Vietnam calls for European investment in sustainable development

The investment promotion conference organized by the Ministry of Finance in London attracted nearly 300 representatives from corporations, banks, international investment funds, along with leaders of the State Securities Commission, stock exchanges, and many large enterprises.

This was a rare occasion when a large-scale financial sector investment promotion event was held in Europe’s leading financial hub. It clearly demonstrated Vietnam’s strong commitment to deep international integration and recognized the United Kingdom as a strategic partner.

In his opening speech, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang emphasized that Vietnam has maintained stable growth despite global economic fluctuations. He noted that in just the first 8 months of 2025, disbursed FDI in Vietnam reached USD 15.4 billion, up 8.8% year-on-year, the highest level in the past 5 years.

Viewing the UK as a strategic investor and one of Vietnam’s major trading partners in Europe, the Minister affirmed that Vietnam is ready to welcome high-quality capital inflows while facilitating UK and European enterprises' leverage of their strengths in technology, finance, and innovation.

The Minister introduced the Vietnamese stock market as an attractive destination for indirect investment flows in addition to FDI. As of August 2025, the VN-Index had risen 33% compared to the end of last year, ranking among the world’s strongest-performing indices. The market capitalization of stocks and bonds exceeded 103% of GDP, with liquidity leading ASEAN at over USD 1.1 billion in daily transactions.

Currently, Vietnam has 1,600 listed and registered companies, including 7 with a market capitalization of over USD 10 billion and 61 exceeding USD 1 billion. These figures demonstrate Vietnam’s vast potential to attract international capital, particularly from European financial institutions.

At the conference, the Minister also shared Vietnam’s major reform directions with four strategic breakthroughs: comprehensive innovation in lawmaking and enforcement, promotion of science and technology and innovation, development of the private sector, and deeper international integration.

According to him, these directions aim to create a transparent, fair, and stable long-term investment environment – a key factor for European funds.

Not only focusing on attracting capital, the Minister also emphasized Vietnam’s commitment to sustainable development. He called on UK and European enterprises to cooperate in renewable energy, green infrastructure, digital transformation, and modern financial governance. Beyond capital inflows, he hoped that partners would support technology transfer, share governance experience, and promote green finance. He stressed that cooperation in these areas would not only generate economic benefits but also contribute to Vietnam’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, thereby aligning the country’s growth trajectory with global climate action targets.

The September 16 event also provided an opportunity for the London investment community to exchange information directly with Vietnamese regulators and enterprises. Discussion sessions focused on FDI incentive policies and opportunities in high-tech industries, clean energy, finance, and services.

Many investors expressed interest in the stock market's potential, including Vietnam’s goal of upgrading to emerging market status, which would allow it to join global indices such as MSCI and FTSE.

Immediately after the conference, a series of bilateral meetings were held between Vietnamese enterprises and UK investment funds and financial institutions. According to delegates, many new projects are under discussion, ranging from green urban infrastructure and renewable energy to financial technology.

Notably, many major corporations in London assessed that Vietnam is emerging as a strategic destination thanks to its young workforce, socio-political stability, and favorable geo-economic location at the heart of Southeast Asia. Some investment funds pledged to soon open representative offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to seize opportunities.

 Experts also noted that the signing of free trade agreements such as the UKVFTA, along with efforts to upgrade the capital market, will help Vietnam enhance access to European capital while affirming its role as a bridge between ASEAN and the EU. This expectation fosters confidence that capital flows from London will not only increase into Vietnam but also extend across many areas of long-term cooperation.

Delegates further highlighted that innovation, digital economy, and green technology will be crucial drivers, creating new opportunities for both sides to cooperate more comprehensively in the coming years.

This new wave of cooperation lays the foundation for elevating Vietnam-UK economic and financial relations while deepening connections with the entire European market.