- Business roundtable highlights cooperation in green economy, digital tech, and Industry 4.0.
- Ho Chi Minh City showcases strengths in FDI with $115B GDP contribution.
- Malaysia reaffirms role as top trading partner, focusing on ESG-driven growth.
A joint mission from Ho Chi Minh City held the Kuala Lumpur-Ho Chi Minh City Business Roundtable at Taylor’s University in Selangor state, which focused on bilateral investment possibilities. The event drew a wide range of businesses and organizations from Vietnam and Malaysia across sectors including industrial infrastructure, manufacturing, high technology, green economy, digital transformation, trade, and investment consulting.
Cao Thi Phi Van, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC), provided an overview of the investment climate in Vietnam, emphasizing sustainable development, competitive expenses, and a strategic geographic position. She presented Ho Chi Minh City as a compelling location in Vietnam, highlighting that it accounts for 24% of the nation's GDP, totaling 115 billion USD.
In this context, Le Van Thinh, Deputy Head of Ho Chi Minh City’s Management Board of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks (HEPZA), emphasized the city’s strengths in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), such as its strategic location, skilled workforce, vibrant business climate, and appealing incentive programs.
Nazuki Abdullah, Director overseeing cross-border investment at the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), highlighted Malaysia’s investment approach focusing on green technology, digital economy, and Industry 4.0, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ESG criteria.
Andrew Goh Boon Kim, Vice President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), along with S. Jal Shankar, Senior Director of the Export Promotion and Market Access Division at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), highlighted that intelligent industrial, digital, and bilateral trade collaboration improves future competitiveness and utilizes complementary strengths in areas such as electronics, palm oil, Islamic finance, healthcare, Halal industry, manufacturing, textiles, IT, and agriculture.
Also Read: Malaysia, China Strengthen Service Ties in Digital and Green Tech
In the area of education and business networking, Loy Teik Ngan, Group Executive Chairman of Taylor’s Education Group, revealed an investment of US$165 million in British University Vietnam (BUV) with the intention of providing education, encouraging future leaders, and connecting Vietnam to global opportunities.
Angus Liew, Chairman of the Malaysia Business Chamber in Vietnam (MBC), stated that Malaysia is in Vietnam's top ten trading partners and reaffirmed the MBC's commitment to strengthening business between Malaysia and Vietnam.
Gamuda Land representatives spoke about their successful business journey in Vietnam, emphasizing factors that appealed to them, such as an industrious and youthful workforce, to be in a strategic location in South East Asia, the modern infrastructure, and reform to facilitate for business, along with advice to investors to address the legal and cultural challenges with determination and assistance from ITPC and MBC.