New report highlights untapped potential in NZ-Viet Nam relationship
The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is thrilled to launch its latest report, Viet Nam and New Zealand at 50: The next chapter. This report explores the growing potential of the bilateral relationship as the two nations celebrate 50 years of formal diplomatic ties.
Commissioned by the Foundation and authored by Haike Manning, the report builds on the 2020 publication, Viet Nam & New Zealand: Let’s Go, offering fresh insights into Viet Nam's dynamic environment and celebrating the people who have contributed to the New Zealand – Viet Nam relationship over the last 50 years.
“This report is timely, especially with the Prime Minister's upcoming delegation to Viet Nam. Its insights will be a valuable resource for those who want to learn more about our bilateral relationship,” says Suzannah Jessep, chief executive of the Foundation.
“Viet Nam is already our 14th biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth NZ$2.68 billion in 2024. Given Viet Nam’s booming economy, the potential for New Zealand businesses, from fashion and food to tech and the arts is huge. We do have a bit of a trade deficit at the moment, but that just means there's room to grow.”
The report's author Haike Manning describes the pace of change in Viet Nam as "remarkable”.
“It is expected to see some of the fastest income growth in the world over the next decade," he says.
“Viet Nam’s increasingly wealthy consumers trust our high quality, safe food, which has underpinned significant growth in our exports to Viet Nam over the past 10 years.”
Beyond trade, the report also celebrates long-standing ties between the two countries, especially in areas like healthcare, education and diplomacy.
People-to-people connections are flourishing, with 8,000 Vietnamese visiting New Zealand in 2023 and 40,000 New Zealanders visiting Viet Nam in 2024. New Zealand and Viet Nam also share a commitment to a stable international environment and are actively collaborating on defence and security matters.
The full report is a great read for anyone looking to understand the incredible opportunities in Viet Nam, from businesses to policymakers, academics and anyone curious about understanding and engaging with this dynamic market.
Download the full report
pdf, 13.59 MB
For more information or for interview purposes, contact: Taniya Scott, director communications and media | email: [email protected]
