Salvador Illa, president of the Generalitat de Catalunya, called for deeper, more stable business ties between Catalan and Vietnamese companies. At an investment forum in Ho Chi Minh City, he promoted the region’s economic strengths and presented Catalonia as a strategic entry point to Spain and the wider European market of about 450 million people. He highlighted its open, diversified economy while seeking Vietnamese interest in long-term partnerships.
Vietnamese authorities organized the conference in partnership with ACCIÓ, the Generalitat’s agency for business competitiveness. It brought together Catalan firms already operating in Vietnam, agency representatives and Vietnamese business and economic stakeholders. Sessions focused on practical ways to expand economic ties between Catalonia and Ho Chi Minh City. ACCIÓ’s broader investment work reflects the importance of international companies to the region: an agency study reported a record 9,801 foreign-company subsidiaries in Catalonia, up 40% over a decade. The forum was the final stop of Illa’s official visit to Vietnam, one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
Catalonia’s export performance also reflects its international economic profile. Exports reached a reported record €100.779 billion in 2025, up 0.6% from 2024. That figure covers Catalonia’s overall export activity, not trade specifically with Vietnam. The forum’s focus on partnerships comes as Catalan authorities seek to expand the region’s connections with Asian markets.
At the forum, Illa also addressed Spain’s ongoing debate over regional funding reform. He cited the postponement of the Council for Fiscal and Financial Policy, which was due to reconvene on September 4, and challenged the Partido Popular (PP) to move beyond delays. Illa said the government’s commitment to dialogue was impressive in a debate involving €20 billion for public healthcare and education, and urged PP-led regions to focus on solutions. Officials in Castilla y León have opposed the proposal, arguing for a financing system based on equality, solidarity, sufficient resources and multilateral decision-making. Carlos Fernández Carriedo, the regional government’s councillor for Economy and Finance and spokesperson, said: “Let us hope that the new Government that emerges from the polls on November 29 is capable of articulating a system that attends to the principles of solidarity and sufficiency of resources, in a structure of equality and multilateralism among all the Autonomous Communities.”
After his Vietnam visit, Illa continued his Asian tour in Singapore, where meetings were scheduled with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and the EU ambassador to the city-state, Artis Bertulis. His agenda also included discussions with Catalan business leaders based in Singapore. The trip was described as Illa’s third official visit to Asia in just over a year, following trips to Japan and South Korea in May 2025 and China in July, as part of the Catalan government’s Asia Strategy for 2025-2030.
Catalan authorities’ lead for international partnerships reflects broader efforts to strengthen the region’s economic profile. Recent agreements, including the strategic deal between Indra and Bold in Barcelona, have aimed to boost local industry and technology sectors, as reported in this coverage of Catalonia’s tech sector partnerships. Public investment promotion and private-sector agreements both reflect an ambition to position Catalonia as a stronger participant in global markets.
Vietnam’s economic growth has made it an attractive destination for European investment, with Ho Chi Minh City a major hub for international business in Southeast Asia. Catalonia’s outreach aligns with a broader Spanish effort to diversify trade relationships beyond traditional European and American markets. Its emphasis on balanced, long-term partnerships points to an approach built on sustained economic engagement. Regional financing and international business strategy remain impressive issues for Catalan leaders and companies.
