On October 14, 2024, Foreign Trade University (FTU) organized the inaugural event for the ASEAN-MERCOSUR Chair Program. This marks the launch of a significant initiative aimed at enhancing economic and trade relations between the ASEAN region and MERCOSUR (the Southern Common Market).

The ceremony was attended by notable guests, including H.E. Marcos Bednarski – Ambassador of Argentina to Vietnam, H.E. Raul Pollak Giampietro – Ambassador of Uruguay to Vietnam, Ms. Ana Nogueira – Deputy Ambassador of Brazil to Vietnam, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ignacio Bartesaghi – Director of the Institute of International Business at the Catholic University of Uruguay and Program Coordinator for the ASEAN-MERCOSUR Chair. The event also saw the participation of FTU faculty, researchers, and students.

In her opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thu Huong – Vice President of FTU – emphasized the importance of the ASEAN-MERCOSUR Chair Program in fostering dialogue among academics, governments, and businesses, while encouraging students to seize this opportunity to broaden their perspectives.

The ambassadors reaffirmed their embassies’ support for the ASEAN-MERCOSUR Chair Program, highlighting its potential to strengthen cooperation between the two regions. In a video message, Ms. Ngo Minh Nguyet – Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay – underscored the shared strengths and potential for collaboration in resources, human capital, and technological advancement.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ignacio Bartesaghi then presented an overview of the program’s objectives and activities for 2024-2025, followed by a discussion on the vast opportunities for cooperation between the two regions in economics, public policy, science, and technology.