Enterprises from the U.S. are strongly interested in Vietnam, with an American company seeking investment opportunities and talking about business expansion in the Southeast Asian country every week, said U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Susan Burns.

In a meeting with journalists in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday at her residence, Consul General Burns shared that she believes in the economic growth of Vietnam in 2023 and the long term. 

Ho Chi Minh City plays an important part, especially in business and trade, in the Vietnam-U.S. relations. 

Burns highlighted the fields where Vietnam can be a part of global solutions including creating a more diverse and sustainable supply chain, clean energy, and battery storage. 

When asked about the prospect of a business and investment environment in 2023 under the shadow of high inflation and the war in Ukraine, Consul General Burns said that “the interest of the American business community here in Vietnam is just growing and growing in terms of investment.” 

“I don't see any kind of worry about the long term.

"When we talk to American companies or companies exporting to Vietnam, we say that this is a growth market. Our agricultural exports are going up and up.

“Some of the American products that people are buying are blueberries and cherries.

"They are expensive, but people are still interested in buying them.

"I think that's because of the American brand, also the quality and there is a growing consumer market.

"We recognize that 2023 may be a challenging year but the long term outlook for Vietnam is very strong."

According to data from the U.S census bureau in 2022, U.S. trade in goods with Vietnam is US$11.3 billion in exports and $127.5 billion in imports.

The U.S. is the largest market for exporters from Vietnam.

“It's going to be a really busy and exciting year for the Vietnam-U.S. relations,” Consul General Burns said at the meeting as U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai was wrapping up her trip in Hanoi.

Tai’s trip is the first major visit from the U.S. to Vietnam in 2023 as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive partnership.

Washington has voiced a desire to upgrade the existing comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership on many occasions such as during the visit of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to Hanoi in 2021. 

Consul General Burns said that she hopes to see the relations between both sides upgraded to a new level in 2023 as for Washington, the U.S.-Vietnam relationship is already strategic. 

Burns took office as U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City in August 2022.  

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