The gathering draw representatives from more than 20 Vietnamese-owned businesses in Singapore, who shared experience in distributing Vietnamese products in the market, discussed difficulties encountered during business operations and proposed recommendations aimed at supporting Vietnamese enterprises abroad.

Nguyen Viet Nien, sales manager at Fish International Sourcing House, said the company is seeking stronger connections with seafood producers in Vietnam to broaden its market reach and diversify imported products from the country.

He noted that the company already operates a factory in the island city state and hopes to recruit more highly skilled workers from Vietnam. In addition to importing high-quality products from around the world into Singapore, the company is also planning to increase exports of high-quality seafood products to the Vietnamese market.

Le Thi Thao Vy, office manager at CMC-APAC Pte Ltd, pointed to difficulties in obtaining work permits for Vietnamese software engineers in Singapore. She said engineers from countries such as Malaysia and India can obtain work permits more easily because salary requirements applied to Vietnamese engineers are higher despite similar qualifications and experience levels.

Vy suggested that authorities from both countries continue discussions on the issue to create more opportunities for Vietnamese engineers to work in Singapore.

Regarding efforts to develop Vietnamese brands overseas, Nguyen Tri Anh from Bites and Businesses said the company’s Banh Mi Society brand has recently become the exclusive partner of a four-star hotel in Singapore to introduce authentic Vietnamese banh mi to hotel guests.

He noted that Thailand launched its “Thai Kitchen of the World” programme in the early 2000s to promote Thai cuisine internationally. After five years, the number of Thai restaurants overseas had more than tripled.

According to Tri Anh, the programme’s success was partly driven by support measures from the Thai government, including certification for authentic Thai restaurants, financial support for overseas expansion and coordination with host countries to facilitate the placement of chefs and restaurant workers abroad.

For Vietnam, he said increasing the presence of Vietnamese culinary workers in Singapore and expanding imports of ingredients from Vietnam would both support Vietnamese businesses overseas and help build the reputation and brand of Vietnamese cuisine and the country’s image among international visitors and investors.

At the meeting, Bernard Grellier, a French-Vietnamese executive working for a leading US point-of-sale technology company, laid stress on the need to expand the provision of smart technology solutions to help Vietnamese businesses streamline operations, reduce labour costs and export goods more effectively. He said he is speeding up plans to support Vietnamese companies in accessing advanced retail technologies and expanding globally.

The event also gave businesses updates on Vietnam’s policies as well as Vietnam-Singapore economic and trade cooperation. The meeting formed part of efforts to implement Prime Ministerial Directive No. 11 dated April 3, 2026 on mobilising overseas Vietnamese to support the introduction, distribution and development of Vietnamese goods distribution networks abroad during the 2026--2030 period, including in Singapore.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh emphasized the programme helped reinforce solidarity among the Vietnamese business community in Singapore while helping authorities better understand proposals and dealing with difficulties facing Vietnamese

The initiative contributes to the country’s Go Global programme by expanding the international presence of Vietnamese businesses and products in trade, investment, tourism and cultural promotion, adding that similar activities should continue to be promoted in the future, Anh added.

Vietnam, Singapore promote green economic cooperation, sustainable trade

The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, together with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and partners, hosted a Vietnam – Singapore business networking programme on April 17, attracting more than 200 representatives from Singaporean regulatory bodies and industry associations.

Singapore to raise total number of VSIPs in Vietnam to 30 by 2026

VOV.VN - Singapore is set to increase the number of Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) in Vietnam to 30 by 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during phone talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hung on April 16.