Vietnam announces 2025 FTA Index with Hai Phong leading

Vietnam has announced the 2025 Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Index, a tool designed to evaluate how provinces and cities implement and utilize trade agreements. The index aims to identify regional strengths and bottlenecks in institutions, procedures, infrastructure, and human resources.

Hai Phong emerged as the top performer among 34 evaluated provinces and cities, scoring 35.62 out of 40. It was the only locality ranked as ‘Very Good’, significantly exceeding the national average of 21.66. Hai Phong led the country in both access to FTA information and compliance with legal regulations related to trade agreements. Other notable regional leaders included Lai Chau for business support and Ca Mau for sustainable development.

In other economic developments, the Vietnam International Financial Center (VIFC) launched an online membership registration system to digitize the process for investors and organizations. Additionally, customs clearance hours at the Lang Son border gates are undergoing adjustments, and China has approved 140 growing area codes for durians from Dak Lak, facilitating further exports.