A new era in Vietnam-Oregon economic cooperation: From strategic vision to practical implementation
WVR - On the afternoon of May 15, at the World Trade Center in Portland, Oregon (USA), the Vietnam-Oregon Business Forum with the theme "Oregon-Vietnam: Opportunities in the New Era" was successfully held, exceeding expectations.
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| Delegates attending the Oregon-Vietnam Business Forum. (Source: Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco) |
This significant event was organized by the Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco (USA) in collaboration with Business Oregon, attracting nearly 100 delegates, including government officials, legislators, scholars, and leading business leaders from Oregon.
In his keynote speech at the forum, Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Vietnamese Consul General in San Francisco, shared his thoughts on three closely linked issues: the era of Vietnam's rise, the new phase of Vietnam-U.S. relations, and Oregon's role as a driving force in the overall strategic picture.
Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized that after nearly four decades of renovation, Vietnam is entering a powerful and transformative era: “Vietnam today is stepping into the 'New Era – The Era of National Rise,' as General Secretary and President To Lam has repeatedly stated. This is not merely a political message. It reflects a profound and transformative shift in the nation's development mindset, institutional reform, economic aspirations, technological capabilities, and global integration.
Citing impressive economic figures from 2025, with GDP growth reaching approximately 8.02% and total import-export turnover surpassing 920 billion USD, the Consul General affirmed that Vietnam has emerged as a production hub, a burgeoning digital economy, and an indispensable link in the global supply chain. Vietnam's strategic goal is to become a developed, high-income nation by 2045 through innovation, transitioning to future industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), green energy, and smart logistics.
Assessing bilateral relations, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan asserted that Vietnam-U.S. relations are no longer defined by the past but are oriented toward the future. Bilateral trade has surged from under 500 million USD in the mid-1990s, when the two countries normalized relations, to nearly 200 billion USD today. In the new phase, the nature of cooperation is characterized by three core features: higher strategic value, a stronger technological component, and more pronounced localization and practicality.
The Consul General concluded: “The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership opens new doors, but it is the local-level partnerships that will breathe life into it. The relationship between the two governments creates the framework, but it is the business leaders, educators, innovators, state legislators, and local communities who create real cooperation.”
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| Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan speaking at the Forum. (Source: Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco) |
The strong presence of top politicians and officials from Oregon in the Solar & Lunar hall underscores Vietnam's special importance in the state's foreign and economic policy. In his welcoming remarks, Senator Mark Meek expressed delight at the long-standing and deepening friendship between Oregon and Vietnam across various fields, from trade and education to people-to-people exchanges.
In his passionate opening speech, Representative Daniel Nguyen affirmed that the bilateral cooperation has achieved milestone progress: “Today is not just an ordinary meeting – it is a milestone in a relationship that has grown deeper, more dynamic, and more strategic over the past year than at any other time in our shared history. Through legislative delegation visits from Oregon to Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi, or hosting President Luong Cuong in Seattle, we see Vietnam as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, a hub for production and technological innovation. When we combine that strength with an Oregon full of creativity and adaptability, we create great opportunities for students, workers, and businesses on both sides.”
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| Senator Mark Meek speaking at the Forum. (Source: Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco) |
Echoing this sentiment, Sophorn Cheang, Director of Business Oregon, along with Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor Vince Porter and Agriculture Secretary Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, emphasized the perfect complementarity between the two economies. Oregon does not see Vietnam as a competitor but as a strategic partner to export its strong products such as wood and advanced materials, premium agricultural products (wheat, beef, fruit), while connecting port infrastructure and trans-Pacific logistics supply chains. Expert perspective: Market structure and investment opportunities in Vietnam
From the perspective of a scholar and economic expert who has visited Vietnam multiple times, Daniel Wong provided a detailed analysis of Vietnam's rapidly improving investment environment. Wong stated: “Vietnam is currently an especially attractive investment destination due to its population of over 100 million, a booming middle class, and a young, technologically skilled workforce.
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| Representative Daniel Nguyen speaking at the Forum. (Source: Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco) |
The Vietnamese government's decisive institutional reforms to streamline administrative machinery, remove overlapping regulations, and promote the private economy have created a transparent and safe ecosystem for foreign capital flows.”
Wong also pointed out that the network of comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and RCEP allows businesses investing in Vietnam easy access to the world's largest markets.
He recommended that Oregon businesses proactively seize opportunities, shift from a purely commercial mindset to long-term strategic cooperation, combining investment with technology transfer and on-site workforce training to achieve optimal results.
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| Overview of the Forum. (Source: Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco) |
Continuing this line of thought, Julia BV Babcock, Founder and CEO of New Rose City Consult, also emphasized the role of education and culture as a solid foundation for sustainable business development, helping to deepen the relationship between universities and businesses on both sides.
Side meetings at the Trade Gala: Promoting high-level commitments as part of the activities in Portland, earlier on the evening of May 14, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan attended the annual Oregon Trade Gala (this is the fourth consecutive year the Consul General has attended this event).
At the Gala, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan met and directly exchanged views with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, and Nike Vice President Jorge Casimiro, among many friends.
In discussions with Governor Tina Kotek, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan respectfully invited Governor Tina Kotek to visit Vietnam early next year and combine it with a Trade Mission to elevate economic relations between Vietnam and Oregon to a new level.
Governor Tina Kotek affirmed that Oregon highly values its relationship with Vietnam and hopes the trip will bring specific economic cooperation contracts and projects.
In discussions with Nike Vice President Jorge Casimiro, the Consul General appreciated the corporation's contributions to Vietnam's economy and social welfare, while discussing directions for high-tech applications, sustainable development, and green supply chains that Nike is implementing at its partner factories in Vietnam.
Overall, the Vietnam-Oregon Business Forum 2026 concluded with results exceeding expectations, opening a new and promising chapter in local-level relations between the two countries.
The similarity in green development orientation, digital economy, and innovation is the strongest bond between Vietnam and Oregon. This relationship is at a golden opportunity to break through, transforming theoretical potentials into practical actions, bringing shared prosperity to the people of both nations on either side of the Pacific Ocean.
