- Vietnam delegation visits Maranhão
- Inland port, logistics projects proposed
- Trade ties strengthen under the Strategic Pact
A delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil, led by Ambassador Bui Van Nghi, has wrapped up a four-day official visit to the northeastern Brazilian state of Maranhão.
The visit was aimed at assessing trade & investment prospects while strengthening strategic links between Vietnam and the region. During a working session in Davinópolis city, Mayor Zé Pequeno described Vietnam as a strategic partner in the municipality’s new development direction, particularly in production technology and distribution of goods to Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The mayor said the city plans to develop an inland port as an international logistics hub and proposed establishing a sister-city agreement with a Vietnamese locality to promote business exchanges, human resources training and governance experience sharing.
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Ambassador Nghi highlighted Maranhão’s agricultural strengths and its strategic port location. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in high-tech agriculture, deep processing, port logistics and the green transition.
Vietnam and Brazil established diplomatic relations in 1989 and elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership in November 2024. Brazil has recognised Vietnam as a market economy, and both countries have opened their agricultural markets to each other. Bilateral trade reached US$7.76 billion in 2025. The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) has also launched negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Vietnam.
Amid global supply chain restructuring, Nghi affirmed that cooperation potential in high-tech agriculture, deep processing, port logistics and the green transition remains substantial. He pledged that the Embassy will continue serving as a bridge to facilitate concrete, effective and sustainable cooperation projects in the coming time.
Maranhão authorities are committed to ensuring infrastructure support for the proposed dry port project, including allocating 20 million BRL (US$3.9 million) for a connecting road.
The delegation also met Governor Carlos Brandão and local business representatives to advance cooperation in agricultural trade, transport, tourism and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as well as projects involving sugar-ethanol production, gypsum, sisal fibre and a 250-hectare logistics centre.
Local businesses expressed interest in establishing direct trade channels with Vietnamese partners to support long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation.