European Commissioner Jozef Síkela to visit Vietnam this month

The coming trip is part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, meant to create jobs and accelerate Vietnam’s transition toward a greener economy.

The visit will follow a ‘Team Europe’ approach, with vice-president of the European Investment Bank Nicola Beer joining Síkela in leading a delegation of European companies to explore investment opportunities, particularly in sustainable transport.

A key highlight of the trip will be the EU–Vietnam Global Gateway Business and Investment Forum, scheduled for March 24 in Hanoi.

The event will focus on clean energy and sustainable transport, two Global Gateway priority areas in Vietnam that also support the country’s commitments under the Just Energy Transition Partnership, which the EU co-leads.

At the forum, Síkela and representatives of the European private sector are expected to announce new EU investment projects in Vietnam.

The event is also expected to deepen economic ties between Europe and Vietnam while supporting the country’s shift toward a sustainable, digital economy with long-term growth prospects.

It will bring together senior policymakers from both sides, along with business leaders, investors, and development partners, to explore new trade and investment opportunities, showcase projects, and foster long-term partnerships.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Síkela described Vietnam as a dynamic and ambitious economy with a young population and strong growth potential.

He said both sides aim to create new economic opportunities for young people while building a more sustainable economy through investments in clean energy and modern transport infrastructure.

“With Global Gateway, we are bringing European companies and investors to Vietnam to turn this ambition into concrete projects that create jobs and support the country’s clean transition,” he said in a statement.

During the visit, Síkela is scheduled to meet senior Vietnamese government officials and make several announcements related to EU cooperation and investment plans.

Global Gateway is the EU’s flagship initiative to address global investment gaps and promote smart, clean, and secure connectivity across digital, energy, and transport sectors, while also strengthening health, education, and research systems.

With a ‘Team Europe’ approach, Global Gateway brings together the EU, EU member states, and European development finance institutions.

It aims to mobilize up to €400 billion (US$460.5 billion) in public and private investment between 2021 and 2027 to enhance connectivity, reduce dependencies, and narrow the global investment gap.