Leaders of the ITPC and the Oregon business delegation chair the forum. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — HCM City and the US state of Oregon have strong potential to develop integrated logistics supply chains to support bilateral trade growth, speakers said at the 2026 HCM City–Oregon Economic Cooperation Forum on April 2.

The event was co-organised by the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) and an Oregon business delegation.

Cao Thị Phi Vân, vice director of ITPC, said the forum came as Việt Nam–US ties continue to deepen. The US remains Việt Nam’s largest export market and a key economic partner, with 1,539 valid projects worth more than US$12.5 billion nationwide.

In HCM City, US investors are running 915 projects with total registered capital of $7.6 billion, ranking seventh among 136 foreign investors.

She said HCM City – Việt Nam’s economic hub and a major ASEAN trade gateway – could complement Oregon’s strengths in technology, logistics infrastructure and global trade. She called for stronger business links, expanded cooperation in logistics, seaports and supply chains, and greater focus on sustainable investment.

Gregory Harris, head of the Commercial Section at the US Consulate General in HCM City, described Việt Nam as a dynamic, high-growth economy, with HCM City among the fastest-growing in ASEAN. As bilateral trade expands, he said Oregon firms are well placed to bring internationally standardised products and services to the Vietnamese market.

Gregory Harris, head of Commercial Section at the US Consulate General in HCM City speaks at the forum. — VNA/VNS Photo

He also welcomed approval of the revised National Power Development Plan VIII, expressing hope that energy projects involving US firms would be implemented soon, helping create momentum for further trade and investment.

Experts pointed to strong logistics synergies between the Port of Portland and the Cái Mép–Thị Vải port complex, which handles around 70 per cent of Việt Nam’s container throughput. The link could diversify transport routes, reduce reliance on traditional transshipment hubs and improve supply chain efficiency.

Lương Quang Thi, vice chairman of the HCM City Logistics and Port Association, said the city holds a cost advantage, with logistics expenses 25-30 per cent lower than in Singapore. He proposed launching a direct shipping route between Portland and the Cái Mép–Thị Vải complex, alongside an “Oregon–HCM City cold corridor” model to support high-value agricultural trade.

He also called for closer cooperation in AI applications and green logistics, in line with a target to cut carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.

Saigon Newport Corporation suggested increasing shipping frequency and enhancing cooperation in smart port operations to build a stable, efficient and sustainable trans-Pacific supply chain. — VNA/VNS