Global economic challenges
Ljubljana, April 25th 2025 –Ambassador VŨ Lê Thái Hoàng and Slovenian Representatives Discussed Opportunities in Trade, Innovation, and More
On April 24, 2025, Inštitut NAPREJ in Ljubljana hosted an important event aimed at deepening cooperation between Slovenia and Vietnam in trade, development projects, research, and knowledge transfer. The meeting brought together representatives from science, business, sports, culture, and government, including H.E. Mr. VŨ Lê Thái Hoàng, the newly appointed Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovenia, State Secretary Mr. Jure Gašparič from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and Mr. Miha Erman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador VŨ Lê Thái Hoàng opened the meeting by emphasizing the strategic significance of both countries. “Slovenia can serve as a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe, while Vietnam can be a key entry point to Southeast Asia,” he said. He highlighted the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement as a foundation for strengthened trade and called for the swift ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement to boost investment flows. VŨ Lê Thái Hoàng identified three priority areas of cooperation: high technology and innovation, energy transition, and labor force and vocational training.
He outlined Vietnam’s goal to become a high value-added goods and services economy by 2045, emphasizing science, technology, and innovation as key drivers. “In this time of unprecedented uncertainty, it is crucial that our businesses and stakeholders learn more about each other’s markets and potential,” he added.
Delving into Vietnam’s economic landscape, VŨ Lê Thái Hoàng noted the country’s rapidly growing GDP per capita, which has reached nearly USD 5,000, with ambitions to triple it by 2045. He acknowledged the challenge of maintaining high growth—targeting “between 8% and double digits annually”—amid limited resources and a population exceeding 100 million. Vietnam prioritizes high-tech industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and data centers, supported by investments from global tech giants. He also pointed out Vietnam’s strong electronics manufacturing sector as an advantage.
State Secretary Jure Gašparič reaffirmed Slovenia’s commitment to knowledge transfer and innovation. Representing the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, he highlighted Slovenia’s participation in the Horizon Europe program as a platform for joint projects with Vietnam. With the EU’s next financial framework prioritizing competitiveness and high-tech, Gašparič sees great potential for collaboration. “We have enough funding; we just need to be innovative and proactive,” he said, calling for active engagement from both countries.
A concrete example was presented by Matej Kobav from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, who detailed an Erasmus Plus project on smart lighting education in Vietnam, through which new curricula were developed and laboratories were equipped at Vietnamese universities. “The success of our smart lighting education project demonstrates the potential for fruitful cooperation between our institutions,” he emphasized.
The energy transition emerged as a key topic of discussion. Ambassador VŨ Lê Thái Hoàng outlined Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and detailed plans to build two nuclear power plants with a total capacity of eight gigawatts—a project revived after a temporary suspension in 2016. He also mentioned the ASEAN Power Grid initiative and research efforts into submarine electrical networks to connect with neighboring countries, addressing the challenge of integrating renewable energy into Vietnam’s national grid. Mr. Likozar from Elektro Ljubljana, Slovenia’s largest electricity distributor, confirmed the potential for cooperation in this area and shared expertise on renewable energy integration—a common challenge that presents opportunities for joint efforts.
On workforce collaboration, Ambassador VŨ Lê Thái Hoàng highlighted Vietnam’s young, English-speaking labor force as a potential solution to Slovenia’s demand for workers. He proposed partnerships in vocational training and short-term seasonal employment targeting sectors such as agriculture, construction, and healthcare. Crucially, he emphasized the need for both countries to properly formalize agreements and protocols—something he is committed to advocating for.
Sports collaboration added a unique dimension, with a representative from the Slovenian Canoe Federation discussing existing ties with Vietnam. Plans were revealed to invite Vietnamese athletes to train in Slovenia, promoting exchanges in coaching techniques and elite training—a move to strengthen cultural and sporting relations.
Entrepreneurs in attendance shared concrete experiences and opportunities. Mr. Božič from Tevel, a manufacturer of equipment for hazardous environments, expressed interest in expanding into Vietnamese industrial sectors, building on existing partnerships in mining equipment. Ms. Matasić emphasized networking and knowledge transfer in the IT sector, underlining the need to connect startups and innovators. Her positive experiences with partners in Asia underscored the value of such cross-border links.
Tadej Slapnik, representing Institute 5.0, contributed valuable insights into fostering entrepreneurial ties between the two countries. Based on his experiences with blockchain and emerging technologies, Slapnik highlighted Slovenia’s adoption of Industry 5.0 principles and the potential for joint investment in AI, big data, and quantum computing. “We are advancing rapidly in adopting technologies like AI, Web 4.0, and virtual worlds as core Industry 5.0 solutions,” he explained, suggesting that Vietnam’s vibrant tech scene could benefit from Slovenian expertise—and vice versa. Opportunities for collaboration are opening up, as together the countries represent a sizable test and expansion market for innovations.
Miha Erman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributed a diplomatic perspective, emphasizing Slovenia’s foreign policy priorities in Southeast Asia. He highlighted the importance of bilateral agreements and the broader EU-ASEAN strategic partnership as frameworks that can facilitate deeper Slovenian-Vietnamese cooperation. Erman also touched on Slovenia’s support for Vietnam’s role in regional stability and its efforts in cybersecurity, particularly praising the upcoming hosting of the UN Convention on Cybercrime signing ceremony in Hanoi. “Slovenia is ready to support Vietnam in its international efforts and explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation,” he confirmed, reinforcing the excellent diplomatic relations between the two countries moving forward.
The meeting concluded with agreements to implement several joint activities, including organizing forums and workshops to foster business connections in IT, innovation, and labor market sectors.
Anton Horvatič, Director of Inštitut NAPREJ, expressed satisfaction that so many concrete examples and potential new opportunities for cooperation emerged during the event. He added: “We are very pleased to continue the conversations we began with the Vietnamese delegation last year. My goal following this event is to bring a Slovenian business and scientific team to Vietnam to build cooperation and outstanding long-term partnerships.”
Ambassador VŨ Lê Thái Hoàng also stressed the importance of appointing an honorary Vietnamese consul in Slovenia as soon as possible. The process is in its final stages and will further strengthen bilateral ties.
The event closed with remarks from Minister for the Environment, Climate and Energy, mag. Bojan Kumer, who accepted an invitation to visit Vietnam later this year. In a lively discussion, he shared Slovenia’s experiences in energy and sustainability.
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