New opportunities for Vietnamese goods
Trade relations between Vietnam and New Zealand are developing positively, opening up many new cooperation opportunities in the context of the two countries upgrading to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in early 2025. With two-way trade turnover expected to exceed 2 billion USD mark this year, New Zealand continues to be considered one of the leading potential markets for Vietnamese goods in Oceania region.
In an interview with a reporter from Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Do Huu Tung - First Secretary, Vietnam Trade Office in New Zealand shared about advantages and difficulties of Vietnamese enterprises when accessing this market and provide recommendations and solutions to remove technical barriers, improve competitiveness and promote sustainable development of bilateral trade cooperation in coming time.
According to Mr. Do Huu Tung, New Zealand market is basically an open market for consumer goods, including product groups that Vietnam has export strengths in such as textiles, electronic components, wood products and machinery and equipment. However, the biggest difficulty that Vietnamese enterprises face is still technical barriers to food safety.
“New Zealand is a country with very high standards in quality control, packaging and traceability, especially for fresh agricultural products. For example, when exporting fresh fruits to this market, Vietnamese businesses must fully meet strict standards on hygiene, quarantine and packaging. Currently, New Zealand only allows import of 5 types of fresh fruits from Vietnam and this is also the group of products that face the most difficulties when accessing the market”, said Mr. Do Huu Tung.
In addition, for other products, especially industrial and consumer products, import process is generally quite favorable. When New Zealand businesses have a need, ordering and customs clearance are relatively simple, quick and transparent, creating conditions for both sides to expand cooperation.
Representative of Vietnam Trade Office in New Zealand said that, in terms of consumption trends in New Zealand, this is a small market with a population of about 5 million people, mainly concentrated in three major cities: Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
However, consumer demand for Vietnamese goods is increasing, especially in context of increasingly close political, economic, cultural and educational relations between the two countries. New Zealanders know more about Vietnam and are more interested in "Made in Vietnam" products from consumer goods, handicrafts, furniture to technology equipment.
"Since February 2025, after official visit to Vietnam by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, two countries have upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This is an important turning point, opening a period of deeper cooperation between two economies," said Mr. Do Huu Tung.
Since then, New Zealand ministries, sectors and businesses have increasingly paid attention to the Vietnamese market, a country with a population of more than 100 million, dynamic, deeply integrated and increasingly high production capacity. Meanwhile, New Zealand is a country that pays great attention to green, clean, environmentally friendly and high-tech products, which are also areas that Vietnamese businesses are gradually responding better to. “Consumption trends in New Zealand are shifting strongly towards prioritizing sustainable, environmentally friendly goods and this is also a great opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to continue expanding their market share in this country,” said a representative of the Vietnam Trade Office,
Proposal to increase inter-sectoral coordination for Vietnamese goods to reach further
Informing about recommendations or proposals sent by trade office to Vietnamese Government and relevant ministries and branches to remove difficulties and further promote bilateral trade cooperation, Mr. Do Huu Tung said: Firstly, for the Government and Ministry of Industry and Trade, we hope to have closer guidance on activities of Vietnamese Trade Offices abroad.
At the same time, strengthen information channels connecting directly between trade office and domestic ministries and branches such as Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Ministry of Finance, as well as other specialized management agencies.
“Reason for this proposal is because data and product quality standards play a particularly important role in the trade promotion process. When there is a timely and unified information flow, the implementation of business support, especially in the export stage, will be more proactive and effective,” said Mr. Do Huu Tung.
Currently, Vietnam is moving towards “Go Global” strategy - bringing agricultural, aquatic and processed products to global market. Therefore, trade office hopes that Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies will increase support for businesses in production, planting and farming areas, ensuring quality and clear traceability. Because if Vietnamese goods want to stand firm in international market, quality is still core factor, determining reputation and competitiveness. Second, for industry associations, trade office recommends keeping a closer eye on international market developments, while closely coordinating with trade office and promptly sharing information with members. Associations need to proactively update and disseminate new regulations and standards of the host country, helping businesses adjust production and export activities accordingly. Updating and monitoring changes in trade policies is a regular task of trade offices, but if there is good coordination from the association, effectiveness of spreading information to the business community will be faster and more widespread.
Thirdly, for Vietnamese enterprises, trade office has noticed that in recent years, production capacity, investment scale and quality standards have been significantly improved. However, reality shows that some enterprises have not yet closely followed the needs and characteristics of each market, especially small markets like New Zealand.
“Although size of New Zealand market is not large, commercial value and profits that can be achieved are very significant. When Vietnamese enterprises successfully export to New Zealand (a market with very high technical standards and quality inspection), it will be a prestigious 'passport', helping Vietnamese products easily penetrate many other demanding markets", representative of the Vietnam Trade Office assessed.
Therefore, trade office hopes that in the coming time, coordination between ministries, branches, associations and enterprises will be further strengthened, to maximize potential, overcome difficulties and create new momentum for Vietnam - New Zealand trade cooperation to develop more strongly and sustainably.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn