Representatives of relevant parties witness the arrival of the shipment. — VNA/VNS Photo

HẢI PHÒNG — The first official shipment of pork products from the Czech Republic arrived in Việt Nam on Tuesday, marking a new milestone in trade relations between the two countries.

A welcoming ceremony was held at Tân Vũ Port in the northern port city of Hải Phòng by representatives of AGROFERT Group in Việt Nam and relevant agencies and businesses. The shipment came from the Kostelecke Uzeniny meat-processing plant in the Czech Republic.

Jaroslav Zukerstein, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Czech Embassy in Việt Nam, described the arrival of the first container as the successful outcome of a long and complex market-opening process involving years of negotiations, regulatory approvals and close cooperation between Czech and Vietnamese authorities.

He said the shipment reflects growing confidence among Vietnamese authorities and importers in Czech food quality and safety standards, paving the way for further Czech food exports to Việt Nam.

The Czech Republic will continue using economic diplomacy tools, including Projects to Support Economic Diplomacy (PROPED), to strengthen sector-specific cooperation and support concrete business opportunities for companies from both countries, he said.

It gives priority to areas with high growth potential, including agri-food, food processing technology, health care, environmental solutions, energy, transport and advanced manufacturing, the diplomat said, adding that the Czech Embassy is also seeking to promote broader cooperation by supporting Vietnamese businesses interested in partnerships, investment and commercial opportunities in the European country.

David Maly, director of Animalco under AGROFERT Group, said gaining access to the Vietnamese market has been a challenging process due to Việt Nam's stringent food safety requirements. He highlighted the Czech Republic's success in controlling African swine fever and said the pork products shipped to Việt Nam meet the world's most rigorous standards.

AGROFERT is one of the Czech Republic's leading agricultural and food industry groups, operating in 21 countries with nearly 29,000 employees and annual revenue of around 8 billion EUR (US$9.1 billion). In Việt Nam, it is working with strategic partners to promote bilateral trade, including bringing Vietnamese agricultural and food products to European markets while supplying European-standard food and chemical products to Việt Nam.

Trương Đình Tùng, director of Ha Long Foods Import Export Co., Ltd. – the importer of the shipment, said the partnership will provide Vietnamese consumers with more products of clear origin and strict quality control while laying the groundwork for broader bilateral cooperation in food and agriculture.

Vice Chairman of the Hải Phòng People's Committee Hoàng Minh Cường said the city's selection as the entry point for the first shipment demonstrates international businesses' confidence in its investment environment, seaport infrastructure and logistics services.

As a major international trade gateway and logistics hub in northern Việt Nam, Hải Phòng is well positioned to facilitate bilateral trade, he said, noting that the shipment also reflects growing economic and commercial ties between Việt Nam and the Czech Republic following the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership in early 2025.

Cooperation between Hải Phòng and the Czech Republic has also gained momentum. In late December 2025, a Hải Phòng delegation conducted an investment promotion programme in the Czech Republic, helping open up new cooperation opportunities and strengthen the city's international partnership network.

Building on the strong friendship between the two countries and expanding links between Hải Phòng and Czech businesses, Cường expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation will continue to develop in a substantive, effective and sustainable manner, contributing to the broader friendship and partnership between Việt Nam and the Czech Republic. — VNA/VNS