Catalonia boosts trade and investment opportunities with Vietnam

27 Jul 2026

Catalonia and Vietnam strengthen economic cooperation, opening new opportunities for trade, investment and business growth in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic markets.

 
 

Catalonia is reinforcing its economic relationship with Vietnam as part of its strategy to deepen ties with Southeast Asia, one of the world's fastest-growing regions. As part of an official mission to Vietnam, President of the Government of Catalonia Salvador Illa, accompanied by Secretary for Business and Labour Jaume Baró, is meeting with government officials, business representatives and Catalan companies operating in the country to strengthen economic cooperation and promote new trade and investment opportunities.

Catalan exports to Southeast Asia have more than doubled over the past decade, surpassing €1.64 billion in 2025. Today, 1,274 Catalan companies export regularly to the region, with a strong presence in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Vietnam is one of Catalonia's priority markets in Southeast Asia and a strategic gateway for Catalan companies looking to expand across the region. In 2025, Catalan exports to Vietnam increased by 11.1%, representing 37.6% of Spain's total exports to the country. Key export products include plastics, food industry by-products, pharmaceuticals, meat, perfumes and cosmetics.

As part of the mission, President Salvador Illa emphasized the importance of internationalization in the current global context. "Closed economies have no future. We need open economies that look to the world and engage with it," he said.

President Illa also highlighted Vietnam's strategic role within Catalonia's Asia Plan, which identifies the country as one of the ten priority markets for strengthening Catalonia's economic presence in the region.

“Catalan exports to Southeast Asia have doubled over the last decade and now exceed €1.64 billion”

Salvador Illa, President of the Government of Catalonia

Strengthening economic cooperation

During his visit to Hanoi, President Illa met with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister, Pham Gia Tuc, to discuss closer cooperation between Catalonia and Vietnam within the framework of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaboration in strategic sectors such as technology, innovation, research, logistics, agriculture and sustainable tourism.

The meeting also highlighted the shared ambition to boost bilateral trade and position Vietnam as a gateway for Catalan companies and exports to Southeast Asia.

As part of the mission, President Illa also met with representatives of Vietnam's Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), where a cooperation agreement was signed to strengthen economic and business relations between both territories.

The mission also took the Catalan delegation to Da Nang, one of Vietnam's leading industrial, logistics and technology hubs. There, President Illa and Secretary Jaume Baró visited three Catalan companies with operations in the country: Relats, a manufacturer of advanced textile solutions for safety, thermal insulation and noise reduction; Tucai, which recently inaugurated a new €6 million production plant for flexible hoses and valves; and Savall Chocolate, a producer of artisan chocolate combining traditional Spanish techniques with Vietnamese ingredients.

The mission underscores Catalonia's commitment to strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia, supporting the international growth of Catalan companies and fostering new trade, investment and long-term business opportunities in one of the world's most dynamic regions.
 

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Carmen Gonzalez

Senior International Promotion Consultant