Vietnam, Czech Republic Step Up Investment, Trade Cooperation

Vietnam and the Czech Republic are stepping up efforts to bolster investment and trade cooperation at the local level. General Secretary and President Lam expressed confidence that Da Nang city, with its tradition of dynamism and innovation and strong support from central authorities, will overcome challenges to realize its vision of becoming a major national growth pole and a modern, smart, and livable coastal city with strong regional competitiveness. Karlovy Vary Regional Governor Petr Kubis praised the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic for their diligence, generosity, and meaningful contributions to the country's socio-economic development, describing them as a model of successful integration. State President Luong Cuong suggested that the legislative bodies of both countries continue to coordinate in creating a favorable legal framework for bilateral cooperation, serving the shared interests of the two nations and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. Meanwhile, Vietnam's agricultural sector showed robust performance. Agricultural exports reached US$36 billion in the first half of 2026, up 6% year-on-year. While overall growth remained below the government's double-digit target, several products posted strong performance and significant export potential. Notably, Vietnam and Argentina emerged as exceptions in the European Commission’s latest agri-food trade report. Imports from Vietnam climbed 9%, driven by robust coffee exports. Agro-forestry-fishery exports were estimated at nearly US$42.6 billion by the end of July, equivalent to 57.6% of the annual target. Market growth is increasingly measured by service quality, risk management capabilities, innovation, and the ability to build lasting trust with customers, rather than solely by revenue size or contract numbers. The biggest risk facing the real estate market is liquidity, while the biggest risk associated with technology lies with its users. Technology can only deliver its full value when it addresses practical market and human needs. Central Retail Vietnam will continue investing in its supermarket network and increasing the share of Vietnamese products in its distribution system. The group will also deepen support for farmers, cooperatives, and producers across the supply chain, from cultivation and harvesting to packaging and product standardization. Dutch businesses welcomed Vietnam's reform agenda and showed strong interest in expanding collaboration in finance and international financial services, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, logistics, ports, shipbuilding, water management, renewable energy, and green transition. Vietnam is attracting high-quality investment from Asia, moving up the value chain despite shifts in the composition of foreign direct investment (FDI). This indicates Vietnam's growing role in the global economy. The working sessions between Deputy PM Nguyen Van Thang and Dutch partners helped strengthen the foundation of financial cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands, opening up opportunities for experience sharing, market connections, and new initiatives in finance, technology, and innovation, thereby making positive contributions to the comprehensive partnership. With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,605 VND/USD, and the floor rate 24,071 VND/USD. Household deposits at banks reached a new high of 10.8 quadrillion VND (US$414 billion) at the end of May, up more than 108 trillion VND from April and increasing by 4.76% from the beginning of the year. The amended regulations add Vietnam to the list of countries permitted to export fresh durian to India. The South Asian nation also waives additional phytosanitary declaration requirements on the phytosanitary certificate and does not impose any special import conditions for the product. Established in 1981 as a family-run grocery store, Lucky Supermarket and Dong Phuong Group have grown into one of the largest Asian food retail and distribution networks in Western Canada. Over the past 45 years, the business has evolved beyond serving the Vietnamese community to become an important distribution channel for Vietnamese agricultural products, food, and consumer goods. Following its July 2025 merger with Hai Duong province, Hai Phong city has become one of the largest economic hubs in the country, with an expanded development space and direct connectivity between industrial and agricultural production regions, and urban areas in the west with the seaport and logistics system in the east. Vietravel Airlines has unveiled a plan to operate a direct flight route between Ho Chi Minh City and Shenzhen of China, with services set to commence on August 15. Western Australia Premier Roger Cook described Vietnam as one of the state’s key partners in Southeast Asia, while highlighting Western Australia’s growing role in the global clean energy transition, backed by its strengths in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and critical minerals.