Vietnam is expected to announce a series of business agreements with US companies next week as Communist Party chief To Lam visits New York, according to officials and documents reviewed by Reuters.
The planned agreements cover energy, technology, aviation and financial services and are part of Vietnam’s effort to strengthen economic ties with the United States as Washington considers new tariffs on the export dependent Southeast Asian country.
An internal planning document lists 29 agreements that could be announced on September 23 at a business conference in New York attended by To Lam.
US energy companies Murphy Oil and Chevron are expected to sign agreements with state owned Petrovietnam, while ExxonMobil is scheduled to announce an agreement with Vietnam Refinery and Petrochemical Corporation, the country’s second largest refinery.
Vietjet, Vietnam’s largest private airline, is also expected to announce several agreements. The airline plans to lease up to 22 aircraft, including 17 Boeing 737 jets and five Airbus A321neo aircraft, from four leasing companies. It also plans to sign an agreement with SpaceX to provide Starlink satellite internet services to 120 aircraft.
Other planned deals include agreements between Vietjet and US aircraft engine maintenance companies, Meta and Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, and Qualcomm and Vietnamese telecom company VNPT. Visa, Mastercard and Citibank are also expected to announce agreements with Vietnamese financial and hospitality partners.
To Lam is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly on September 22 and meet several US companies. His visit is also aimed at advancing trade negotiations that have continued for more than a year, although a meeting with US President Donald Trump has not been confirmed.
The agreements are expected to be announced on To Lam’s final day in New York before he travels to Canada for a state visit. Many of the planned deals are expected to be non binding.
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