Photo: Meeting between the leadership of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Binh Duong Province) and Oryol Region.
Photo: Vietnam News Agency (VNA)
In terms of economic development and key industries, Oryol Region is located in the European part of the Russian Federation, benefiting from convenient connectivity to Moscow and major transport corridors across central Russia. Although its population of fewer than one million is smaller than that of Russia's major industrial centres, the Region has developed a diversified economy centered on agriculture, manufacturing, trade, transportation and warehousing, and construction. Its key strengths include agriculture, food processing, light manufacturing, industrial equipment, logistics, construction materials, merchandise trade, and production support services. These sectors complement Ho Chi Minh City's priorities in diversifying agricultural supply sources, expanding value-added food processing, sourcing industrial equipment, and strengthening trade connectivity with the Russian market.
Cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Oryol Region has thus far been built primarily upon the 2017 Memorandum of Cooperation, which provides an important institutional framework for expanding sector-specific collaboration. The Region's well-established education and industrial ecosystem, including Orel State University named after I.S. Turgenev, together with its strengths in manufacturing, industrial equipment, agriculture, and food processing, offers promising opportunities for future cooperation. These advantages provide a solid foundation for developing partnerships in technical education, production management, industrial standards, technology exchange, and business-to-business connectivity across mutually beneficial sectors.
For Ho Chi Minh City, Oryol Region represents a practical partner for developing focused and results-oriented cooperation rather than large-scale investment projects. The partnership offers opportunities to diversify access to agricultural products, processed foods, industrial machinery and equipment, logistics services, and technical workforce development. As Ho Chi Minh City continues to diversify its international markets, enhance value-added manufacturing, and expand its network of partners across the Russian Federation, Oryol Region is well positioned to serve as a complementary partner, particularly in the fields of agriculture, industry, and trade.
Looking ahead, particularly within the framework of the 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue (FD 2026), Ho Chi Minh City aims to broaden its cooperation framework with Oryol Region by encouraging investment, technology transfer, and the sharing of management expertise in the following five priority areas:
Agriculture and Food Processing: Strengthen cooperation in agricultural supply chains, food preservation technologies, value-added food processing, quality standards, and food trade between the two localities.
Industrial Equipment and Supporting Industries: Promote partnerships in industrial machinery, manufacturing equipment, construction materials, industrial components, and technical services supporting the manufacturing and processing sectors.
Logistics and Merchandise Trade: Enhance trade connectivity between businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and manufacturers in Oryol Region, particularly in agricultural products, processed foods, industrial equipment, and manufactured goods.
Technical Education and Production Management: Expand cooperation in technical training, production management, industrial standards, equipment operation, and workforce development aligned with industry needs.
Business Promotion and Sector-Specific Investment Opportunities: Organize business delegations, sector-focused seminars, business matchmaking activities, and promote investment opportunities and project portfolios that align with the strengths and development priorities of both sides.