Vietnam’s push to reduce its reliance on the United States (responsible for US $18.5 billion in timber exports) has reached Athens, with the country’s embassy now connecting Vietnamese producers with the Federation of Industries of Greece.
That is according to a joint statement issued following the April 2 meeting, which brought together Vietnamese Ambassador Phạm Thị Thu Hương, senior representatives of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association (VIFORES), and industry leaders from Ho Chi Minh City and Đồng Nai province.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Hương said the initiative had been “launched in response to growing interest from Greek businesses in Vietnamese wood products,” noting that the embassy had recently facilitated a Greek firm’s visit to Vietnam, which culminated in contracts to import plywood, particleboards, and interior materials.
Ngô Sỹ Hoài, Secretary General of VIFORES, told participants that Vietnamese wood products now reach 118 markets worldwide, with Vietnam ranking as the world’s second-largest exporter of wood products and undisputed leader in outdoor furniture exports. He said Vietnamese firms are “keen to cooperate with Greek partners and leverage opportunities brought by the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement,” pointing to the EVFTA as the central mechanism for accelerating market access across the broader European bloc.
It comes as Wood Central reported last month that Trump’s tariff regime has pushed Hanoi to actively court European buyers, with exports to Spain alone jumping 63 per cent year-on-year as Spanish traders race to replace Chinese and Russian suppliers. The link-up is the latest evidence of Vietnam systematically targeting Europe as a structural hedge against US trade policy uncertainty.
Loukia A. Saranti, President of the Federation of Industries of Greece, welcomed the initiative and said the federation “stands ready to act as a bridge connecting Vietnamese businesses not only with its members but also with the broader EU market.” Saranti also requested more information on Vietnam’s key export categories to share with federation members ahead of a planned business forum.
