Deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyễn Công Vinh said at the UK–Vietnam Business Forum 2026 on Thursday in HCM, announcing four priority areas to call for long-term investment from UK. — VNS Photo Thu Ngân

HCM CITY — HCM City is seeking long-term investment from British businesses in four priority areas, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyễn Công Vinh said at the UK–Vietnam Business Forum 2026 on Thursday.

With a vision of becoming a megacity and a regional and international hub for the economy, finance, science and technology, and innovation, HCM City offers favourable conditions for British businesses to invest and grow alongside Vietnamese enterprises, he said.

The merger of HCM City with Bình Dương and Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu provinces on July 1, 2025, has created a larger development area, bringing together financial and service hubs, industrial and high-tech centres, seaports and logistics facilities. The expanded space offers new opportunities for investors, including those from the UK.

Vinh outlined four priorities: attracting high-quality investment in high-value-added sectors; developing the capital market and the city’s International Financial Centre; building green supply chains and expanding renewable energy; and developing talent and building a sustainable city by 2045.

The city welcomes British investment in sectors such as financial services, technology, research and development, and green industries. It also encourages UK businesses to strengthen links with Vietnamese companies through supply chains, technology transfer and management training, helping to ensure that investment build domestic capabilities.

The city is committed to providing investors with a transparent business environment, streamlined procedures and mechanisms to protect their legitimate rights and interests, Vinh said.

Capital markets are a springboard for growth, and developing the International Financial Centre is a strategic priority for HCM City. The city seeks to work with UK financial institutions, credit-rating agencies, securities service providers, insurers and advisory firms, drawing on their expertise in standards, risk management and international capital mobilisation.

Such co-operation could help upgrade Việt Nam’s stock market and connect the country with global capital flows.

The city also hopes to work with British businesses on renewable energy, direct power purchase agreements, energy-efficiency solutions and the development of eco-industrial parks. These efforts could help Vietnamese businesses meet the environmental requirements of demanding markets, including the UK.

To develop talent, HCM City seeks stronger co-operation with UK universities, training institutions and businesses to bridge the gap between education and industry, and prepare a skilled workforce for finance, technology and emerging industries.

The city also welcomes UK expertise in urban planning, design and governance to help create a climate-resilient, liveable and globally competitive city.

Co-operation for the future

The forum, themed “Vision 2045: Creating a High-Income, High-Value Economy”, brought together business leaders, policymakers, investors and experts from both countries to discuss the future of UK–Việt Nam trade and investment.

Participants join the UK–Vietnam Business Forum 2026 on Thursday in HCM City. — VNS Photo Thu Ngân

It was held a year after Việt Nam and the UK elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

According to UK Government figures cited for the event, bilateral trade reached around £10 billion ($13 billion) in the four quarters to the end of the first quarter of 2026. The forum also took place after FTSE Russell's upgrade of Việt Nam’s equity market to Secondary Emerging Market status.

Denzel Eades, chairman of BritCham Vietnam, said Việt Nam’s economic transformation was one of Asia’s most compelling growth stories. British investors and businesses had been part of the country’s development for decades and were committed to deepening their contribution, he said.

“Through our expertise in finance, innovation, education and sustainable development, we look forward to working alongside government and industry partners to help realise Việt Nam’s vision of becoming a prosperous, high-value and globally connected economy by 2045,” he said.

British Ambassador to Việt Nam Iain Frew said the UK had brought together expertise from the Government, the City of London, financial institutions, professional services firms and legal experts to support Việt Nam’s ambitions.

“Through UK PACT and our partnerships with Vietnamese counterparts, we are sharing experience on everything from green finance and capital markets to governance and regulatory frameworks,” he said.

UK financial institutions were already helping Vietnamese businesses access trade finance, investment capital and international markets, he said, adding that the two countries could work together to build financial centres that earn the confidence of global investors.

Frew also pointed to opportunities to connect British expertise with Vietnamese companies in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, health technology, advanced manufacturing and clean technologies.

The UK was committed to deepening partnerships between British technology firms and Vietnamese companies, and encouraging more trade and investment, he said.

He also highlighted cooperation in green growth and human-resource development, saying that while buildings could be constructed, regulations drafted and technologies deployed, successful economies were built by talented people. He welcomed growing links between universities, professional bodies, businesses and training institutions.

Forum discussions included Resolution No. 10 on promoting foreign direct investment, workforce development and the next generation of leaders; technology transfer in priority sectors such as AI, semiconductors and digital technologies; helping domestic small and medium-sized enterprises join global value chains; defining high-quality investment; and identifying reforms to support sustainable growth.

The forum was organised by the British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (BritCham Vietnam), with support from the British Embassy in Hà Nội and the British Consulate-General in HCM City. It was held alongside the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 and the activities of the HCM City Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. — VNS

Inbox: 

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Baroness Winteron, has concluded her visit to Viet Nam as part of a wider Indo-Pacific programme.

The visit underscored the United Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening ties across the region and reflected the growing importance of the UK-V Nam relationship.

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Baroness Winterton, emphasised: “Việt Nam is one of the UK’s most important partners in Southeast Asia. Driven by our shared ambition for sustainable economic growth and a secure Indo-Pacific, we are deepening cooperation across climate action, maritime security, trade and investment. I am encouraged by the strength of our partnership and the opportunities ahead for our two countries”

Baroness Winterton attended a reception marking the first anniversary of the UK - Việt Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, bringing together representatives from Government, business, civil society and cultural institutions. The event celebrated the progress made over the past year and reaffirmed both countries’s commitment to deeper cooperation across a wide range of shared priorities.

The programme also highlighted the breadth of the UK-Việt Nam partnership beyond economic cooperation.

Baroness Winterton visited the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey, where she engaged with students, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to educational exchange, people-to-people links and maritime cooperation. She also participated in discussions with stakeholders on future opportunities for collaboration in areas including skills, innovation and regional security.

The visit showcased the strong and growing partnership between the UK and Việt Nam and further strengthened cooperation on shared priorities including economic growth, education, climate action and regional prosperity and security. — VNS