Business News

Despite an unfavourable global economic climate and ongoing challenges facing foreign investment flows, Việt Nam continues to present strong opportunities that could drive a significant boost in investment, according to analysts. One key source of optimism stems from a series of strategic cooperation agreements signed between Vietnamese and Thai partners during the recent official visit of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to Việt Nam.

Financial leasing reached nearly VNĐ40.7 trillion (US$1.6 billion) at the end of the first quarter of this year, representing an increase of 8.4 per cent year-on-year, Vietnam Financial Leasing Association (VFLE) said, urging solutions to promote the role of financial leasing in the economy. The increase came amid a complicated global landscape, with geopolitical pressures and spiralling trade tensions, but with a robust domestic market with a solid GDP growth of 6.93 per cent in the quarter, supported by strong public investment and a trade surplus of $5 billion.

Việt Nam has seen strong growth in its air transport market over the past decade, jumping from the 11th largest air passenger market in the Asia-Pacific region in 2014 to the eighth largest in 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It also registered the highest growth rate among the top 10 markets in the region at 121 per cent, driven by the country’s strong economic performance and growing appeal as a travel destination.

Policies must ensure property rights, freedom of business, and freedom of movement for all entities participating in the financial centre. Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Thursday requested the establishment of an international financial centre in Việt Nam with a transparent and open legal environment, modern and seamless infrastructure that meets development needs and aligns with global trends and Vietnam's specific conditions.

In the first four months of this year, Việt Nam exported 195,600 tonnes of cashew nuts, worth US$1.33 billion, according to the General Department of Customs. This represents a 10 per cent decrease in volume, but a 14.4 per cent increase in value compared to the same period in 2024. In April alone, Việt Nam exported 73,410 tonnes of cashew nuts, up 31.5 per cent in volume and 28.6 per cent in value compared to March and up 9.6 per cent in volume and 37.9 per cent in value year-on-year. 

At the workshop, on promoting the implementation of the plan organised by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the GIZ Vietnam and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Hà Nội, the SBV’s Deputy Governor Đào Minh Tú said: “Green growth is no longer an option, but has become an urgent necessity, especially for developing countries like Việt Nam.

The Vietnamese government has reiterated its strong commitment to developing an international financial centre by announcing the establishment of the Steering Committee for Regional and International Financial Centre in Vietnam, chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. PM Chinh signed a decision dated May 20 approving the list of members for the committee.

AI companies and startups are accelerating their market expansion in Vietnam by leveraging disruptive technology and fostering new growth initiatives. In late April, AnyMind Group announced the acquisition of Vietnamese social and live commerce agency Vibula. As an AI-native company, the acquisition of Vibula enhances AnyMind’s capability to deliver AI-powered live-commerce solutions customised for the Vietnamese market.