Norway and Vietnam are stepping up collaboration in green maritime initiatives, renewable energy, and sustainable trade as part of a growing bilateral partnership.
The commitment was highlighted during the celebration of Norway’s Constitution Day in Hanoi on Friday 16 May 2025, where Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang spoke about shared priorities for sustainable development and global climate action.
According to Ambassador Solbakken, Norway highly values its close cooperation with Vietnam, especially in tackling global challenges such as climate change and marine protection. She noted that the two countries are working together to accelerate the green energy transition and enhance cooperation in the maritime sector.
“Norway and Vietnam are both open, trade-dependent economies. In a world facing many challenges, it is more important than ever to maintain strong and growing relationships such as ours,” says Ambassador Solbakken.
Vietnam is currently Norway’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN after Singapore, with total bilateral trade surpassing USD 450 million in 2024. Norwegian seafood exports alone accounted for more than USD 250 million, reflecting a 16 percent increase over the previous year.
Norway currently has 60 foreign direct investment projects in Vietnam, with a combined registered capital of over USD 200 million, ranking 40th among foreign investors.
Cooperation in the green and circular economy is showing promising signs, the ambassador said, particularly in areas such as waste management, sustainable aquaculture, and renewable energy. She also expressed hope that negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)—comprising Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein—will progress significantly in 2025.
Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang echoed these sentiments, calling the relationship between Vietnam and Norway “very well-developed,” especially in green economy sectors.
She highlighted the contributions of Norwegian companies in renewable energy and green shipping and said both countries are currently working on a new cooperation framework for the sustainable marine economy. The initiative is expected to support Vietnam in implementing its Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with a group of international partners, including Norway.
The Deputy Minister also expressed a desire to see more Vietnamese enterprises investing in Norway in the future.
Source: Vietnam.vn
