In recent years, Hà Nội has actively supported the business community with a series of flexible, sector- and location-specific policies, helping to improve the investment climate and enhance provincial competitiveness.

These efforts are paying off. In early 2025, the capital attracted over $3.67 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), a 216 per cent year-on-year surge and the highest nationwide.

Hà Nội walks with businesses

With this in mind, on July 30, the Hà Nội Department of Finance held a meeting with business associations to explore ways to foster a stronger investment promotion ecosystem. The goal is not just to attract investors, but to keep them here for the long haul.

“We hope this will be a sincere and open space for business associations to share their thoughts and suggestions,” said Lê Trung Hiếu, Deputy Director of the department.

“Your input will help us shape practical, timely and effective solutions that truly support the business community.”

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Finance, Lê Trung Hiếu, speaks at the conference. VNA/VNS Photos

Looking ahead, Hà Nội plans to step up support for enterprises by easing administrative bottlenecks, improving the business environment, promoting digital transformation across public services and tailoring assistance to business needs.

Investment promotion activities will also undergo a digital revamp. Information on incentives, priority sectors and project details, such as land use, planning and investment scale, will be made more transparent and accessible to both domestic and international investors.

Hiếu added that investment procedures at all government levels are being streamlined, with simpler, faster processes. User-friendly guides and contact points for investment support will help businesses easily explore Hà Nội’s investment opportunities.

“All this support will be fully digitised and made available through media platforms and digital tools, so businesses anywhere in the world can access the information quickly and easily,” he said.

Ideas from the business community

The meeting also featured valuable input from representatives of various business associations, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of Hà Nội’s enterprise ecosystem.

Hà Thị Vinh, Chair of the Hà Nội Handicraft and Craft Village Association, emphasised the cultural and tourism value of craft villages but noted their ongoing challenge with land access.

She proposed allowing craft enterprises to rent space in industrial clusters and suggested increasing building height limits to accommodate modern equipment and new technologies.

Mai Thị Thùy, Chair of the Hà Nội Women-Owned SME Association, proposed the creation of a dedicated support fund for women-led small businesses. She also called for policies on access to loans, workspace, technical support, one-on-one consulting and entrepreneurship training tailored for women.

Nguyễn Vân, Vice President of Hansiba (Hà Nội Supporting Industries Business Association), recommended maintaining and expanding the existing Business Support Network, with a long-term aim of building a comprehensive business ecosystem. He also advocated for more trade and investment promotion programmes.

From the perspective of young entrepreneurs, Trần Văn Minh, Vice President of the Hà Nội Young Business Association, underlined the need for businesses to improve their competitiveness and actively combat counterfeit products. At the same time, he urged city authorities to focus on expanding market access to help businesses overcome challenges.

Former Director of Hanoi’s Department of Industry and Trade Trần Thị Phương Lan shares her opinions on investment promotion in Hà Nội.

Trần Thị Phương Lan, former Director of Hà Nội’s Department of Industry and Trade, advised that the city should prioritise FDI in hi-tech zones, financial services, entertainment, healthcare, education, cultural tourism and deep-processing sectors. She also highlighted the importance of connecting local SMEs with foreign businesses to spur their growth.

For domestic investment promotion, she recommended targeting WTO-member countries and emerging markets, with support from the city.

On the digital front, Vũ Phương Thảo, Director of Enterprise Development Services at VINASA (Vietnam Software and IT Services Association), conveyed strong commitment from the tech sector to advancing digital society. VINASA is currently building a digital technology map, profiling top IT firms for domestic and international promotion. She proposed developing similar databases for businesses in other sectors and offered to provide expert training in digital capacity-building and smart city management for local agencies and enterprises.

A firm commitment

Concluding the meeting, Lê Trung Hiếu reaffirmed Hà Nội’s commitment to refining policies and accelerating digital investment promotion.

“We aim to ensure that all investment-related information, whether on incentives, land planning or key projects, is transparent, easy to access and available to any investor, anywhere in the world,” he said. VNS