(Ho Chi Minh City = Open News Communication) Reporter Lee Jae-jun = The World Vocational Skills Exchange Association (WVCEA) has set out to expand cooperation between Vietnam and Korea in the digital economy and green growth. WVCEA participated in the ‘2025 Vietnam-Korea Cultural Exchange, Investment & Trade Connection Program’ held in Ho Chi Minh City on the 6th and 7th, and discussed cooperation plans in various fields including agriculture, science and technology, education, and trade.
The event was co-hosted by WVCEA, the International Market and Media Research Institute (IMRIC), the Institute of Policy, Law and Integrated Economy (IRLIE), the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Agriculture Park Management Committee, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (HUTECH), and the Vietnam Farmers Club. An 11-member Korean delegation inspected smart greenhouses and IoT-based automated irrigation systems, and explored ways to cooperate on smart farm technology and foster semiconductor talent.
Seo Jeong-wook, Chairman of the WVCEA, stated, “The association aims for sustainable development goals and seeks to create jobs and foster innovative growth through multidisciplinary international cooperation,” adding that “currently, 110 member companies are participating.” Nguyen Thanh Hien, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Agricultural Park, proposed agricultural science and technology research, startup support, and talent development as areas for cooperation.
Master Tran Quoc Duy (Vice President of IMRIC, Secretary General of AVRCIPL), the planner and overall coordinator of this program, stated, “The program contributed to accelerating cooperation in key areas between the two countries and reaffirmed the role of private diplomacy in the era of globalization.”
According to Dr. Do Huu Nguyen Loc (Vice President of UEF), about 100 people, including officials from institutions, organizations, universities, associations, and companies, as well as outstanding students, participated in the 2025 Vietnam-Korea Cultural Exchange and International Trade and Education Linkage Conference held at UEF.
Approximately 100 people attended the international conference held at UEF, and Korean speakers from Meshlink Co., Ltd. (CEO Ha Jin-soo) presented on three topics: “Effective Application Methods of XR Platforms” (CTO Yong-seon Kang), “The Future of Data Management and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Vietnam” (Manager Jong-wook Wi), and “Digital Transformation in DX Business Model Innovation” (Director Dae-heon Seo).
WVCEA signed a memorandum of understanding with IMRIC, IRLIE, UEF, and HUTECH, and also held XR experiences and exhibitions of Korean beauty and health products. Subsequently, they discussed cooperation for the ‘111 Project,’ a talent development initiative worth 200 million won, at the Semiconductor and Advanced Materials Design Center on the HUTECH campus.
The Korean delegation also participated in the ‘Vietnam-Korea Agricultural Cooperation Connection Program’ held at the Vietnam Farmers Club, where they discussed agricultural trade, smart farming, and science and technology cooperation with over 40 companies. Le Thanh Tuan, CEO of T90 Investment, Trade, Services, and Import/Export, stated, “Companies from both countries exhibited their representative products and continued their exchanges by sharing a ‘Green Dinner’.”
Korea is Vietnam’s largest investor and a major partner in trade and development cooperation, with trade volume reaching $81.5 billion in 2024 (up 7.3% from the previous year). The two countries aim to achieve $150 billion by 2030 and are expanding exchanges in various fields, including science and technology, renewable energy, culture, and tourism. In the first half of 2025, 1.9 million Korean tourists visited Vietnam, and more than 350,000 Vietnamese expatriates reside in Korea, continuing exchanges between the two nations.
