Hai Phong tops FTA Index, affirming integration capacity
Hai Phong ranked first in the 2025 Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Index, demonstrating its capacity to implement integration commitments and support businesses in effectively leveraging trade agreements.
Impressive figures
FTA Index is the first set of indicators in Vietnam to assess the implementation of FTAs at the local level from the business perspective.
In 2025, Hai Phong scored 35.62 out of 40 points, ranking first among the 34 localities assessed and being the only locality in the “Excellent” group, while the national average FTA Index score was just 21.66 points. The nearly 14-point gap reflects the city’s efforts to organize FTA implementation and support businesses in their integration.
The high score reflects how Hai Phong’s FTA implementation has shifted from disseminating policies to supporting enterprises in putting those policies into practice. This is increasingly significant as the city’s trade volume continues to grow. In the first eight months of 2026, Hai Phong’s exports reached USD 42.2 billion, up about 14.6% year on year, while imports reached USD 31.1 billion, up 18.56%.
According to Vu Ngoc Lam, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong Business Association, the advantages of seaports and logistics, together with the network of manufacturers, importers and exporters, make this requirement even more urgent. When information is provided promptly, procedures are shortened and regulations are implemented consistently, enterprises can reduce costs, proactively manage orders and enhance their competitiveness in international markets.
Accompanying businesses
Behind the FTA Index score is the coordinated involvement of departments, sectors, State management agencies and the business community.
The Department of Industry and Trade plays an important role in providing information, guidance and support for businesses in leveraging FTAs. Since August 2025, the city has fully implemented all types of preferential and non-preferential certificates of origin (C/Os) under the “five on-site” approach, including reception, appraisal, approval, stamping and returning of results at the City Public Administration Service Center, helping shorten the processing time for applications.
Since the beginning of the year, the Department of Industry and Trade has issued about 150,000 sets of C/Os for various markets, representing export value of about USD 7 billion. Among the preferential C/O forms with large export values are EUR.1, D, E, AK/VK and AJ/V.
Yang Rinke, General Director of Tongwei Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. in An Duong Industrial Park, said that issuing C/Os under the “five on-site” approach is important for import-export businesses, as the certificates serve as a basis for goods to enjoy tariff preferences under trade agreements between Vietnam and its partners. This approach helps the company reduce the time needed to process C/O applications by about 70% compared with before, thereby increasing competitiveness, expanding markets and optimizing costs.
Alongside the industry and trade sector, the Customs Sub-Department of Region III continues to accelerate administrative reform and modernization, with business convenience serving as one of the measures of operational effectiveness. On June 1, 2026, the unit was selected by the Ministry of Finance and the Customs Department as the first focal point in the sector to pilot a centralized customs clearance model, helping reduce time and costs for import-export enterprises.
The city views the FTA Index not as a tool for pursuing rankings but as a tool for governance and reform. Based on an analysis of each component indicator, Hai Phong will develop annual improvement plans with specific objectives, responsibilities and timelines, striving to maintain its leading position and move toward becoming one of three localities with the highest FTA Index results nationwide.
HA VY