On August 6 in Hanoi, two of Vietnam’s leading industrial exhibitions  -  the Vietnam Manufacturing Expo 2025 (VME) and the Vietnam-Japan Supporting Industries Exhibition 2025 (SIE)  -  officially opened, bringing together hundreds of enterprises and technology leaders to accelerate the modernization of Vietnam’s manufacturing sector.

The opening ceremony saw attendance from prominent figures, including Takakazu Watanabe, Economic Counselor at the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam; Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE); Haruhiko Ozasa, Chief Representative of JETRO Hanoi; and Varaporn Dhamcharee, CEO of RX Tradex Vietnam and Thailand  -  along with leading domestic and international business representatives, associations, and strategic partners.

Marking 17 years of VME and over two decades of close Vietnam-Japan collaboration in supporting industries, the 2025 event underscores a deepening partnership built on technology transfer, supply chain integration, and sustainable industrial development.

In his opening remarks, Vu Ba Phu highlighted the robust and expanding Vietnam-Japan cooperation, with Japanese enterprises not only investing but also transferring management standards and connecting Vietnamese suppliers to global value chains. This, he noted, is enabling Vietnam to strengthen its domestic production capacity and increase localization rates.

“This exhibition is a vivid demonstration of the sustainable partnership between our two nations. More than just a display of cutting-edge products and technologies, it is a vital bridge connecting Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises, offering valuable opportunities to explore market needs, upgrade management skills, expand cooperation, and become part of global supply chains,” said Phu.

Varaporn Dhamcharee emphasized that in the context of global economic uncertainty, Vietnam has emerged as an attractive investment destination. According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam attracted USD 11.72 billion in realized FDI in the first half of 2025  -  up 8.1% year-on-year and the highest in five years. Notably, the manufacturing sector alone accounted for 81.6%, or USD 9.56 billion, reflecting strong potential for Vietnamese firms to upgrade and integrate into global supply chains.

The VME & SIE 2025 event aims to promote technology transfer, expand supplier networks, and support local manufacturing businesses in accelerating modernization. This year’s exhibition is expected to welcome over 10,000 professional visitors from more than 30 countries, representing industries such as electronics, automotive, precision engineering, construction, plastics, and chemicals.

Haruhiko Ozasa, JETRO Hanoi’s Chief Representative, stressed that fostering Japanese-Vietnamese business linkages is part of a broader strategy to build sustainable regional value chains. The exhibition, he said, is a platform for technological innovation and strategic cooperation, supporting the growth of Vietnam’s industry in the new era.

A key highlight of this year’s exhibition is its expanded international scale and integrated event platform. Beyond showcasing advanced technologies, the expo will host specialized activities to deliver practical value to participating companies  -  including partner networking, technology demonstrations, and multilateral trade promotion sessions.

The exhibition also features a JETRO-hosted business matching program, including six in-depth presentations, to promote substantial cooperation between Vietnamese suppliers and top Japanese manufacturers.

PV