Italy–HCMC: Economic Cooperation and a Shared Vision
The Saigon Times, one of Vietnam’s leading economic and financial publications, has published an interview with Consul General Alessandra Tognonato highlighting the complementarity between Italy’s industrial fabric and the growth dynamics of southern Vietnam, with particular attention to innovation- and sustainability-driven investments, also supported by instruments such as SACE and SIMEST.
In addition to well-established sectors—particularly mechanics, design, fashion, and agrifood—the Consul General identifies innovation- and sustainability-related fields as among the most promising for the future: renewable energy—primarily following the MoU signed in 2023 by ENI with Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture—health (pharmaceuticals, biotech, and health-tech), smart manufacturing, sustainable urban solutions, and Earth observation technologies. These sectors align with the development priorities of Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s economic and industrial hub and a strategic gateway to Southeast Asian markets. The coordinated efforts of the Italy System aim to promote a long-term partnership based on industrial integration, skills transfer, technological cooperation, and shared value creation. Emphasizing the strategic importance of education and human capital as structural elements for strengthening economic cooperation with HCMC, the Consul General underlined that investing in young people is essential to building solid and interconnected economic ecosystems.
