Bahrain affirms support for Vietnam in financial center development
Bahrain’s investment funds and agencies are willing to support Vietnam in developing financial centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, said the Arab country's Minister of Finance and National Economy.
Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (right) meets with Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Finance and National Economy. Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese government's news portal.
Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa made the statement during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on Wednesday. The meeting was part of Son’s visit to the UAE for the World Governments Summit 2025.
Bahrain is a small Arab country situated in a bay on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and some 30 smaller islands.
Under Vietnam’s plan, international financial centers in HCMC and the central city of Danang will be established to position Vietnam as a key financial hub in the region and globally.
During the meeting, Deputy PM Son urged Bahrain to push for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to initiate negotiations on a free trade agreement with Vietnam.
He also encouraged Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in Vietnam, particularly in energy, the Halal industry, digital transformation, and tourism. He suggested the two nations work toward signing economic and trade cooperation agreements soon.
For his part, Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s GDP growth of over 7% in 2024 and its target of exceeding 8% in 2025. He affirmed Bahrain’s willingness to provide financial and banking services to support the implementation of a potential FTA between Vietnam and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Bahrain will dispatch a mission from the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) to Vietnam to explore investment opportunities, particularly in fintech and financial solutions for the telecom and aviation sectors, the minister added.
He also expected the two sides to conduct negotiations for an investment protection agreement and a tax double taxation avoidance deal.
On Tuesday, Deputy PM Son met with executives from several UAE corporations, including Dalam Capital, Gulf Analytica, and Apolonia Capital. He called on them to support the development of international and regional financial centers as well as free trade zones in Vietnam, beginning with the development of a legal framework.
- Related News
- Read More
Third round of Vietnam-US reciprocal trade pact talks sees 'significant progress'
The third technical round of negotiations for a reciprocal trade agreement between Vietnam and the U.S. has concluded in Washington, D.C., with "significant progress made and gaps narrowed in all areas of negotiation," according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Economy - Sun, June 15, 2025 | 9:57 pm GMT+7
HCMC seeks to expand infrastructure cooperation with Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
Ho Chi Minh City is aiming to expand cooperation with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (China) in infrastructure, one of the city’s key sectors following its merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces.
Economy - Sun, June 15, 2025 | 8:00 pm GMT+7
Digital assets legalized in Vietnam
Vietnam has officially legalized digital assets with the approval of the Law on Digital Technology Industry by the National Assembly, the country's legislature, on Saturday.
Finance - Sun, June 15, 2025 | 3:07 pm GMT+7
$2.5 bln LNG power plant in northern Vietnam set for groundbreaking in late 2025
A $2.56 billion LNG-fueled power project in the northern Vietnam province of Thai Binh is slated to break ground later this year, according a project report dated June 2025.
Energy - Sun, June 15, 2025 | 10:06 am GMT+7
Vietnam’s tech unicorn VNG expects 2025 loss to narrow by 47%, plans name change
VNG Corporation, Vietnam’s first tech unicorn, projects a net loss of VND620 billion ($2.38 million) in 2025, down 47% from last year.
Companies - Sun, June 15, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Prime Minister suggests AstraZeneca build pharma factory in Vietnam
Vietnam is willing to license AstraZeneca immediately to build vaccine and pharmaceutical factories, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Industries - Sat, June 14, 2025 | 10:59 pm GMT+7
Sugary drinks subject to excise tax in Vietnam from 2027
Sugary drinks in Vietnam will be subject to an 8% excise tax starting in early 2027 and 10% from 2028, according to the adjusted Excise Tax Law, passed by the parliament on Saturday.
Economy - Sat, June 14, 2025 | 4:56 pm GMT+7
Ericsson should focus on 6G research, build database for AI in Vietnam: Prime Minister
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has suggested Ericsson's cooperation with Vietnam should focus on piloting innovation initiatives, 6G research, and building a database for AI in the country.
Economy - Sat, June 14, 2025 | 3:59 pm GMT+7
Swedish giants H&M, Syre to scale up operations in Vietnam
H&M, a globally renowned fashion brand from Sweden, plans to expand its network of stores in Vietnam to over 20 in the time to come, said CFO Adam Karlsson.
Industries - Sat, June 14, 2025 | 2:16 pm GMT+7
Leading industrial park developer Becamex to gain from Binh Duong province’s merger into HCMC: broker
Becamex IDC Corp, a leading urban and industrial park developer based in Binh Duong, is expected to benefit from the province’s merger into Ho Chi Minh City, with many new development opportunities, according to Vietcombank Securities (VCBS).
Companies - Sat, June 14, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Vietnam Airlines secures $1.5 bln funding from ING Bank for strategic expansion
Vietnam Airlines and ING Bank have signed an MoU for bilateral financial cooperation, securing capital funding of up to $1.5 billion.
Companies - Fri, June 13, 2025 | 10:56 pm GMT+7
Lawmakers scrutinize dual-city international financial center plan
Discussing a draft resolution on establishing an international financial center in Vietnam, some parliament members have proposed careful consideration of a dual-city model based on regional development strategies and investment efficiency.
Finance - Fri, June 13, 2025 | 10:49 pm GMT+7
Vietnam among world’s most food-self-sufficient nations: study
As concerns mount over the potential for disruptions to global trade, a new study published in the journal Nature Food has identified Vietnam as one of the few countries with a high level of food self-sufficiency, capable of withstanding major interruptions to food imports and exports worldwide.
Southeast Asia - Fri, June 13, 2025 | 10:41 pm GMT+7
Bad debts at Vietnamese commercial banks remain a concern
While the most challenging period for bad debts in Vietnam appears to have passed, potentially irrecoverable debts have reached a record high, accounting for 1.25% of total outstanding customer loans, or more than VND176 trillion ($6.74 billion), according to a new report by research firm Vietnam Report JSC.
Banking - Fri, June 13, 2025 | 7:58 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's galvanized steel major Ton Dong A to focus on domestic sales amid export market woes
Ton Dong A, a leading galvanized steel manufacturer in Vietnam, will focus more on the domestic market due to export difficulties, raising the ratio of domestic sales to 75%.
Companies - Fri, June 13, 2025 | 4:56 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's leading construction materials maker Viglacera appoints new chairman
The board of directors of Viglacera, Vietnam's leading construction materials maker, has appointed Tran Manh Huu as new chairman, succeeding Nguyen Van Tuan.
Companies - Fri, June 13, 2025 | 3:08 pm GMT+7
