Vietnam, Poland Target Green Innovation Beyond Traditional Trade

HO CHI MINH CITY – Vietnam and Poland are expanding their economic partnership, shifting focus from traditional trade towards green technology, sustainable manufacturing, and circular economy solutions, according to officials and business leaders at a forum on June 17.

The Vietnam–Poland Business Networking and Luncheon brought together a delegation of 11 Polish companies participating in GreenEvo, a program managed by Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment to promote proven environmental technologies internationally.

Joanna Zanowska, a representative of the ministry’s Department of Strategy and Climate Resilience, said Polish green technologies could be instrumental in supporting Vietnam’s transition to a low-carbon economy and its objective of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. She highlighted strong potential for cooperation in water and wastewater management, waste treatment, air pollution reduction, and other technologies aimed at lowering emissions and improving resource efficiency. Drawing on Poland’s own experience with economic and environmental transformation, Zanowska expressed confidence that the two nations could deepen their cooperation and share best practices in sustainable development and green growth.

Wojciech Kusak, a counsellor at the political and economic section of the Polish Embassy in Việt Nam, affirmed this strategic shift. “Cooperation between Poland and Việt Nam is moving beyond traditional imports and exports,” Kusak stated. “We see significant potential to collaborate on green technologies, eco-friendly manufacturing, sustainable resource management and the promotion of a circular economy.”

He emphasized that while bilateral trade is growing, the future of the partnership will rely more on the exchange of technologies than on commodities. “Our bilateral trade figures are rising, with Polish exports to Việt Nam up 20 per cent, but the future lies in trading solutions, not just commodities,” he said, noting that both countries share ambitions for economic transformation. “By combining Việt Nam’s strategic position as an ASEAN hub with Polish expertise in green innovation and food safety, we can build resilient, climate-smart supply chains,” he added.

Piotr Harasimowicz, chief representative officer of the Foreign Trade Office of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) in Việt Nam, described the bilateral relationship as entering a new phase centered on sustainability and innovation. “Việt Nam is pursuing an ambitious green transition, while Poland brings decades of experience in sustainable development. Together, this creates strong opportunities for cooperation,” Harasimowicz said. He added that Polish firms view Vietnam not just as a key market but as a long-term partner for innovation, and stressed that the green transition requires “business leadership, innovation and international collaboration,” urging Vietnamese companies to explore opportunities with Polish partners.

The strengthening economic ties were quantified by Bùi Thị Ninh, deputy general director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s HCM City chapter. She noted that Poland is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe and serves as a crucial gateway for Vietnamese businesses to the European Union market. Bilateral trade reached nearly US$4 billion in 2025, with Vietnamese exports accounting for about $3.5 billion. In the first four months of 2026, trade between the two countries totalled $1.5 billion, she said.

Ninh added that Vietnam is accelerating its green growth strategies and circular economy models to meet its 2050 net-zero target. Achieving these goals, she said, will require stronger participation from the business community and wider adoption of advanced technologies to improve resource efficiency, reduce emissions, protect the environment, and enhance climate resilience.

At the forum, the Polish companies presented a variety of environmental solutions, including advanced systems for water and wastewater treatment, technologies for waste recovery and the circular economy, air purification and environmental monitoring systems, industrial decarbonisation technologies, and smart urban infrastructure.

The event attracted Vietnamese businesses seeking such solutions. Nguyễn Đức Trung, director of domestic project development at O Plant-based Food JSC, said his company attended to explore Polish environmental technologies that could be integrated into its production facilities. The company, which specializes in plant-based foods like bread made from rice, plans to expand its manufacturing operations. According to Trung, wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and biotechnology solutions are among the areas of greatest interest as the company seeks to minimise its environmental footprint and embrace circular economy principles.