The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) on June 4 organised the Korea-Vietnam Medical Device Export Consultation Meeting in Ho Chi Minh City as part of K-Med Expo 2026. The event formed part of the “2026 Promising Regional Trade Programme”, an initiative launched by the RoK Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to diversify export markets.

K-Med Expo has been organised annually since 2023 by the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) and the Korea Medical Devices Industry Association, attracting around 300 domestic medical device companies each year.

For this year’s consultation programme, KOTRA invited about 100 Vietnamese buyers, including hospitals and medical equipment distributors, to meet with 71 participating RoK companies.

The participating companies specialise in areas such as digital healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI)-based cancer diagnostics, surgical robotics and aesthetic medical devices.

With a population of more than 100 million and economic growth ranging between 5% and 8% over the past three years, Vietnam has become an increasingly attractive market for medical device manufacturers. The country’s medical device market has expanded rapidly alongside rising incomes and growing demand for healthcare services.

According to market research firm FIIN Group, private healthcare spending in Vietnam is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 7.5% during the 2025-2030 period.

The RoK currently holds the largest share of Vietnam’s medical device import market, accounting for 16.3% of total imports, equivalent to approximately US$320 million. The two countries are also strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence, biotechnology and healthcare technologies.

A representative of JPI Healthcare, a company specialising in AI-powered diagnostic imaging equipment, said Vietnamese partners have shown growing interest in RoK digital healthcare products. The trend has been driven by the Vietnamese Government’s policy of upgrading healthcare infrastructure, together with expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.

Alongside the business consultations, KOTRA organised a Korea-Vietnam medical device seminar and product presentations for Vietnamese hospitals. The agency also provided guidance on Vietnam’s medical device licensing and registration procedures through its K-Bio Desk programme.

Kim Myung Hee, Executive Vice President of KOTRA, said 48.3% of companies participating in the exhibition in 2025 had successfully exported products to Vietnam.  KOTRA will continue to expand integrated support programmes covering marketing and certification to help RoK companies improve their export performance in the Vietnamese market, Hee added.

Official hails progress in Vietnam – RoK defence cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang on June 2 received Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Vietnam Choi Young Sam, who paid a farewell visit upon the end of his tenure in Vietnam.