EuroCham launches ‘Give Back to Vietnam’ to connect business with communities

The initiative was introduced at a high-level roundtable between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President To Lam and leaders of major European and Belgian businesses on October 22. The event was attended by European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu and First Vice-President of the Belgian Senate Andries Gryffroy.

The campaign reflects a shared conviction among European businesses that growing in Vietnam also means contributing to the well-being of the people and communities among whom they operate.

EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert said the chamber’s members recognise their responsibility to contribute to the country that has welcomed them, alongside pursuing successful business operations.

"Many of our members came to Vietnam to invest and grow, drawn by the opportunities the country offers. Over time, many have also made Vietnam their chosen home. Our members are here to make their businesses successful, but they are also well aware that, as foreigners, we have a responsibility to give something back to the country that has welcomed us,” he noted.

In his view, this sense of responsibility ran through EuroCham’s work, from advocacy to help businesses invest with confidence to events such as the Growth Economic Forum & Exhibition 2027 (GEFE27), which brings partners together to build capabilities and showcase European innovation and technology in Vietnam. Give Back to Vietnam, he added, extends that spirit of cooperation into local communities.

The long-term nature of these ties is reflected in business planning. According to EuroCham’s latest Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey, 23% of respondents plan their operations in Vietnam with a horizon of more than 20 years. Such commitments create lasting relationships with employees, suppliers, customers and neighbours, giving European businesses a shared interest in Vietnam’s prosperity and how widely its benefits are felt.

Turning business expertise into community livelihoods

Part of EuroCham’s IMPACT 2030 strategy, Give Back to Vietnam will connect European expertise and networks with the knowledge, strengths and aspirations of Vietnamese communities. Its projects will respond to local priorities, ranging from practical assistance and livelihood opportunities to longer-term community development.

The initiative’s first partnership was formalised on October 22, when EuroCham and the Aquitara Philanthropic Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, exchanged a memorandum of understanding in the presence of Vietnam's Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu. 

The collaboration will support An Vui Mart, meaning "peace and joy", working with the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin to help affected families establish neighbourhood shops at home. Shop ownership, practical support, and business coaching will give families an opportunity to earn an income while continuing to care for loved ones. 

The model brings the initiative’s business-led approach into the home and neighbourhood. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 99.8% of EU enterprises and nearly 98% of active enterprises in Vietnam, according to the figures cited in the initiative’s background. An Vui Mart seeks to apply the principles of small-business ownership at family level, turning support into a potential source of income and greater independence.

Elisabeth Leysen, Director of the Aquitara Philanthropic Fund, said “More than fifty years after the war, around 800,000 recognised victims of Agent Orange still live with its consequences, mostly in rural areas. In many families, caring for a loved one means giving up paid work. An Vui Mart offers a way to earn an income without leaving home or stepping away from that care. A shop of their own gives families something they can build on through their own knowledge and effort, creating the possibility of greater independence, choice and confidence in the future.” 

Further partnerships under Give Back to Vietnam are expected to connect business expertise and resources with other community priorities, while inviting more businesses and partners to contribute.

EuroCham survey shows European business confidence in Vietnam at seven-year high

VOV.VN - Business confidence among European companies operating in Vietnam rose to its highest level in seven years in the fourth quarter of 2025, signalling a decisive improvement in sentiment despite ongoing global trade tensions, the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) said.