US giants Boeing, Costco pursue stronger cooperation with Vietnam

The meetings took place during State President Cuong’s working trip to the U.S. from September 21 to 24 for the High-Level General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) and bilateral activities.

In talks with Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, a division of Boeing, Cuong praised the aerospace giant’s achievements and its support for Vietnam, including the recent delivery of new aircraft to local carriers.

He urged Boeing to maintain close coordination with Vietnamese partners to ensure the timely completion and delivery of existing orders, in line with operational schedules and financial arrangements.

Cuong also encouraged Boeing to expand investment in component manufacturing facilities and regional-scale maintenance centers linked to major Vietnamese airports, noting that such projects could serve both the domestic market and Southeast Asia.

He called on the company to integrate Vietnamese firms into its global supply chain to build a foundation for long-term, sustainable cooperation.

Vietnam, he affirmed, is ready to create favorable conditions under its laws for U.S. investors, particularly Boeing, to operate effectively in the country.

Pope said it was an honor to meet State President Cuong, describing the meeting as a reflection of the deepening U.S.–Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership.

She reaffirmed Boeing’s commitment to working closely with Vietnamese airlines to implement bilateral agreements and broaden cooperation.

She noted that Vietnam Airlines currently operates 17 Boeing aircraft, while budget carrier Vietjet has placed an order for more than 200 planes, the first of which are scheduled for delivery soon.

Pope stressed that Southeast Asia is a vital market for Boeing, with Vietnam’s dynamic economy fueling demand for modern aircraft.

On the same day, Cuong met with Ron Vachris, president and CEO of Costco, a retail giant with more than 870 outlets worldwide.

Vachris said Costco is eager to expand cooperation with Vietnamese suppliers to secure high-quality goods for its global network. 

He estimated the company’s annual imports from Vietnam could top US$1 billion, with key products including textiles, footwear, furniture, seafood, cashews, and coffee.

He added that Costco aims to build a strategic partnership framework with Vietnamese counterparts to diversify supply chains and boost production capacity, while advancing Environment-Society-Governance (ESG) standards.

The company is also considering an official presence and long-term investment in Vietnam.

Cuong welcomed Costco’s initiatives, saying they align with Vietnam’s strategy to deepen participation in global value chains, especially in sectors where the country has strengths such as agriculture, fisheries, textiles, footwear, and light industry.

He affirmed that Vietnam is ready to promote cooperation in green technology transfer to help local firms improve production processes, cut emissions, and adopt renewable energy.

With a population of over 100 million and rising consumer demand, Vietnam is an attractive destination for Costco’s expansion, Cuong stressed, pledging support for the retailer’s potential investments in procurement centers, logistics, and regional distribution hubs.