VAFIE seeks to promote sci-tech development, intellectual property policies

The Vietnam’s Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) aims to enhance policies for the development of science, technology, and intellectual property, creating a more conducive investment environment.

Speaking at a Friday conference to review the association’s 2024 performance and outline tasks for next year, VAFIE secretary general Ha Ba Tuan highlighted the association’s significant contributions to policy development in 2024.

Throughout the year, VAFIE is actively engaged in gathering feedback from its members, businesses, and government agencies, identifying and addressing key challenges faced by foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs).

This approach led to several important policy proposals, including those related to tax, customs, and the investment climate, which were submitted to the government and relevant ministries.

A key milestone for VAFIE in 2024 was the establishment of the Business Support and Tax-Legal Advisory Committee, a body tasked with assisting members in navigating legal and regulatory challenges.

Headed by standing vice chairman Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, the committee has become a trusted platform for businesses to seek solutions to issues related to investment and business operations, and the enforcement of laws in Vietnam.

Thanks to these efforts, VAFIE successfully attracted 45 new members in 2024, including major corporations such as Vung Ang II Thermal Power (Vapco), PepsiCo, Sabeco, Heineken, and Samsung Vietnam.

In addition to member support, VAFIE strengthened its international ties. The association signed several MoUs with prominent foreign organizations, including the German Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, the UK’s Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and China’s Anhui province.

In 2024, it organized nearly 20 business trips and hosted foreign delegations visiting Vietnam.

On the media front, its publications Nhadautu.vn and Theinvestor.vn continued to grow in both readership and influence. The publications have become vital sources of information, offering in-depth coverage of investment trends and opportunities in Vietnam.

Workshops hosted by Nhadautu.vn and Theinvestor.vn have been widely praised, providing valuable policy recommendations with participation of government officials, top experts, and business leaders.

Regarding key orientations for 2025, VAFIE leaders stated that the association will continue to contribute to building policies regarding Vietnam’s socio-economic growth, particularly the FDI sector.

It will also continue to support its members in addressing challenges related to investment, business, minimum global tax enforcement, tax refunds, production expansion, tax incentives, and customs procedures.

Another key area will be expanding the list of organizations being VAFIE members such as clubs and associations, strengthening its membership base.

Next year, the association will continue to promote actitivies related to the Vietnam-North Australia investment cooperation strategy and collaboration with the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, support South Korea’s Techcross Group in wastewater treatment projects in Hanoi, and organize its sixth Congress for the 2024-2029 term.

VAFIE chairman Prof. Nguyen Mai confirmed that in 2025, the association will organize more workshops and seminars on intellectual property, as this is a crucial topic for the country’s development and attracting FDI.

The association will also continue to support the government in institutional reforms to create new opportunities for the country’s development.

At the the conference, VAFIE leaders presented a membership certificate to the Phu Tho Small and Medium Enterprises Association.