18-3-2024 (HANOI) A significant US business delegation, featuring prominent companies such as Meta, Boeing, and wind energy firm GE Vernova, is currently visiting Vietnam this week, underscoring sustained corporate interest in the Southeast Asian nation following the upgrade in ties with Washington last year.
Organised by the US-ASEAN Business Council, approximately 50 companies are slated to participate in the delegation’s activities. This initiative follows a similar-sized business delegation brought to Vietnam by the council last year.
Among the notable participants are conglomerate Koch Industries, safety standards firm UL Solutions, insurance group Chubb, gaming company Roblox, weather forecasts provider ATMO, and energy firm AES. Many of these entities are already actively engaged in various sectors within Vietnam.
Meta’s Facebook platform boasts over 60 million users in Vietnam, establishing it as one of the company’s largest global markets. Similarly, Boeing solidified its presence in Vietnam by signing a preliminary agreement with national carrier Vietnam Airlines last year for the purchase of 50 of its 737 planes.
US President Joe Biden’s efforts to enhance relations with Vietnam, coupled with a focus on bolstering cooperation in the semiconductor industry, have provided further impetus to this engagement. However, it is noteworthy that no semiconductor firms are scheduled to participate in this week’s business delegation.
The business mission entails a series of meetings with local authorities scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday. Additionally, on Monday, a smaller delegation comprising security firms aims to explore potential business opportunities through discussions with representatives from Vietnam’s ministries of defence and police, as outlined by the organisers.
