implemented trade promotion solutions, removing technical barriers to help businesses maintain and expand market share. The Ministry has also strongly promoted negotiations and leveraging preferential treatment from free trade agreements, creating conditions for Vietnamese goods to penetrate more deeply into demanding but potentially lucrative markets.

*The development of logistics services needs to be accelerated to boost Vietnam's import and export of goods to international markets. Photo: Can Dung*

Furthermore, efforts to support businesses in green transformation, digital technology application, and enhancing their capacity to meet international standards have yielded significant results, helping Vietnamese goods increase in value and competitiveness. Even amidst numerous intertwined challenges, the Ministry of Industry and Trade remains committed to sustainable export orientation, ensuring a balance between supply and demand, stabilizing the domestic market, and maintaining a smooth flow of trade.

The Ministry's proactive approach, flexibility, and determination have not only contributed to maintaining growth but also strengthened the confidence of the business community, creating momentum for Vietnamese trade to continue its breakthrough in the coming years. These practical results are a well-deserved recognition of the persistent efforts, sense of responsibility, and strategic vision of the entire Ministry of Industry and Trade.

- Exports are making an increasingly important contribution to GDP (the export-to-GDP ratio increased from 72.7% in 2021 to an estimated 85% in 2025) with an average growth rate of over 10%. In the coming years, what recommendations do you have to promote sustainable export growth?

Representative Truong Xuan Cu: The global and regional situation will continue to be complex and unpredictable. Therefore, in order to achieve the planned export growth targets in the coming period, I believe we need to focus on the following solutions:

Firstly, balancing and diversifying across markets, customers, and product categories is crucial to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket when market conditions are difficult.

Although Vietnam has signed 17 FTAs, the proportion of Vietnamese goods in many major markets remains quite small. Therefore, the goal of trade promotion in the coming period, in addition to focusing on the US, EU, Canada, China, the Middle East, etc., needs to increase connections with emerging markets such as South Asia, the UAE, Africa, Mexico, etc. Furthermore, the model of local trade promotion centers will be standardized and interconnected to support businesses in more effectively exploiting FTAs.

Secondly, alongside market expansion strategies, focusing on improving product quality, increasing the proportion of exports of goods with deep processing and high technology, building brands, ensuring transparency of origin, and increasing the localization rate in the processing and manufacturing industries will help Vietnam consolidate its export foundation and maintain growth momentum amidst complex fluctuations in global trade.

This requires businesses to transform themselves by investing in science and technology and improving their management capabilities. Compliance with quality, environmental standards, and product origin must be considered a prerequisite. The goal is to gradually build a system of large export businesses with competitive capabilities and global brands.

Thirdly, it is necessary to promote the development of logistics services; cooperate, invest in, and utilize overseas logistics centers to boost the import and export of Vietnamese goods to international markets.

Fourth , the government needs to strengthen economic diplomacy, improve policies to support businesses and provide early warning of trade risks, create solid production chain linkages; and promote the development of the private economy, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to participate more deeply in global value chains.

Thank you, sir!

Delegate Truong Xuan Cu from the Hanoi delegation emphasized: The Government and ministries, especially the Ministry of Industry and Trade, have strongly intervened with many comprehensive support solutions for the economy, promoting the growth of import and export activities. These synchronized efforts are creating an important foundation for Vietnam to continue maintaining its recovery momentum, enhancing competitiveness, and asserting a stronger position in the international market.

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/xuat-nhap-khau-lap-dinh-dau-an-dieu-hanh-linh-hoat-cua-bo-cong-thuong.html