London (VNA) – The Vietnam-UK Network hosted a panel discussion andnetworking event named “Vietnam – a Story of Development, Opportunities andPotential” in London on October 2.

Themed “SupportingWomen in Business and Promoting Trade and Investment,” the event broughttogether a broad audience of both male and female professionals from all sectors, including trade,finance, entrepreneurs, start-ups, technology, media, arts, healthcare,education, governmental agencies, NGOs and think tanks from Vietnam and the UK.

The eventallowed the audience to learn more about Vietnam, its journey in the past threedecades, culture, social development, opportunities, challenges and potentials,while providing a platform for entrepreneurs from the two countries to promotedirect trading and investment opportunities.

Speakers toldthe audience about Vietnam’s remarkable development through vivid stories of the lives of Vietnamese women today.

Vietnam’seconomic growth has maintained high rates in years, making the country anappealing destination for foreign investors, including those from the UK.

Women inbusiness is the Vietnam-UK Network’s new topic of interest, through which itwants to gather British people who wish to contribute to developing friendshipand economic cooperation with Vietnam, said Pham Bao Ha, head of the event’sorganising board.

The Britishgovernment will accelerate support for businesses from the UK to invest in Vietnamin coming years, said Rachel Hill, Director of the Dragon Capital Markets(Europe).

There is anabundance of capital in the UK ready to finance the development of renewableenergy, she said, adding that she expects the UK’s capital will flow into thisindustry in Vietnam.

It will be agreat opportunity for UK businesses as Vietnam is a good destination for allinvestors, she said.

When a foreigninvestor thinks about Southeast Asia, Vietnam tops most attractive regionaldestinations for Merger and Acquisition (M&A), particularly in greenenergy, said Andrew Huntley, Senior Managing Director at BDA Partners, aprovider of advice on cross-border M&A in Asian countries like China,India, Japan and Vietnam.

Huntley saidmost of the M&A deals in Vietnam took place inside the country with fewVietnamese firms acquiring other businesses abroad. It will take more time forthis to happen, he said.

He forecastthat in the next few years, more major Vietnamese corporations, bothstate-owned and private, will involve in M&A deals overseas./.