Vietnam Emerges as Key Target for Argentine Firms at Asia Trade Seminar

Vietnam is now Argentina’s largest importer of soybean meal, ahead of other regional markets such as Malaysia and Indonesia. During the 30th Export Day, organised on September 15 in Buenos Aires by the Chamber of Exporters of the Argentine Republic (CERA) under the theme "New Export Frontier: The Transformation Underway," Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Ngo Minh Nguyet highlighted that Vietnam considers Argentina and Mercosur important partners in South America and sees broad potential to deepen trade and investment ties. The Argentina–Vietnam relationship is suggested to go beyond the mere exchange of goods to build joint value chains, promote investments, and facilitate access to new markets. According to Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary-General of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the strategy aims to attract 500 billion THB (about 15 billion USD) in investment over the next five years through 2030, and more than 2.5 trillion THB by 2050. Thailand also targets raising revenue from the semiconductor and advanced electronics industries to 5 trillion THB and creating more than 230,000 jobs. The emergence of the islands is believed to be closely linked to Anak Krakatau’s continuous eruptions from September 4 to 6. The three new offerings cater to specific tourist segments by integrating elements of education, gastronomy, agriculture, culture, nature and local community engagement. The upward forecast revision for Malaysia is in line with the general trend among developing economies in Southeast Asia, following the region's higher-than-expected growth in the first half of 2026. The expansion of the Bakong Tourists payment application to international users aims to make digital payments more convenient for foreign visitors as Cambodia continues to develop its digital payment ecosystem. About 4,620 workers in Singapore were retrenched in the second quarter of 2026, or about two per 1,000 workers, up significantly from 3,830 in the first quarter. The figure was the highest since the fourth quarter of 2020, when Singapore was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kalimantan Corridor under the ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS) aims to shorten transit times and reduce transportation costs while limiting repetitive procedures at border crossings of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Thailand currently ranks 20th out of 180 countries worldwide in terms of the healthcare cost burden caused by PM2.5 fine-particle pollution, and second among ASEAN countries, behind only Indonesia. The designations provide a legal basis for protecting and promoting the historical and cultural values of the sites. China has remained Thailand’s largest solar panel supplier over the past five years. Its exports to Thailand reached a record 649.1 million USD in 2023, out of total imports of 654.2 million USD. The figure subsequently fell to 422.3 million USD in 2024 and 364.1 million USD in 2025. According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Timor-Leste Women’s Business Association (AEMTL) from October 2024 to March 2025, nearly 63% of the women-owned businesses surveyed were operating informally or had not been registered with SERVE, Timor-Leste’s business registration and licensing authority. Just over 2 million international tourists visited Cambodia during the first eight months of 2026, down nearly half from the same period last year. According to the World Bank's “Thailand Cities of the Future: Urban Foundations for a High-Income Economy” report, Thailand’s urban system remains heavily concentrated in Bangkok, which generates close to half of national output and is nearly 27 times larger than Chiang Mai, the country’s second-largest city. The law sets priorities for agrarian reform, including addressing disparities in land ownership and control, prolonged land conflicts, abandoned land and poverty. Data released by Singapore's Department of Statistics (SingStat) on September 23 showed that core inflation, which excludes private transport and accommodation costs, increased from 2% in July to 2.2% in August. A Philippine official said government agencies, local governments and development partners are already implementing programmes to address plastic waste, but noted that the efforts need to be mapped to identify gaps. The initiative is being implemented with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with 26 million USD in co-financing from the Cambodian Government and private-sector partners and a 4-million-USD grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Malaysia welcomed 30,257 visitors from the GCC region between January and June, reflecting the market's potential in family holidays, luxury travel, Muslim-friendly tourism, shopping, wellness, gastronomy, nature and experiential travel. Laos is fostering cooperation with Thailand and international partners to combat money laundering linked to scam centres and other forms of transnational crime. Cambodia’s development vision is based on inclusive prosperity, with no one left behind, particularly vulnerable groups, including women and girls, persons with disabilities, vulnerable families and rural communities. Within Vietnam's one-party system, economic growth remains a top priority, with the expansion of foreign trade being a crucial pillar. In particular, strengthening cooperation with Argentina in the agricultural sector holds strategic significance for Vietnam, both from the perspective of food security and economic diversification. In recent years, Vietnam has pursued a foreign policy aimed at strengthening ties with South American countries while reducing its economic reliance on China. The deepening of relations with Argentina is seen as part of this broader strategy. Vietnam seeks to diversify its economic ties, even as it navigates its complex relationship with China. Expanding trade with Argentina could contribute to diversifying Vietnam's export markets and strengthening its position in global supply chains.