On April 23, 2025, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang presented his credentials to President Natasa Pirc Musar, officially beginning his term as Ambassador of Vietnam to Slovenia. On this occasion, Ms. Dinh Thi Hoang Yen, Chief of the Vietnam Trade Office in Austria (concurrently covering Slovenia), accompanied the Ambassador in courtesy meetings with Speaker of the National Assembly Urska Klakocar Zupancic, as well as senior representatives from key ministries including the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Ministry of Infrastructure, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, the Naprej Institute, and several Slovenian companies.
Strengthening Economic and Investment Ties
The Ambassador emphasized the strong potential for economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries—Vietnam being an active member of ASEAN, and Slovenia a strategic partner in the EU. Slovenia’s successful economic reforms over the past three decades serve as a valuable model for Vietnam’s development.
Both sides aim to raise bilateral trade from the current EUR 0.5 billion to EUR 1 billion, with a focus on strengthening cooperation in logistics via the Port of Koper, AI technology, education scholarships, vocational training, labor export, technology transfer, and agricultural exports.
Slovenia, though a small nation of just over 2 million people, has a high level of English proficiency, an international labor force accounting for about 20% of its workforce, and advanced capabilities in IT, clean energy, and nuclear power operations—ranking third in the world in nuclear plant efficiency.
Diplomatic and Institutional Framework
Vietnam and Slovenia maintain an Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation, which last convened in October 2023, co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon. During the session, Prime Minister Robert Golob received the Vietnamese delegation and expressed great interest in expanding trade relations with Asia. The next session of the Committee is expected to be held in Vietnam.
Ambassador Hoang proposed that both sides highlight the benefits of the EVFTA after five years of implementation, urged Slovenia to support Vietnam in lifting the EU’s IUU yellow card on seafood exports, and encouraged early ratification of the EVIPA (EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement).
He also requested Slovenia’s approval of the Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Slovenia and suggested the appointment of a Slovenian trade representative in Vietnam. Slovenia was also invited to attend the UN Cybercrime Convention signing ceremony to be held in Hanoi in October 2025.
Expanding Strategic Cooperation
Given the rapidly changing global landscape, both countries are encouraged to strengthen business linkages, trade promotion activities, and mutual market access. Vietnam and Slovenia, strategically located in ASEAN and Central Europe, respectively, can serve as gateways for each other to access broader regional markets.
The two sides agreed to continue promoting cooperation through business missions, networking events, and information exchanges to foster stronger and more practical economic relations.