Vietnam Reaffirms Commitment to Green and Digital Transformation at Annual Business Forum
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: The Government of Vietnam and the business community have reaffirmed their shared commitment to driving a green and digital economy during the annual Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) 2025, held in Hanoi.
Organised by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in cooperation with the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the VBF consortium, the event brought together senior government officials, international financial institutions, business associations, and domestic and foreign investors. This year’s theme, “Businesses Partnering with the Government for a Green Transformation in the Digital Era,” reflected Vietnam’s strategic focus on sustainability and innovation.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính underscored the profound global economic shifts underway, citing geopolitical tensions, protectionist trade policies, the climate crisis, and the digital revolution as defining forces. “The world is entering a deep-seated transformation,” he said, adding that Vietnam was positioning itself as a “bright star in Asia” through its open economy, institutional reforms, digital transition, and green development agenda.
The Prime Minister outlined several key policy priorities, including maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring major economic balances, and accelerating industrialisation and urbanisation. He emphasised that green and digital transitions must remain at the core of national development strategies.
Calling for closer collaboration between the Government and enterprises, PM Chính urged both domestic and foreign firms to invest in sustainable practices, promote technology transfer, and lead innovation. He particularly encouraged foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises to play a pioneering role in advancing green goals and supporting Vietnamese companies in their transformation efforts.
Businesses, he said, must align their models with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, reduce emissions, adopt circular economy practices, and utilise digital technologies for greater transparency and efficiency.
Despite Vietnam’s progress, the Prime Minister acknowledged ongoing challenges, including institutional bottlenecks, limited implementation capacity, and the need to enhance green competitiveness and attract high-value investment. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to maintaining open dialogue with businesses and swiftly addressing their policy recommendations, particularly in customs procedures, and the development of LNG and offshore wind power sectors.
Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng praised the resilience and contribution of the business community, noting that Vietnam’s economy continues to perform strongly amid global uncertainty. “Thanks to the determination and decisive actions of the political system, people, and businesses, our economy remains a bright spot in the region,” he said.
According to Thắng, Vietnam achieved over 7.8 percent GDP growth in the first nine months of 2025, and 8 percent in the third quarter — one of the highest rates globally. Total registered FDI reached US$31.5 billion, up 15.6 percent year-on-year, while disbursed FDI rose 8.8 percent to US$21.3 billion, underscoring continued investor confidence in Vietnam’s stability and prospects.
He highlighted the Politburo’s issuance of seven strategic resolutions covering science and technology, international integration, law-making, private sector development, education, and healthcare — establishing a comprehensive policy framework to enable sustained economic growth and competitiveness.
Minister Thắng also acknowledged the remaining limitations facing the Vietnamese economy, including persistent institutional and legal constraints, an underdeveloped investment environment, and lagging productivity and labour skills, especially in high-tech and digital sectors. He further noted that widespread natural disasters had disrupted business operations in several localities this year.
Amid global economic realignments and the growing urgency of climate action, Minister Thắng reaffirmed that green growth has become an inevitable path for Vietnam. The Government has already issued key policy frameworks such as the National Green Growth Strategy 2021–2030, the National Action Plan on Green Growth, and the Circular Economy Development Scheme.
“With its significant potential and strategic position, Vietnam now stands before a historic opportunity to transform itself and achieve breakthroughs in economic, social, and environmental development,” Thắng said.
Thomas Jacobs, Acting Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific at the IFC, commended Vietnam’s progress and reiterated the importance of sustained public-private collaboration. “Sustainable growth is not an easy path. It requires investment in people, the environment, infrastructure, and policies,” he said, adding that the Vietnam Business Forum remains an effective platform for policy dialogue between the Government and the business community.
Through shared vision and collective action, Vietnam’s Government and private sector reaffirmed their determination to pursue a green and digital future — advancing sustainable growth and strengthening the country’s position as a dynamic economic hub in Asia.
