Leipzig poised to become two-way business hub connecting Germany and Vietnam
VOV.VN - Leipzig officials signed a Letter of Intent at City Hall on August 28 to establish the German-Vietnam Hub, aiming to position the most populous city in the eastern German state of Sachsen (Saxony) as a two-way bridge for businesses from both countries.
The signing took place in the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Dac Thanh.
The document was signed by Leipzig Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Clemens Schulke, Invest Region Leipzig Managing Director Michael Korner, and Leipzig Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Leipzig) Vice President Angelika Bordt.
Through the German-Vietnam Hub, Leipzig plans to set up a centralized advisory system for businesses, facilitating economic cooperation, investment, and knowledge transfer between both sides. The city also seeks to reinforce its position as a center for cultural exchange and dialogue with Vietnam.
Leipzig is a logistics, industrial, and scientific center and a sister city to Ho Chi Minh City, holding vast potential for economic cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in healthcare, water treatment, environmental technology, energy, the digital economy, university partnerships, vocational training, and the recruitment of high-quality human resources.
The Leipzig region hosts a sizable Vietnamese community, while Germany views Vietnam as one of Asia's most dynamic economies. The implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has greatly mproved trade and investment conditions between Vietnam and Europe.
The German-Vietnam Hub sets out five strategic objectives: promoting Leipzig and Germany as business locations to attract Vietnamese investment; supporting German enterprises entering the Vietnamese market; expanding scientific cooperation in research, teaching, and technology transfer; recruiting apprentices and skilled workers from Vietnam; and deepening bilateral dialogue.
Following the signing ceremony, Ambassador Nguyen Dac Thanh and the embassy delegation held a working session with Deputy Mayor Clemens Schulke and Saxony Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Climate Protection Dirk Panter.
During the meeting, Ambassador Thanh expressed a desire to boost economic ties and two-way business connections. He encouraged Leipzig enterprises to expand investment in Vietnam while highlighting Leipzig as a gateway for Vietnamese firms to enter the German and European markets. He also called for strengthening vocational training cooperation, attracting Vietnamese labor to Leipzig, and promoting the role of the local Vietnamese community as a bridge for cooperation.
Ambassador Thanh affirmed the Vietnamese Embassy’s readiness to connect Leipzig authorities, IHK Leipzig, and Invest Region Leipzig, a city-owned economic development agency, with Vietnamese ministries, localities, associations, and businesses, while supporting post-contact projects to achieve concrete results.
Deputy Mayor Clemens Schulke welcomed the delegation, emphasizing that the 75-year relationship between Vietnam and Leipzig, alongside the sister-city partnership with Ho Chi Minh City, provides a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation.
"With the German-Vietnam Hub, we want to build a bridge connecting Vietnamese and German businesses. We aim to facilitate two-way investment and open up new business opportunities," Schulke said, describing Vietnam as an important economic partner for Germany.
He announced that he will join a delegation from Saxony led by Minister Dirk Panter visiting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from Sept 2 to 8, 2026. The mission will focus on environmental and energy technology, water management, rail technology, and skilled labor recruitment, alongside meetings with Vietnamese policymakers and business leaders.
Minister Dirk Panter praised the practical cooperation between Leipzig and Ho Chi Minh City, adding that Vietnam's political stability remains a key factor in realizing the full potential of bilateral cooperation.
On the same day, Ambassador Nguyen Dac Thanh attended a business dialogue at IHK Leipzig, which gathered representatives from city administration, the Vietnamese Association in Leipzig, and nearly 30 German and Vietnamese companies, including Leipziger Messe, Leipzig Public Transport Company (LVB), St. Georg Hospital, Leipzig University, Germatek, and Lebus.
Addressing the forum, Ambassador Thanh stressed that Vietnam prioritizes high-quality, high-tech investment, knowledge transfer, and high-value-added projects, areas where Vietnam's development needs match the strengths of Leipzig and Saxony.
During the event, participating businesses presented their operations and projects in Vietnam while exploring new partnerships. IHK Leipzig Vice President Angelika Bordt noted that such networking events provide an effective platform for direct dialogue between enterprises, local authorities, and diplomatic representatives.
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