Singapore-Vietnam business ties expected to rise via major July event

The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) is bringing its flagship event, the Singapore Regional Business Forum (SRBF), overseas for the first time in July, and Vietnam has been picked to stage the day-long event.

More than 500 participants from over 30 countries and territories will attend the July 7 event in Hanoi, SBF announced Wednesday. They will include top business leaders, senior government officials, policymakers, academia, diplomats, and media representatives.

The forum will be held in a hybrid format, enabling participants to join either physically or virtually through an interactive digital platform (www.srbf.com.sg). It is in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Singapore-Vietnam bilateral relations this year, as well as the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

This year’s SRBF, its seventh edition, will focus on expanding cooperation to new growth areas such as the digital economy, cybersecurity, green energy, sustainable development, and smart cities, SBF chief executive officer Kok Ping Soon said.

“SBF is committed to fostering regional partnerships, exploring sustainable business opportunities, and promoting collaboration among industry leaders,” he said in an announcement from Singapore.

“Through our inaugural overseas edition of SRBF, we aim to bring these discussions closer to our regional counterparts and empower businesses to thrive in the evolving global landscape.

“I am excited to meet and connect with participants at the event as we collectively shape the future of business in the region."

Among the main speakers at the forum are Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Singapore’s Manpower Minister and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng, and Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, according to the event’s agenda.

Themed “Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Sustainable Growth”, the forum will include a panel discussion with Dr. Tan and Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. They will address issues such as global tensions and the prospects for building a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future for the region.

Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB) and Vietnam’s Techcombank serve as the Platinum Partners for the 7th SRBF, said SBF. This year marks the 30th anniversary of both banks’ operations in Vietnam.

“UOB believes in the potential of Vietnam in terms of economic growth, stable politics, its favorable demographics, and resilient fundamentals,” UOB Vietnam CEO Victor Ngo said in the release.

“Leveraging our deep regional connectivity, supported by the one-stop solution provided via our FDI advisory services, we will continue to facilitate FDI flows into Vietnam and support Vietnamese companies’ expansion into the region,” he added.

Techcombank CEO Jens Lottner said, “We are proud to support this forum and look forward to all we can achieve together.”

In conjunction with the forum, SBF is also organizing a business mission to Hanoi on July 5-8. The delegation, which consists of 28 participants from 25 Singapore organizations from the business and finance services, manufacturing, education, and lifestyle industries, will gain insights into the business landscape and cultural nuances of Vietnam, foster collaborations with local businesses, and further strengthen bilateral ties, SBF said.