HCM CITY — Nearly 200 business leaders, industry experts, policymakers and Government officials participated in the 2016 Việt Nam – Singapore Business Forum held yesterday (July 20) in HCM City.

The forum was aimed at strengthening trade connectivity to leverage co-operation opportunities for Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses since the two countries have joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Hosted by the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), this business platform connected companies in Việt Nam and Singapore, enabling them to explore co-operation opportunities.

The forum also focused on Việt Nam’s consistent efforts to improve the investment environment.

Speaking at the event, Đoàn Duy Khương, VCCI vice chairman, said: “VSBF 2016 is an important event which will further contribute to the success of multifaceted bilateral co-operation relations between Việt Nam and Singapore, especially after the two countries reached the Strategic Partnership agreement in 2013.

“This is also a practical platform for businesses to promote international economic integration since both countries have become members of the TPP and AEC.”

Leow Siu Lin, the Singaporean consul in HCM City, said: “The forum is a valuable platform for the business sectors of the two countries to network and interact.

“Business links are a key component of the bilateral relationship, which was elevated to a Strategic Partnership signed in September 2013.

Đặng Xuân Quang, deputy director of Foreign Investment Department, said the forum provided participants with valuable business opportunities and access to resources, capital and a credible business network to promote economic growth in both countries.

Panel discussions

Four panel discussions moderated by industry leaders, experts and government officials focused on financial services, processing and manufacturing, real estate development, and tourism and hospitality.

The financial services session discussed the overview of the financial and banking market in Việt Nam 2016; key driver for reform in Việt Nam’s banking sector: the application of modern technology; e-commerce trends; and Singaporean banks’ offer of access to their full suite of banking solutions to Vietnamese companies.

The processing and manufacturing seminar discussed co-operation between the two countries in manufacturing under the TPP to improve goods exported to member countries; how Việt Nam and Singapore can take advantage of the TPP to further improve investment in processing and manufacturing; and investment in industrial parks in Việt Nam.

One of the most important areas of co-operation between Việt Nam and Singapore is real estate.

Singaporeans have invested in 46 out of Việt Nam’s 63 provinces and cities.

Singapore-invested property projects focus on housing, industrial zones and offices for rent. The Việt Nam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) Joint Venture Company is a flagship project in the country.

Việt Nam has seven VSIP-invested industrial parks in six provinces and cities -- Bình Dương, Bắc Ninh, Hải Phòng, Quảng Ngãi, Hải Dương, and Nghệ An.— VNS