At the Germany – Vietnam business forum (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – A Germany – Vietnam business forum, themed “Collaborative pathways togreen growth in Ho C🅠hi Minh City”, took place in Ho Chi Minh City on March 28.
The event wasco-hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment andTrade Promotion Centre (ITPC), the German Business Association (GBA) in Ho ChiMinh City, and the United Overseas Bank (UOB). Speakingat the event, ITPC Deputy Director of ITPC Cao Thi Phi Van highlighted Ho ChiMinh City as a vibrant urban area and an economic, cultural and technologicalhub of Vietnam, contributing 25% to the national budget. HoChi Minh City is home to more than 400,000active businesses, including nearly 15,000 foreign-invested ones, she said, adding that the city has completed a framework strategyfor green growth until 2030, with a vision to 2050, which places citizens andbusinesses at the centre. She said the event provides a platformto update European investors, especially those from Germany, about localinvestment environment and new development mechanisms, thereby tapping investmentcooperation potential between Ho Chi Minh City, neighbouring localities andEuropean countries, especially in the fields of green growth, sustainabledevelopment and innovation. GBA Chairman AlexanderZiehe suggested that Vietnam and Ho Chi MinhCity in particular should improve policies on finance, administrative procedures,infrastructure, digitalisation, and foreign labour. Meanwhile, Chairman of the EuroCham Green Growth Sector Subcommittee Erick Contreras advised Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City to prioritise transparentmechanisms to stimulate investment in energy efficiency, including reducingsubsidies for electricity. He also called for timely and coordinated approaches tomaximise the integration of renewable energy sources into the national grid, adding that the city also needs to prioritise the use ofeco-friendly construction materials and recycling while building clear urban planningstrategies that encompass not only green infrastructure but also water, wasteand transportation management./.
Ho Chi Minh City wants to promote innovation and multi-national cooperation, and calls for public investment in order to shift to a greener and more sustainable economy, a local official has said.
Businesspeople, experts and managers exchanged views on sustainable development and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) practices in enterprises at a forum on March 21.
While German consumers are familiar with Vietnamese products such as coffee, seafood, tea, and spices, many other quality items remain relatively unknown in the market. The Selgros event not only helped introduce Bac Giang lychee to German consumers but also provided them with the opportunity to experience other Vietnamese agricultural products.
The article by Cuba’s Inter Press Service detailed how Vietnamese private enterprise Agri VMA leased 1,000 ha of land in Los Palacios district, Cuba’s westernmost province of Pinar del Río, for rice cultivation over a three-year period. The project’s first harvest in 2025 recorded an impressive yield of 7.2 tonnes per hectare, far exceeding the local average of 1.6 tonnes.
During the visit, office representatives held a working session with the Tipaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry and met with several prominent local businesses operating in key sectors including industry, agriculture, fisheries, food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and plastics.
A Nordic delegation to Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 in September will feature leading names in retail, consumer goods, logistics, and sustainable manufacturing, including global fashion giant H&M, offering fresh prospects for partnerships in fashion, textiles, and green supply chains.
With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,276 VND/USD and the floor rate 23,774 VND/USD.
Effective from the date of signing on June 18, the decision halts procedures outlined in the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the governments of Vietnam and Laos on the initial implementation of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement at the Lao Bao–Densavan border gate.
The event aimed to update businesses on new regulations and compliance requirements regarding US tax, trade, and customs policies, while offering practical solutions to facilitate exports amid shifting trade dynamics.
The festival marks a significant milestone in promoting the brand, value, and legacy of traditional fish sauce - a product deeply rooted in the island’s identity and history spanning over 200 years.
According to Mastercard data, Vietnam has recorded a remarkable 92% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in contactless transaction volume from Q4 2022 to Q4 2024.
Tuan expressed his confidence that LH, with its expertise and experience, would swiftly implement the urban area project, contributing to a modern urban landscape for the province.
With its strategic location, abundant workforce, and modern infrastructure, Vietnam holds significant potential to become a leading centre for power and electronics production in the region and the world.
The renewable energy workforce training and development centre, invested by Germany's GEO Group, is expected to be a cornerstone in shaping Binh Dinh as a renewable energy and innovation hub in central Vietnam, meeting the growing demand for skilled technical personnel in offshore wind, solar farms, and green hydrogen projects.
A notable trend is the shift toward satellite regions. With land scarcity and soaring prices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, investors are eyeing provinces like Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong, which are benefiting from improved technical infrastructure and transport connectivity.
To further strengthen private-sector innovation, Bac Ninh plans to accelerate administrative reforms, build a digital, service-oriented government, and develop an integrated innovation ecosystem that connects businesses with domestic and international institutions, universities, and experts.
The participation of H&M, one of the world's largest fashion corporations, in Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City in early September is considered a special highlight, opening up many cooperation opportunities for Vietnamese businesses in the fashion, textiles and sustainable supply chains.
This latest order builds on a previous agreement signed at the Singapore Airshow last year for 40 engines, bringing the total number of Trent 7000 engines ordered by the airline to 80.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien acknowledged that despite concerted efforts by ministries and local authorities in combating fake and substandard goods, the situation remains highly complicated, attributing the persistent challenges to high profits luring numerous participants, increasingly sophisticated violations, limited resources within enforcement agencies.
At the Germany – Vietnam business forum (Photo: VNA) 
