In 2025, Hai Phong scored 35.62 points in the FTA Index, ranking first nationwide and receiving a “Very Good” rating for its implementation of free trade agreements. This result recognises the city’s efforts to renew its direction and management, improve coordination, support businesses and make FTA implementation increasingly substantive.
Developing a plan aligned with each component index
Based on its assessment of the 2024 FTA Index results, the city identified areas in which performance had not yet matched its potential or the scale of its import and export activities. On that basis, the Hai Phong People’s Committee issued a plan in 2025 to improve the city’s FTA Implementation Index.
The plan closely follows four groups of component indices: access to FTA information; implementation of FTA-related legal regulations; policies to support businesses in enhancing their competitiveness; and implementation of sustainable development commitments. Each task clearly identifies the lead and coordinating agencies, expected results and completion deadlines, with the heads of responsible units held accountable.
FTA implementation follows an inter-sectoral approach, involving departments, agencies, local authorities and business associations. The Department of Industry and Trade serves as the focal point for monitoring and promoting implementation, reviewing progress and proposing solutions to the Hai Phong People’s Committee to address difficulties and obstacles.
Bringing FTA information closer to businesses
The city regularly disseminates information on FTA commitments, tariff reduction schedules, rules of origin, import and export policies, and changes in FTA markets through conferences, training courses, dialogues, online information portals and the media.
Support focuses on issues commonly encountered by businesses, including determining origin, demonstrating the origin of raw materials, trade remedies, technical barriers, traceability, food safety, and environmental and labour standards. Information on market demand, trade promotion and risks affecting exports is also provided in a timely manner.
The FTA Index helps Hai Phong assess FTA implementation from the perspective of businesses and identify areas for improvement, thereby enhancing the quality of information, guidance and responses to difficulties so that businesses can make more effective use of FTAs.
Enhancing competitiveness and expanding markets
Support programmes are tailored to product sectors, markets and business groups, focusing on tariffs, rules of origin, trade remedies, technical standards, intellectual property, brand building, digital transformation and cross-border e-commerce. Trade connectivity, export promotion and logistics development are also being strengthened.
For agricultural and food products, support focuses on traceability, quarantine, food safety, planting-area codes and packing facilities. In industrial production, the city emphasises technological innovation, supporting industries and connections between domestic businesses, corporations and FDI enterprises, thereby increasing localisation rates, improving compliance with rules of origin and enabling participation in global supply chains.
Facilitating certification of origin
A notable development in 2025 was Hai Phong’s decentralisation and delegation of authority in the import and export sector. From 30 August 2025, the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade began issuing the full range of preferential and non-preferential certificates of origin (C/Os).
Handling procedures locally helps businesses save time and reduce travel and document delivery costs, while making it easier to resolve difficulties. The electronic certificate-of-origin issuance system also improves openness and transparency, enabling businesses to track their applications and delivery schedules proactively.
In 2025, the Department of Industry and Trade issued approximately 108,000 C/Os for exports worth around USD 7 billion; at peak times, it received more than 1,000 applications per day. The Department also regularly guides businesses on raw material management, production processes and documentation, while strengthening inspections, verification and measures to prevent origin fraud.
Linking FTA implementation with sustainable development
Hai Phong integrates sustainable development into programmes supporting businesses with FTA implementation, providing guidance on labour, the environment, social responsibility, green production, the circular economy and emissions reduction.
The city encourages businesses to adopt technological innovations, save energy, use cleaner production practices and meet increasingly stringent green standards. This enables businesses not only to benefit from tariff preferences but also to meet the long-term conditions required to maintain market access.
In 2025, Hai Phong’s export value reached USD 50.14 billion, up 8.5% from 2024 and exceeding the target; its import value reached USD 41.58 billion, an increase of 22.4%. These results further affirm Hai Phong’s role in the country’s production, trade and logistics network.
Hai Phong’s top ranking in the 2025 FTA Index recognises the coordinated measures implemented by the city. Hai Phong does not regard the ranking as an end in itself; its objective is to turn FTA commitments into market opportunities, orders, added value and stronger business competitiveness, using businesses’ ability to utilise FTAs as the substantive measure of success.
Source: Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade