Ambassador Ta Van Thong delivered the opening remarks at the conference. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-Indonesia trade exceeded 17.2 billion USD in 2025; however, the scale is still considered modest compared with the potential of the two economies with combined population exceeding 380 million people.

In this context, strengthening connectivity between the two business communities is expected to create new motivation to expand cooperation, explore free trade agreements effectively to turn opportunities into concrete contracts.

According to the VNA correspondent in Indonesia, around 40 businesses of the country explored products and discussed cooperation opportunities with nearly 20 Vietnamese companies at the Vietnam-Indonesia business matching Conference held in Jakarta on July 29.

The event was organised by the Foreign Market Development Department under Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade in coordination with the Vietnam Trade Office in Indonesia, and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) on the sidelines of Vietnamese Goods Day in Indonesia, attracting more than 100 delegates.

Vietnamese businesses showcased a wide range of products, including agricultural products, aquatic products, beverages, consumer goods, textiles, household items, wooden products, and handicrafts. Product displays, sampling activities and business matching were held in a lively atmosphere, enabling enterprises from both countries to directly exchange information on market demand and cooperation prospects.

Ambassador Ta Van Thong and trade representatives from the two countries. (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the conference, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong said the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025 had created a favourable foundation to promote trade and investment. According to him, although bilateral trade surpassed 17.2 billion USD last year, significant areas remain for further cooperation if businesses from both sides strengthen connectivity and expand into new areas.

Speaking to the VNA correspondent, Deputy Head of the Southeast Asia, South Asia and Regional Cooperation Division under the Foreign Market Development Department Phan Thi Dieu Linh said agreements such as the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) had made favourable conditions in tariffs. However, to make effective use of these preferences, businesses need to search for suitable partners and gain a clear understanding of each other’s technical standards, consumer preferences, as well as distribution systems.

According to Phan Thi Dieu Linh, the two economies have many complementary strengths. Indonesia possesses abundant raw materials, while Vietnam has advantages in manufacturing and processing capacity. The conference also enabled Vietnamese businesses to meet Indonesian importers and distributors directly, receive feedback on product quality, packaging, flavour and prices, and learn about certification requirements and the distribution of Halal products. The Ministry of Industry and Trade expects these exchanges to gradually lead to specific cooperation agreements and commercial contracts, with continued support from the Vietnam Trade Office in Indonesia.

On the Indonesian side, Vice Chairperson of the Vietnam-Indonesia Bilateral Committee at KADIN Damayanti Siahaan assessed the outlook for business cooperation between the two countries as highly positive, given their complementary economic structures.

According to her, the two sides still had considerable room for cooperation in electric vehicles, agriculture, fisheries, electronics, and semiconductors. Businesses from the two countries should not regard each other as competitors, she added, but should instead combine their respective strengths to expand market scale and generate new drivers of growth.

The direct business matching sessions at the conference opened up additional channels for cooperation, laying the groundwork for Vietnamese and Indonesian enterprises to continue exchanging information, seeking partners and expanding business activities in the coming period.

Vietnam-Indonesia Relations: Seven Decades of Strategic Partnership Over the course of more than seven decades of formation and development, Vietnam-Indonesia relations have evolved beyond the conventional bilateral framework to become a vital pillar of the regional architecture.

Binh Ngo Spring 2026: Strengthening Community Bonds, Vietnam-Indonesia Cooperation According to a VNA correspondent in Jakarta, on the evening of February 28, the Embassy of Vietnam in Indonesia held the Binh Ngo Spring Community Tet celebration with the participation of representatives of the Vietnamese community, Vietnamese businesses, families of staff from Vietnamese representative agencies in Indonesia, and international friends.