Hai Phong businesses seek opportunities in the global Halal market

On the morning of June 30, at the City Convention and Performance Center, the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Intersectoral Steering Committee for International Economic Integration, organized a thematic conference titled: "The Vietnam–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): Opportunities and Challenges for Businesses Accessing the Halal Market."

The conference was attended by representatives of the Intersectoral Steering Committee for International Economic Integration, the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, business associations, business support organizations, educational institutions, and numerous export and logistics enterprises operating in the city.

The Vietnam–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) officially entered into force on February 3, 2026. The agreement marks a new milestone in economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while creating opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to expand their access to the UAE, the Middle East, North Africa, and the global Halal market.

As the leading industrial, commercial, service, logistics, and international seaport hub in northern Vietnam, Hai Phong currently maintains trade relations with more than 130 countries and territories worldwide. In 2025, the city's exports exceeded USD 50 billion, while imports surpassed USD 41 billion.

Against the backdrop of increasingly intense competition in traditional export markets and the emergence of new trade barriers, CEPA and the global Halal market are not only opening up new export opportunities but also helping diversify markets and strengthen the economy's resilience to fluctuations in global trade.

At the conference, delegates and members of the business community received updates on international economic integration and the factors affecting import and export activities. They were also introduced to the key provisions of the Vietnam–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The conference also featured presentations on the potential of the global Halal market and the opportunities it offers businesses, Halal standards and key considerations for entering the Halal market, recommendations for Hai Phong, and the SmartLog Hai Phong platform—a digital solution designed to connect logistics data and support import-export enterprises across the global supply chain.

During the conference, business representatives discussed the challenges and obstacles they face in accessing the Halal market. They also put forward proposals and recommendations on improving support mechanisms and policies to help enterprises make better use of free trade agreements, promote trade promotion and business networking activities, expand export markets, and integrate more deeply into global value chains.

Minh Khoi - Hoang Phuoc