According to a VNA correspondent in South America, the workshop was attended by Brazil's Deputy Minister of Science , Technology and Innovation, Mr. Inácio Arruda, and more than 60 delegates, including many federal officials and parliamentarians, Ambassadors and representatives of embassies of countries in the South American Common Market (Mercosur), scholars, press, business community, students of foreign trade and international relations.
Speaking at the conference, Ambassador Bui Van Nghi updated Vietnam's economic development results in the first 8 months of the year with a trade turnover of about 600 billion USD, a surplus of nearly 14 billion USD. The Ambassador also mentioned Mercosur's development potential and affirmed that this is a strategic partner of Vietnam in the context of globalization and regions and economies increasingly interdependent.
Regarding Vietnam-Brazil relations, Ambassador Bui Van Nghi affirmed that Brazil is Vietnam's largest partner in Mercosur. The two countries have made many important strides such as establishing a Strategic Partnership in November 2024. In March this year, Brazil recognized Vietnam as a market economy. The two countries have opened their agricultural markets. Trade turnover increased from 200 million USD in 2000 to nearly 8 billion USD in 2024, accounting for 35% of total Vietnam-Latin America trade. The two sides aim to reach 15 billion USD in bilateral trade by 2030.
Ambassador Bui Van Nghi expressed his wish to start negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during Brazil’s tenure as Mercosur’s rotating chairmanship, in line with the practical interests of Vietnam as well as the bloc’s member countries and market diversification. Exchanges of government , parliamentary and business delegations between Vietnam and Mercosur countries should also be promoted to take advantage of opportunities for economic, trade and investment cooperation.
For his part, Vice Minister Inácio Arruda stressed the importance of enhancing exchanges between the South American bloc and the Southeast Asian region, saying that diversifying markets and production chains is an essential step to expand cooperation between Brazil and Vietnam. According to Vice Minister Inácio Arruda, the economic integration process needs to go hand in hand with strategic initiatives to increase resilience and complementarity between the two regions. In that spirit, the partnership between South America and Vietnam can open up new horizons for many key sectors such as agriculture, energy and high-tech industries.
Deputy Minister Inácio Arruda suggested that Brazil and Vietnam should further promote bilateral cooperation in the field of science and technology, not only stopping at political, diplomatic and trade exchanges, but also regularly organizing scientific exchange delegations. These activities will be an important foundation to strengthen the long-term, strategic partnership between the two countries.
Director of Foreign Affairs of Brasilia, Mr. Paco Britto, highly appreciated Vietnam's prominent role in the Asian region, emphasizing that Vietnam is a strategic center with a young, dynamic population, strong in technology, agriculture and renewable energy. He said that the relationship between Vietnam and Mercosur is complementary. Vietnam exports technology, textiles, electronics and processed foods, while Mercosur supplies cereals, meat, fruits, wine and energy solutions.
Representing the business sector, JBS Group Investment Director Fabio Maia expressed his joy that JBS's first container of Brazilian beef had arrived in Vietnam, while tilapia from Vietnam had entered the Brazilian market. JBS - the world's largest food company - has approved a plan to build a meat processing plant in Vietnam, which will become a hub for meat exports to all of Asia, especially China and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
On September 17, at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in Brasília, Ambassador Bui Van Nghi received Congressman Márcio Honáiser and Mayor of Davinópolis City of Maranhão State, José Gonçalves Lima. The Brazilian side introduced the development potential of Maranhão State and the Matopiba region, especially the need for cooperation in agriculture (soybeans, corn, cotton and ethanol) as well as the strategic position of the Davinópolis dry port in the national logistics system.
Ambassador Bui Van Nghi affirmed that Vietnam is interested in promoting cooperation in the fields of agriculture, food security and bioenergy, and suggested coordination between the two National Assemblies, governments and business communities of the two countries to support and promote negotiations on the Vietnam - Mercosur FTA as soon as possible.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/tiem-nang-va-co-hoi-hop-tac-viet-nam-mercosur-20250918095525921.htm
![[Photo] Binh Trieu 1 Bridge has been completed, raised by 1.1m, and will open to traffic at the end of November.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/10/2/a6549e2a3b5848a1ba76a1ded6141fae)
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