On October 28, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 (AEF 2026) yielded significant outcomes in international cooperation, investment attraction, and the development of new growth drivers.
Notably, Ho Chi Minh City and the World Economic Forum (WEF) exchanged documents formalizing a strategic partnership. Simultaneously, the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City welcomed its first 10 members, with a projected capital mobilization and investment volume of approximately $2.7 billion by 2027.
Shifting from “investing in Vietnam” to “investing alongside Vietnam”
On October 28, the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 (AEF 2026) held its high-level plenary session, alongside various dialogue and investment-networking activities. The event brought together government leaders, representatives from ministries, sectors, and localities, as well as international organizations and the business community.
The forum focused on discussing the opportunities and challenges facing the economy amidst profound global shifts in technology, capital flows, and supply chains.
A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the necessity of transforming cooperation commitments into concrete action programs, specific projects, and measurable results.
Speaking at the high-level plenary session, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasized that Vietnam is entering a new phase of development, with a target of achieving an average annual GDP growth rate of 10% or higher for the 2026–2030 period.
To realize this goal, Vietnam must continue to maintain macroeconomic stability, control inflation, and enhance both the productivity and competitiveness of its economy. At the same time, it is essential to leverage traditional growth drivers while fostering new ones rooted in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
International cooperation is identified as a key factor in enhancing Vietnam’s autonomy, resilience, and standing within the global value chain.
One of the key messages delivered by the Prime Minister at the forum was the shift from “investing in Vietnam” to “investing together with Vietnam.”
In this context, Vietnam aspires not only to remain an attractive destination for international capital and technology but also to become a trusted partner, collaborating in the creation of new value chains.
Investment cooperation should be closely linked to research and development (R&D), human resource training, and the enhancement of the capabilities of domestic enterprises.
To realize this vision, the Prime Minister proposed four key areas for cooperation. First, he emphasized fostering co-creation between multinational corporations and local entities—including Vietnamese businesses—within strategic technological sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and advanced materials.
Furthermore, he called for strengthened collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and other international partners to develop a high-quality workforce in digital, scientific, and technological fields. Vietnam also intends to explore the implementation of controlled, experimental frameworks (sandboxes) for strategic technologies, facilitating the practical application of new innovations.
Another core focus is expanding cooperation to mobilize medium- and long-term capital, leveraging the potential of international financial centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang to connect global capital flows with domestic development needs.
During a dialogue with Stephan Mergenthaler, a member of the WEF Executive Committee, the Prime Minister also addressed the challenges facing the Vietnamese economy amidst global volatility.
According to the Prime Minister, the resilience of an economy is reflected not only in its ability to withstand external shocks but also in its capacity to adapt, recover, and self-innovate in order to emerge stronger. Therefore, Vietnam must continue to reform its institutions, refine its legal framework, and remove business barriers, while simultaneously improving the quality of foreign investment attraction—with a focus on technology transfer and human resource development.
Ho Chi Minh City and the WEF establish a strategic partnership; International Financial Center welcomes its first 10 members.
A key highlight of the 2026 Autumn Economic Forum was the formal exchange of strategic partnership documents between Ho Chi Minh City and the World Economic Forum (WEF), witnessed by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, along with leaders from various ministries, government agencies, and international delegates.
The documents were exchanged by Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, and Mr. Stephan Mergenthaler, Executive Director of the WEF. This initiative lays the groundwork for Ho Chi Minh City to strengthen its connections with a network of experts, technology corporations, international organizations, and the global business community.
Establishing a strategic partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF) is highly significant as Ho Chi Minh City evolves into a multi-centered megacity, leveraging complementary strengths in finance, services, industry, high technology, seaports, and logistics.
Through international cooperation, the city aims to expand its access to knowledge, technology, advanced governance models, and investment resources to drive development.
This partnership also serves as a foundation to bolster the role of the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC C4IR), fostering collaboration among the government, businesses, research institutions, and international partners.
In doing so, the city expects to enhance its competitiveness and strengthen its role as a connecting hub between domestic growth poles and the global economic network.
Also within the framework of the forum, the executive body of the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC) announced and presented membership certificates to its first 10 holding companies.
These enterprises operate across sectors including investment, finance, infrastructure development, maritime operations, logistics, energy, fintech, payments, and commodity trading.
According to the announcement, the total registered and committed charter capital of these 10 members amounts to $33.63 million, with a projected total capital mobilization and investment volume of approximately $2.7 billion by 2027.
Among the recognized entities, Saigon Marina IFC Co., Ltd. plans to raise approximately $816 million to develop the technological and physical infrastructure required for the financial center’s ecosystem. AG&P Holding Vietnam Co., Ltd. plans to mobilize and invest approximately $425 million into the liquefied natural gas (LNG) value chain, power sector, and data centers.
The recognition of the initial members marks a transition from the organizational preparatory phase to the formation of a corporate ecosystem dedicated to developing infrastructure, financial products, and services.
However, the governing authority has clarified that this membership recognition does not substitute for the specific licenses or regulatory approvals required for conditional business activities.
On the same afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang held a working session with investors, banks, and enterprises associated with the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC) to identify challenges and obstacles encountered during the implementation process.
Discussions focused on the legal framework, licensing mechanisms, scope of operations, the capacity to offer financial products, and the facilitation of access to international capital.
The Deputy Prime Minister directed relevant agencies to urgently resolve issues within their jurisdiction and accelerate the finalization of the legal framework and operational requirements, with the goal of achieving actual transactions and having member banks in place by November 2026.
Ho Chi Minh City commits to three breakthrough pillars, aiming to create new growth poles.
Beyond investment cooperation and networking, forum discussions also addressed the imperative of developing new growth drivers amidst the ongoing shifts in global capital flows, technology, and supply chains.
Delegates emphasized the necessity of establishing flexible cooperation models that effectively connect resources across the government, local authorities, the business sector, and international organizations. In this context, the private sector is identified as a key player in the processes of innovation, technological investment, and the enhancement of competitiveness.
The discussions focused on three sets of solutions: fostering technological connectivity and innovation ecosystems; developing financial instruments to mobilize long-term capital; and refining multilateral cooperation mechanisms to implement cross-border programs and projects.
For megacities, the requirement is to leverage their role as central hubs for connecting capital, technology, human resources, and markets.
Cooperation mechanisms must clearly define resources, responsibilities, and expected outcomes, rather than remaining merely as high-level, principled guidelines.
This is considered a crucial prerequisite for transforming cooperation opportunities into concrete investment projects and economic activities.
In his concluding remarks, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duoc noted that the 2026 Autumn Economic Forum had successfully addressed its core agenda and yielded positive results.
He emphasized that the forum’s success holds special significance for Ho Chi Minh City as it marks the 50th anniversary of the city being named after President Ho Chi Minh, while also charting a development path for the next half-century.
The city aims to become a smart, sustainable global megacity—one capable of connecting resources and integrating more deeply into international economic networks.
To realize this vision, Ho Chi Minh City has identified three breakthrough pillars. The first is institutional innovation, involving the pioneering of pilot mechanisms and policies to promote science, technology, and innovation.
The second pillar is the development of a high-quality, internationally standardized workforce, which will serve as a foundation for enhancing productivity and competitiveness. The third pillar involves advancing strategic integration and cooperation, strengthening public-private partnerships, connecting international resources, and fostering collaboration in high-tech sectors.
Building on this, the city aims to transition from isolated connections toward a network of strategic alliances, thereby creating new growth poles.
Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duoc affirmed that the city will continue to work alongside domestic and international partners to effectively implement the initiatives discussed at the forum.
The primary focus is to translate cooperation frameworks into concrete programs and projects that align with the development needs of businesses and the broader economy.
Given the outcomes achieved, the 2026 Autumn Economic Forum not only expands opportunities for international cooperation but also underscores the need to accelerate institutional refinement, resource mobilization, and execution—ultimately enhancing the standing of both Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City within the global network of emerging growth poles.