The event welcomed more than 500 attendants including Vietnamese Government officials and company representatives – mostly European-Vietnamese businesses.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc makes remark at the Conference Meet Europe 2018

Held jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam (MOFA), Hanoi People’s Committee, Europe Union Delegation to Vietnam with the support of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), event aims to launch a broad discussion on the state of Europe-Vietnam relations, particularly regarding trade and investment, ahead of the coming into force of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which is scheduled to be ratified this year-end.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke at the event, praising the connection between European business and Vietnam and stressing the importance of Vietnam-Europe relations. Alongside Prime Minister Phuc, the Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son also spoke at the plenary session, as well as the Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai, and the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung.
Ambassador – Head of the European Union Delegation Bruno Angelet believes the FTA has an enormous potential to enhance trade and investment exchanges between us and generate growth and prosperity both in the EU and in Vietnam. “This potential should be used by all companies, big multinationals but also small and medium enterprises, and it should bring benefits to all EU Member States and to all provinces of Vietnam”, Bruno said. “Our first challenge is to inform about the potential of the FTA. "Meet Europe" event is intended with this aim precisely. I hope that this event will help to create new business relations, contacts and possibilities between the European companies and all Vietnamese provinces as well attract new investment to these provinces even before the FTA is in force”, the European diplomat pressed.
Meanwhile, EuroCham Co-Chairman Mr. Denis Brunetti highlighted Vietnam’s decision to walk the path of quality, efficiency, sustainability and innovation. “We see it in Government statements, in their efforts to improve the regulatory environment, and in the re-positioning of once traditionally-managed Vietnamese enterprises”, said the Co-Chairman. He also affirmed that European firms want to have further partnership with Vietnam: “This conference showed that not only are enterprises – those already here and prospective investors – enthusiastic about Vietnam, they want to go further and work with the provinces to seize new opportunities that will benefit their business and the local economies.”
 The conference’s “Thematic Sessions” gave the stage to European companies that have been successfully doing business in Vietnam and in the country's provinces. The "case-studies" presented cut across several areas such as Automotive, Wine & Spirits, Renewable Energy, Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Industry 4.0, among many others. They were delivered by the highest ranks of leading European enterprises in Vietnam, including Dr. Thai-Lai Pham (Siemens Vietnam), Guru Mallikarjuna (Bosch Vietnam), Gianluca Fiume (Piaggio Vietnam), Brian Hull (ABB), and many other business leaders.
In the third part of the conference, companies met one-on-one with the leaderships of more than 30 provinces of Vietnam who travelled to Hanoi to attend the event. More than 70 B2G meetings dedicated to potential business and investment opportunities were organised at Meet Europe 2018, record number of encounters between the private sector and Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Party Secretaries from Vietnam’s Provinces.
Meet Europe 2018 was yet another good example of the regular dialogue between the Vietnamese Government and the European business community.
The conference showed that European business is strongly invested in Vietnam’s development, and wishes to be a key partner in its continued advancement. This message comes at a momentous time, as Europe and Vietnam are set to embark on an historic trade and investment connection under the EVFTA, a deal which has the potential to open a unique trade corridor that can produce historic benefits for citizens on both continents.