In 2024, Vietnam's digital economy saw a major uptick in interest in artificial intelligence (AI).

In 2025, the geopolitical and economic landscape is expected to remain complex, affecting production, investment and trade activities.

A large number of European companies foresee an improvement in the macroeconomic outlook for Vietnam in the first quarter of 2025.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a list of 151 areas where mineral mining rights will not be auctioned.

The initial five members of the Vietnam Motorbike Association (VMA) will officially debut the new industry body later in February.

Despite initial signs of recovery, the Vietnamese auto industry is expecting a challenging 2014 as deadline pressures from ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) commitments continue to mount.

Free trade agreements such as that with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), will expand export markets for Vietnamese garments and textiles, according to Industry and Trade Minister Vu Huy Hoang.

Vietnamese businesses should reengineer and streamline their operations in 2014 to maximize efficiencies said President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc.

Japan has agreed to increase the maximum residue limit (MRL) of Ethoxyquin, an antioxidant preservative used in fish meal, in Vietnamese shrimp – a move that will benefit shrimp businesses.

The Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso) is forecasting high export growth of Made-in-Vietnam handbags, suitcases and briefcases for the leather and footwear industry in 2014.

Viet Nam is expected to earn US$ 6.9 billion from shipping aquatic products abroad, representing a 13% increase against 2012, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The Vietnam Plastic Association (VPA) has reported 2013’s plastic exports earned US$1.808 billion, a 13.3% annual improvement.

The industry and trade sector of Vietnam expects the index of industrial production (IIP) to grow to 6.3% this year as the world economy recovers, helping boost exports.

Vietnam will farm, process and export Tra (Pangasius) fish in an entirely sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, in line with international law, said a senior fisheries official.

Transport Minister Dinh La Thang has asked concerned agencies to expedite work on a major project to improve operational efficiency of the No 5 Seaport System to make it a regional entrepot in the near future.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has decided to reduce the petroleum import quota for this year to approximately seven million tonnes from the earlier 9.115 million tonnes.

Ho Chi Minh City acknowledges meeting its 9.5–10% economic growth targets - 1.5 times the national average - will be challenging in 2014.

The Viet Nam-Russia oil and gas joint venture enterprise (Vietsovpetro) aims to pump up 5.1 million tons of oil in 2014, said Vietsovpetro Party Committee Secretary Dang Minh Hong.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) warns the seafood inspection legislation the US Government is considering risk negatively affecting Vietnam’s seafood export businesses.

Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai has asked the Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) to ensure adequate power supply for the country from 2014.

Viet Nam is to overtake India to become the biggest exporter of cashew nuts in the world in 2013, maintaining the position for eight consecutive years.

The agro-forestry-fisheries sector has set a target of earning US$28.5 billion in this year’s export earnings including US$8.5 billion in trade surplus, up 3.63% over last year, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The fisheries sector plans to break into its potential markets such as the US, EU, Japan and South Africa to increase its exports.