Vietnam President To Lam’s India Visit to Boost Trade, Supply Chain Ties

Vietnam President To Lam’s India visit is expected to boost bilateral trade and supply chain ties. Bilateral trade has tripled from $5.4 billion in 2016 to $16.46 billion in 2025. Trade in Q1 2026 reached $4.8 billion, a 28% increase year-on-year. New cooperation areas include textiles, footwear, and Vingroup’s electric vehicle facility in Tamil Nadu.

Key Points: Vietnam President To Lam’s India Visit to Boost Trade

  • Bilateral trade tripled from $5.4 billion in 2016 to $16.46 billion in 2025
  • Trade in Q1 2026 reached $4.8 billion, a 28% year-on-year increase
  • India exports textiles, pharmaceuticals, and steel; Vietnam exports electronics and machinery
  • New cooperation areas include textiles, footwear, and Vingroup’s EV plant in Tamil Nadu
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Vietnam President To Lam's India visit likely to boost trade, supply chain ties

Vietnam President To Lam’s visit to India aims to deepen trade and supply chain ties, with bilateral trade tripling to $16.46 billion in 2025.

"the two economies are increasingly complementary, with India's strengths in raw materials, pharmaceuticals and software aligning well with Vietnam's manufacturing capabilities and global trade integration - Vietnam News report"

New Delhi, May 5

The India visit of Vietnam President To Lam is expected to inject fresh momentum into bilateral ties, as India and Vietnam look to deepen cooperation and shape a new framework for growth under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a report has said.

The visit comes at a time when economic engagement between the two countries is witnessing strong expansion across sectors such as trade, investment, digital technology, manufacturing and energy, according to Vietnam News report.

Since the establishment of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, both sides have steadily built political trust while strengthening practical collaboration.

Bilateral trade has emerged as a key pillar of this relationship, with total trade tripling from $5.4 billion in 2016 to a record $16.46 billion in 2025, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The growth momentum has continued into 2026, with trade reaching $4.8 billion in the first quarter alone, marking a sharp 28 per cent increase year-on-year.

Vietnam's exports to India have been led by manufactured and processed goods such as electronics, machinery and agricultural products, while India's exports include textile materials, plastics, pharmaceuticals and steel that support Vietnam's production and export ecosystem.

Experts note that the two economies are increasingly complementary, with India's strengths in raw materials, pharmaceuticals and software aligning well with Vietnam's manufacturing capabilities and global trade integration, as per the report.

This complementarity is helping both countries move beyond direct competition towards deeper supply chain integration and production linkages.

As global companies diversify manufacturing bases, India and Vietnam are positioning themselves as key players in the ongoing restructuring of regional supply chains, the report stated.

Investment ties are also expanding, with Indian businesses now operating projects across 20 provinces and cities in Vietnam.

At the same time, Vietnamese companies are gradually increasing their footprint in India, including major proposals such as Vingroup's plan to set up an electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu.

New areas of cooperation are also emerging. Textiles and footwear are becoming important sectors for industrial collaboration, supported by global supply chain shifts and complementary strengths in raw materials and manufacturing, the report said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Good to see India-Vietnam ties strengthening, especially in supply chains. With global companies moving out of China, both countries can benefit. But I wish the article mentioned more about cultural and people-to-people exchanges—tourism, student visas, etc. That builds long-term trust. Also, ensure Vietnamese students feel welcome in Indian universities!
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James A
Impressive growth in bilateral trade—from $5.4 billion to $16.46 billion in under a decade! That's almost tripling. India's strengths in pharma and software paired with Vietnam's manufacturing prowess make a lot of sense. Hope this visit also leads to smoother customs procedures and fewer non-tariff barriers to keep the momentum going.
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Kavya N
As someone who follows trade, this is a big deal. Vietnam is a gateway to ASEAN, and India's 'Act East' policy is finally showing results. The textile and footwear collaboration is particularly smart—India has raw materials, Vietnam has manufacturing know-how. Just hope small businesses in India also benefit, not just big corporates.
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Michael C
Vietnam is a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region. The supply chain diversification narrative is real, and countries like India and Vietnam are well-positioned. But we need to be careful about over-reliance on any single partner—diversify across ASEAN and beyond. Also, ensure that the EV and tech investments create jobs for Indians, not just assembly lines.
S
Siddharth J
The numbers are promising, but I'm disappointed that the article doesn't mention defense or maritime cooperation. Given the South China Sea tensions

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