Promoting exports to the markets of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus

On June 24, 2025, the Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade) in coordination with the Department of Foreign Market Development, the Vietnam Trade Office in the Russian Federation, and the Vietnam Trade Office in the Republic of Belarus organized an online seminar on trade promotion to the European market with the topic: Promoting exports to the markets of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

The workshop is a practical forum to help the Vietnamese business community access, exchange information, and share practical experiences in exporting to these two potential markets. At the same time, it is an important first step for the parties to prepare and implement trade promotion activities towards specific cooperation agreements, further deepening the economic and trade relations between Vietnam - the Russian Federation and Vietnam - the Republic of Belarus in the coming time.

Mr. Hoang Minh Chien - Deputy Director of the Department of Trade Promotion delivered the opening speech at the workshop.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Mr. Hoang Minh Chien - Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Agency said: The event is of great significance, serving as a bridge to help the business community expand cooperation, promote bilateral trade, enhance exchanges, expand cooperation and more effectively access business opportunities in the Asia-Europe Economic Region.

The Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus are two important markets and have a traditional and comprehensive cooperative relationship with Vietnam. The participation of all three countries in the Vietnam - Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement has created favorable conditions for bilateral trade, through commitments to reduce tariffs, simplify procedures and promote investment. This is an important foundation for many of Vietnam's key export products to more effectively access the Russian and Belarusian markets in a practical and sustainable manner.

Regarding the Russian market, Mr. Duong Hoang Minh - Trade Counselor of Vietnam in the Russian Federation said that Vietnam is currently Russia's largest trading partner in ASEAN. After a sharp decline in 2022, bilateral trade has strongly recovered.

Mr. Duong Hoang Minh - Vietnamese Trade Counselor in the Russian Federation

In 2024, the total two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and the Russian Federation will reach about 4.59 billion USD, an increase of 26.4% compared to 2023. In the first 4 months of 2025, bilateral trade reached 1.57 billion USD, equivalent to 34% of the previous year.

Vietnam's main exports to Russia include seafood, coffee, tea, cashew nuts, textiles, footwear, phones and components, along with processed foods, which are highly appreciated by Russian consumers for their stable quality and reasonable prices. In the opposite direction, Vietnam imports from Russia many essential industrial products such as fertilizers, coal, oil, non-ferrous metals, as well as machinery and equipment for production. However, trade between the two countries still has great room for development, especially in the fields of agricultural products, processed foods, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, areas with high demand in Russia but not yet fully exploited.

Mr. Vyacheslav Kharinov - Chief Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in Vietnam said that Vietnamese products: plastic, cashew nuts, natural rubber... especially Vietnamese cuisine are very popular in Russia.

Speakers share information at the workshop

For the Republic of Belarus, this is a partner with a long-standing traditional and friendly relationship with Vietnam. Belarus is a potential destination for Vietnamese goods, especially consumer goods and tropical agricultural products, groups of goods that do not have the advantage of local production. In 2024, the total import-export turnover between the two countries will reach about 59.7 million USD, an increase of nearly 45% compared to 2023, with the main items including: seafood, fruits, rice, coffee, tea, pepper, along with garments and household appliances. In contrast, Vietnam imports from Belarus mainly potassium fertilizers, mechanical components, chemical products, transport equipment and pharmaceuticals - high-quality products serving domestic production.

According to Mr. Aleh Holubeu - Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Vietnam, although the scale of trade is still modest, the two countries are actively implementing many cooperation programs in the fields of trade promotion, logistics and e-commerce to support businesses in expanding market access channels and taking advantage of tariff incentives from the Vietnam - EAEU Trade Agreement.

However, in addition to positive results, Vietnam's export activities to Russia and Belarus still face many challenges. Mr. Duong Hoang Minh said that Russia's transport infrastructure has not met the growth rate of trade in the East, congestion increases transportation time and costs; payment is still a major obstacle due to banking embargoes; some businesses are being scammed through the form of "cheap offers, deposits".

Mr. Nikerov Maxim – Representative of the Vladimir Region Economic Development Agency introduced the strategic location and trade connection potential of Vladimir Region – the investment gateway to the central region of the Russian Federation.

In addition, there are language barriers, differences in technical standards, payment methods, and high logistics costs due to transiting goods through third countries. In particular, Vietnamese enterprises lack updated information about the local market and have difficulty directly accessing the local distribution system. Most enterprises still depend on intermediary importers, which limits the control of target markets, enhancing brand awareness, and building stable consumption channels. In that context, promoting direct exports, strengthening connections with local distribution systems in Russia and Belarus, finding capable logistics partners, upgrading packaging and labeling images, promoting digital transformation in trade promotion, and building product brands in local languages ​​are important directions that need to be prioritized.

To increase exports to Russia, according to Mr. Duong Hoang Minh: it is necessary to increase bilateral investment to increase turnover to 15 billion USD by 2030; take advantage of FTA incentives and Russia's investment policies to produce consumer goods in Russia and the EAEU; participate in exhibitions in Russia to find customers and understand the market; carefully verify partners before signing contracts to avoid being cheated; strictly bind contracts on legality, delivery and payment; take advantage of sea and rail transport routes to optimize costs and time.

Ms. Tran Thanh Binh - Head of the Department of Origin of Goods, Import and Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) emphasized the need to take advantage of the incentives of the Vietnam - EAEU FTA. The Vietnam - EAEU FTA, which took effect in 2016, has helped reduce up to 90% of tariff lines between member countries, while creating a favorable legal corridor for businesses to exploit new trade opportunities. The core factor for businesses to effectively take advantage of incentives from this Agreement is the rules of origin of goods. The EAV form C/O certificate of origin is not only a mandatory requirement to enjoy tariff incentives but also evidence that goods bear the mark of Vietnamese goods in the supply chain.

In order to increase exports to the Russian and Belarusian markets, from September 16 to 24, 2025, the Trade Promotion Agency coordinated with the Embassy of Vietnam in the Russian Federation, the Embassy of Vietnam in the Republic of Belarus, domestic and foreign trade promotion organizations to organize a Trade Promotion Delegation in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

The program will create conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to expand export markets, seek orders and have the opportunity to directly access wholesale and retail systems in Russia and Belarus; establish customer relationships, sign contracts, support Vietnamese enterprises to participate deeply in the global value chain, improve production capacity of quality and competitive export goods, affirm their position in the international arena.

Businesses interested in the program, please contact:

Center for Trade and Investment Promotion Support (PROMOCEN)

Address: 6th Floor, 20 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Phone: (024) 38262266

Email: Thaoptt@vietrade.gov.vn , nguyenduongdieuthuy@gmail.com,

Contact: Ms. Pham Thi Thu Thao (Phone: 0979.768.292)

Contact: Ms. Nguyen Duong Dieu Thuy (Phone: 0978.177.201).

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Source: Department of Trade Promotion

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/xuc-tien-thuong-mai/thuc-day-xuat-khau-sang-thi-truong-lien-bang-nga-va-cong-hoa-belarus.html