Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown today announced details of her upcoming travel to Vietnam to attend the Vietnam-U.S. Trade Forum 2022. The Governor will be in Vietnam from November 11 - 18, 2022. While there, she will promote trade, exports, education, and strategic partnerships. Joining the Governor as part of the delegation will be representatives from the public and private sectors, including representatives from Business Oregon, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Portland State University, and the Port of Portland.

“From semiconductors to the apparel industry to wheat and produce, Vietnam is a critical trading partner for Oregon,” said Governor Brown. “As Vietnam’s economy continues to grow, it’s important for us to maintain our cooperation around trade and investment, educational exchanges, and economic development.”

Vietnam is Oregon’s eighth largest export market, with over $1 billion in exports in 2021, in large part due to Vietnam’s significant manufacturing sector. Since the opening of Intel’s testing and assembly plant in Vietnam in 2010, electronics and computer part exports from Oregon to Vietnam have grown significantly, making up nearly 80% of Oregon’s trade with Vietnam in 2021. Shoe components are another major export. Vietnam is Oregon’s tenth largest market for agriculture, food, and beverages with more than $24 million in exports in 2021, most of which was Oregon wheat.

Since Governor Brown took office in 2015, Oregon exports have risen 49%, the sixth largest increase in exports in the nation during that period. During the pandemic, Oregon was one of only six states in the country to see positive export growth between 2019 and 2020. Nearly 6,000 Oregon companies export internationally, and 83,000 Oregon jobs are supported by exports.

While in Vietnam, the Governor will participate in bilateral trade meetings with government leaders, business development meetings, and women’s leadership meetings. She will also visit educational institutions and participate in the Vietnam Food Expo 2022. She will also meet with the representatives of companies with operations in Oregon and Vietnam, including Nike, Intel, Columbia Sportswear, and Adidas.

The Governor will also mark the tenth anniversary of the state partnership between the Oregon National Guard and the National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue of Vietnam.