On the occasion of Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt (concurrently accredited to Lebanon) presenting his credentials from President Luong Cuong to President Joseph Aoun of the Republic of Lebanon, the Vietnam Trade Office in Egypt (concurrently Lebanon) conducted a market survey and business meetings in Lebanon.
As part of the mission, the Trade Office, in cooperation with the Vietnamese Embassy, successfully organized a trade promotion seminar titled “Vietnam–Lebanon: Trade Potential and Opportunities” on March 12, 2025, in Beirut.
Lebanese Businesses Show Strong Interest in Cooperation with Vietnam
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Despite being held during the Ramadan period, the seminar attracted numerous Lebanese enterprises from various sectors — including supermarkets, seafood, textiles, footwear, pharmaceuticals, construction steel, maritime transport, and software services — reflecting the diverse cooperation potential and growing demand for Vietnamese products.
Representing the Trade Office, Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung, Head of Mission, presented key trade cooperation areas and support measures available to Lebanese businesses, such as:
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Enterprise verification and trade information services;
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Vietnam’s import–export and investment policies;
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Annual international trade fairs in Vietnam;
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Lists of reputable Vietnamese exporters.
Lebanese Importers Highlight Practical Challenges
During the discussion session, Lebanese companies raised several concerns, including:
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Language barriers — some Vietnamese exporters have limited English proficiency;
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Difficulty finding company information online;
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The need for faster visa procedures for Lebanese business delegations attending trade fairs in Vietnam.
IT and software companies also expressed interest in assessing Vietnamese IT firms’ capabilities and requested guidance on procedures for opening representative offices or subsidiaries in Vietnam.
The Trade Office addressed these concerns and provided contact details of relevant Vietnamese business associationsto facilitate potential cooperation.
Vietnamese Products Already Available in Lebanon
The delegation also conducted field visits to the Hoz Mall supermarket chain in Al Koura, North Lebanon.
Mr. Wassim El Hoz, Chairman of Hoz Mall, confirmed that Vietnamese products — including frozen pangasius fillets, shrimp dumplings, and canned tuna — are already available on their shelves.
He expressed willingness to import additional Vietnamese products to introduce to Lebanese consumers.
Additionally, during a meeting with UBSA Pharma Industries in Tripoli, CEO Zakaria El Sayed and Managing Director Omar El Sayed expressed strong interest in importing vitamins and minerals from Vietnam for pharmaceutical production.
Lebanon: A Promising Market for Vietnamese Exports
According to Lebanon Customs, the total bilateral trade between Vietnam and Lebanon in 2024 reached USD 97 million, up 9.3% compared to 2023 — with Vietnam accounting for nearly 99.4% of total trade value.
Vietnam’s main export items to Lebanon include:
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Seafood (frozen and processed)
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Coffee and pepper
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Rice
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Footwear and garment accessories
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Machinery and electrical equipment
Lebanon’s Political Stabilization Opens New Prospects
Vietnam’s exports to Lebanon dropped sharply in 2020 amid Lebanon’s prolonged economic and political crisis, during which the country had no president from November 2022 to January 2025.
However, following the election of President Joseph Aoun on January 9, 2025, and the formation of a new government four weeks later, Lebanon began to stabilize politically and gained access to international reconstruction funds.
Economic recovery is now underway, creating renewed import demand and expanding trade opportunities — especially for Vietnamese exporters aiming to enter the Middle East–Africa market.