'I witnessed a Vietnam moving forward with a clear goal'

(Chinhphu.vn) – "One of the things that inspires me most in the rapidly changing world of global trade is the Vietnamese people, how they are present, adapt and constantly move forward with courage and creativity," said Ms. Kawal Preet, President of FedEx Asia Pacific, in an article sent to the Government Electronic Newspaper.

Ms. Kawal Preet, President of FedEx Asia Pacific and Mr. Richard Smith, Chief International Operations Officer and General Manager of FedEx Air

Vietnam: Moving forward with a clear goal.

Over the past decade, Vietnam has shown remarkable resilience. From recovering from the 2012 credit and banking crisis to weathering the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese spirit has remained steadfast. Not only did the country recover quickly from the pandemic, but it also became one of the few Asian economies to record positive growth in 2020.

It is this determination to turn challenges into opportunities, and difficulties into progress, that has shaped the character and the Vietnamese people. I have seen this spirit firsthand in the FedEx delivery staff, engineers and managers here. It is what makes Vietnam not only resilient but also unyielding in the face of any obstacle.

Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to visit Vietnam not once but four times. First in April 2024 with Jill Brannon, the company’s Chief Business Officer, then in June with Richard Smith, Chief International Operations Officer and General Manager of FedEx Air, then in February of this year with the late founder Fred Smith, and most recently during a visit by the FedEx senior leadership team to Vietnam.

During my recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City, I had the privilege of meeting the team, experiencing the new operating model firsthand, and spending time with the community. What I witnessed was not only business excellence, but also confidence in the future. I witnessed a country moving forward with a clear purpose, a team working with heart, and a community rising with perseverance.

Vietnam is not just a key link in the global supply chain, it is also a story of transformation. And that journey has only just begun.

Vietnam is rapidly becoming a leading logistics and manufacturing hub in Asia.

Vietnam has rapidly transformed itself from an emerging market into a global manufacturing powerhouse. With a young, tech-savvy workforce and a strong trading base, the country is fast becoming Asia’s leading logistics and manufacturing hub.

Vietnam's ambition to become a high-value distribution hub for Southeast Asia is also closely linked to FedEx's vision - to help customers compete and succeed as the world's smartest logistics network.

Whether it’s the dynamism of its industrial parks or the vitality of its small and medium-sized enterprise community, it’s clear that Vietnam is not just participating in, but shaping, the global economy. At FedEx, we don’t just move things, we make connections. That’s why transformation isn’t a one-time initiative, but a continuous journey we embrace every day. FedEx calls it continuous innovation.

This spirit of innovation is particularly evident in the growing trade between Vietnam and Europe, one of the fastest growing trade routes in our global network. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) opens the door for Vietnamese exporters to access a market of over 400 million consumers, while also benefiting European businesses thanks to Vietnam’s strategic location in Southeast Asia.

To support this growth, FedEx has improved routes between Ho Chi Minh City and many key markets in Europe, shortening transit times by up to two business days and increasing shipping volumes. These improvements help Vietnamese businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, access new markets more quickly and reliably than ever before.

In June 2025, we launched our direct service model in Vietnam, a significant milestone that brings us closer to our customers. This model enhances our responsiveness to market fluctuations, improves operational transparency, and enables FedEx to better support local businesses as Vietnam grows internationally. At the core of these initiatives is the creation of seamless global connectivity for Vietnam, enabling businesses to expand their scale and reach with confidence and competitiveness in the international market.

The future is built on the values ​​of sharing.

Having spent my career in operations in Singapore and designing air and ground transportation networks across Asia, I can easily see the signs of a market ready to take the lead. And in Vietnam, the signs are clear. Vietnam is located at the intersection of key trade routes, with a system of seaports, airports and industrial zones that are expanding in both size and modernity.

I see in Vietnam the fundamentals of a strong logistics ecosystem: multimodal connectivity, growing digitalization, and a national strategy tied to trade growth. The energy here is not just in movement, but in momentum.

From long-term infrastructure investments like Long Thanh International Airport to recent reforms that encourage private sector participation and unlock growth in high-value sectors like technology and healthcare, Vietnam is building the foundation for a competitive, future-ready supply chain. For FedEx, that means not only expanding our operations, but also working closely with a country that is becoming a logistics hub for Asia and beyond.

Kawal Preet (President, FedEx Asia Pacific)

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/toi-duoc-chung-kien-mot-viet-nam-dang-tien-buoc-voi-muc-tieu-ro-rang-102250818174909801.htm