Vietnam's New Ambassador to Israel: "We Will Turn the Trade Agreement with Israel Into a Growth-Promoting One"

Vietnam's new ambassador to Israel, Nguyen Ky Son, presented his credentials to President Isaac Herzog last Monday at an official ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, an event that marked a new high point in the strengthening relations between the countries.

During the meeting, President Herzog defined Vietnam as "a dynamic and significant partner of Israel in Southeast Asia," and even mentioned the historic meeting between David Ben-Gurion and Ho Chi Minh in 1946, which he described as a cornerstone of the strengthening ties between the countries.

Ambassador Son, for his part, emphasized that he intends to make the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) a significant driver of economic and technological growth, with an emphasis on innovation, advanced technology, and large-scale business collaborations.

Shared Vision: Israeli Innovation and Vietnamese Manufacturing

The new ambassador arrived in Israel on May 13 and was welcomed by the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel and representatives from the business and diplomatic community.

Among the guests was Yoram Naor, Vice President of the Ambassadors' Club in Israel and a strategic partner of FPT Israel, one of the key technology companies operating in relations between the countries.

Within this framework, FPT Group, led by Chairman Thang Bui Vinh, is working to expand collaborations in the fields of cyber, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies. The goal: to make Vietnam a regional production and implementation center for joint technological solutions that will be distributed throughout Asia-Pacific.

Behind the diplomatic moves stands an ambitious economic goal: integrating Israeli innovation and technology into the Vietnamese economy, as part of a vision for annual growth of about 10% in the Vietnamese economy.

Right: Herzog and the Vietnamese Ambassador and Yoram Naor at the President's residence. Photo: Courtesy of the Vietnamese Embassy

Tourism, Also in the Spotlight: 300,000 Israelis a Year

Alongside technology and trade, the parties also aim to deepen tourism and cultural ties. As part of the new vision, an ambitious goal has been set to bring about 300,000 Israeli tourists to Vietnam each year.

According to the plan, the expansion of connections is also expected to include a future expansion of direct flights between Tel Aviv and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, a move that could significantly facilitate tourism, business, and investment between the countries.

The entire move is based on combining the relative advantages of the two countries: on the one hand, Israel as a leading "startup nation," and on the other, Vietnam with a young workforce, a developing industry, and large-scale production capabilities.

Sources involved in relations between the countries estimate that the coming years may transform Israel and Vietnam into more significant strategic partners, not only in the Far East but also in the global technological and commercial arena

The person entering the center is welcomed by the Vietnamese Embassy staff and representatives from the business and diplomatic community at the Naor Center and the Ambassador.