In 2008, UK exports to Vietnam increased by 25% on 2007. Imports to the UK continue to rise by 19% compared to last year's figure. UK exports to Vietnam are, of course, supplemented by goods and services delivered via third countries. There is no UK measure of invisible earnings from Vietnam from the delivery of banking and financial services, which the UK plays a leading role.

UK Exports to Vietnam

2008: £167.6 million
2007: £133.7 million
2006: £95.7  million
2005: £81.7 million
2004: £105.2 million
2003: £100.6 million
2002: £80 million
2001: £90.4 million
2000: £93.2 million

Source: DTI Statistical & Analysis Directorate, Strategy Unit

UK Imports from Vietnam

2008: £1,026 million
2007: £860.5 million
2006: £809.5 million
2005: £721    million
2004: £714.5 million
2003: £606.8 million
2002: £487.9 million
2001: £428.1 million
2000: £385.4 million

Source: DTI Statistical & Analysis Directorate, Strategy Unit

UK Top 5 Exports to Vietnam

Power generating machinery & equipment	£36,885,000
General industrial machinery and equipment, nes and machine parts nes	£14,499,000
Medicinal & pharmaceutical products	£8,407,000
Professional, scientific and control instruments (and apparatus nes)	£6,739,000
Machinery specialized for particular industries	£5,991,000

                                                                              
                                     
                                                                     

Source: DTI Statistical & Analysis Directorate, Strategy Unit

UK Top 5 Imports from Vietnam

Footwear	£340,840,000
Articles of apparel & clothing accessories	£156,813,000
Furniture and parts thereof	£133,225,000
Miscellaneous manufactured articles	£34,552,000
Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices & manufactures thereof	£27,777,000

                                                               
         

Source: DTI Statistical & Analysis Directorate, Strategy Unit

UK Investment

Vietnamese figures show that the value of UK investments in Vietnam is approximately $1.4 billion making the UK one of the largest EU investors in the market with around 79 investment licences issued by the Ministry of Planning and Investment to date. UK companies such as BP, Shell, BAT, GlaxoSmithKline, Tate & Lyle, Prudential, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Coats, Unilever, ICI and Castrol have made substantial investments in this market and, in many cases, are expanding their operations in Vietnam. Less well-known names such as Finlay Teas, Nam of London (garments), Volex (computer cables), Harvey Nash (software design) and Atlas Industries (architectural services) have also invested in Vietnam. Large or small, UK companies are building up a good reputation and are contributing to Vietnam's economic development.

Business Community

The British Business Group in Vietnam (BBGV) was one of the first to licensed by the Vietnamese authorities in 1998. The Group promotes British interests in Vietnam and organising social and charitable functions. BBGV is a not for profit organisation and works closely with the British Embassy in Hanoi and with the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

UK Trade & Investment Activities

The 2008/2009 Business Plan identifies Construction, Power, Financial Services, Electronic and IT Hardware, Ports & Logistics, Software and Computer Services, Engineering (including Mining) and Agriculture (niche areas such as pig breeding) and Environment as sectors of potential.