Ho Chi Minh City shifts from attracting FDI to building innovation ecosystem

In its initial phase, the airport is expected to handle up to 366 flights per week, including 322 domestic and 44 international services.

During the journey from Hanoi to Luu Xa Station in Thai Nguyen, passengers can enjoy local tea and traditional cuisine, as well as performances of Then folk singing accompanied by the Tinh lute, a traditional musical instrument of ethnic communities in northern Vietnam.

Viet Nam recorded a trade surplus of an estimated 6.8 billion USD in October, marking the second consecutive month of surplus and narrowing the cumulative trade deficit for the first 10 months to around 12.7 billion USD.

According to Vice President of the Foreign Trade University Associate Professor Dr. Dao Ngoc Tien, the VEFTA’s long-term value lies largely in its non-tariff commitments, which establish institutional frameworks, principles and cooperation mechanisms with lasting economic impacts.

The trade office introduced four investment priorities of Vietnam. These includes renewable hydrogen production, covering electrolysis, offshore wind-to-hydrogen, green ammonia and liquid hydrogen exports; storage, compression, pipelines, transport networks and port logistics; industrial decarbonisation and fuel switching in heavy transport and shipping; and hydrogen applications in steel, fertilisers, chemicals, cement, power generation and heavy transport.

Experts emphasise that reducing logistics costs requires integrated planning, investment, operations and data sharing. Developing infrastructure projects separately, without considering regional demand and stable cargo flows, risks duplication and wasted resources.

Bill Giannikos, Director of the Global Services Centre and Data Centre at Aurecon Vietnam, said data centre development has to be planned alongside land, power, telecoms and supporting services. Investors need clear information on land availability, power capacity, supply timelines and connectivity before committing to large projects.

This year’s fair features 300 booths across 10,000 square metres, including 250 Vietnamese booths and 50 run by Chinese partners. They showcase a wide range of products, including agricultural produce, food, medicinal herbs, consumer goods, machinery, equipment, and handicrafts.

Thang tasked the operating agencies in both cities with completing the necessary conditions in October and working directly with financial institutions and investors to attract members and generate transactions in November, while ensuring legal compliance and financial security.

The figure rose 11% year on year, down from the 14% growth recorded in the first half of the year.

While the agreement awaits entry into force, businesses are recommended to review tariff schedules, product-specific origin requirements, the costs of origin certification, quality testing and compliance with importers’ standards. Early preparation will help them make effective use of the new opportunities.

Institutional reform should go beyond reducing red tape to build business confidence and encourage companies to invest and expand operations.

The official visit to Belgium by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam is expected to provide fresh impetus for cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, high-quality human resources training, logistics and green growth.

Vietnam's seafood exports could exceed 12 billion USD this year if demand from China remains strong and peak-season orders proceed without disruption, according to VASEP.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin has described the newly signed free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as a strategic commitment to closer economic cooperation, expected to strengthen legal certainty, improve market access and create fresh opportunities for businesses from both sides.

The project marks a strategic shift in VIFON’s European expansion, from exporting products to directly manufacturing and distributing them in the target market.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung praised PETRONAS and the Vietnam National Industry-Energy Group (Petrovietnam) for maintaining a strong partnership for more than 30 years, with joint efforts supporting Vietnam’s energy security, sustainable development and economic growth, as well as those of the Asian region.

Building on the advantages of forests, gardens, and indigenous knowledge, Da Nang has an opportunity to develop new value chains linking agriculture with processing and services.

Incentives will increasingly hinge on investors’ performance and commitments, not just on landing projects. Key commitments include transferring technology to Vietnamese firms, training workers, providing technical support and opening FDI supply chains to domestic companies.

Viet Nam Entrepreneurs’ Day is an opportunity to recognise the business community’s contributions to the nation, and promote the entrepreneurial spirit, the pursuit of legitimate prosperity and national responsibility. With stronger policies and greater innovation, Vietnamese enterprises are expected to play an increasingly important role in developing economic growth and realizing the country’s ambition to become a strong, prosperous nation.