Vietnam and Germany have officially elevated their energy cooperation to a strategic level with the signing of a Joint Declaration establishing the Vietnam–Germany Energy Partnership. The agreement was signed in Berlin by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, Nguyen Hoang Long, and State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWK), Stefan Rouenhoff, in the presence of Vietnam’s Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan.
The new partnership sets out a comprehensive framework for collaboration on renewable energy development, energy policy reforms, power sector digitalization, and decarbonization. The declaration marks a major step forward in bilateral efforts to support the global energy transition and contribute to climate goals.
Key focus areas under the partnership include:
- Expansion of renewable energy sources such as offshore wind, solar, and green hydrogen
- Modernization of power grids
- Improvement of energy efficiency and energy policy frameworks
- Support for decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors
- Digital transformation of the energy sector
Implementation of the partnership will involve an annual High-Level Steering Committee, several technical working groups, and initiatives to promote workforce training, research collaboration, and business-to-business engagement.
Following the signing, officials from both ministries held a bilateral meeting to assess the current state of cooperation in trade, energy, and industry. Both sides noted growing potential for collaboration, particularly in renewable energy and green technology. Germany is currently Vietnam’s second-largest European trading partner and a key entry point for Vietnamese products into the EU market.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade also outlined the country’s energy development goals under Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), which aims to raise the share of renewable energy to 47–53% of total installed capacity by 2030. Targets include up to 73 GW of solar power, 55 GW of wind power, and 6 GW of offshore wind by 2030, increasing to 17 GW by 2035.
Vietnam expressed interest in expanding cooperation in green hydrogen, skilled labor development, and building a Vietnam–Germany energy ecosystem that engages small and medium-sized enterprises from both countries.
BMWK reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and emphasized its role in enhancing bilateral trade. The German side also supported holding the third Vietnam–Germany Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation in Vietnam by the end of 2025.
In parallel with the signing, a roundtable discussion was organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade in cooperation with the German Development Cooperation Organization (GIZ). The session brought together German renewable energy companies, including Enercon, Enertrag, RENAC, Neuman & Esser, GEO, and WPD, to explore opportunities for supporting renewable energy hubs in Vietnam.
During the event, German firms presented progress updates and discussed future cooperation strategies, while Vietnamese officials reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating international investment and removing barriers for foreign partners in the renewable energy sector.
The Vietnam–Germany Energy Partnership is expected to deepen bilateral cooperation and contribute significantly to both countries’ clean energy ambitions.
