VAFIE strives to facilitate high-quality FDI flows into Vietnam: chairman

In addition to its core mission of supporting businesses and providing policy recommendations, in 2026, the Vietnam’s Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) will intensify investment promotion activities to attract high-quality FDI into Vietnam, said chairman Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan.

In 2025, Vietnam achieved numerous economic accomplishments, with FDI attraction and disbursement considered a bright spot. In its role, how did VAFIE contributed to these overall achievements?

2025 was not an easy one, as the global economy recovered slowly, geopolitical instability increased, and trade protectionism significantly affected global investment flows. However, under the leadership of the Party and the decisive direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, Vietnam still achieved economic growth of over 8% and remained an attractive destination for FDI.

The total registered FDI capital, which comprises capital for newly-registered projects, additional capital for existing projects, and capital for stake acquisitions, surpassed $38.4 billion in 2025, up 0.5% year-on-year. Disbursed FDI was estimated at more than $27.6 billion, an increase of 9%.

Meanwhile, the export turnover of the FDI sector reached $365.72 billion, up 26.4%, accounting for approximately 75% of Vietnam’s total export value. This has made a very practical contribution to total social investment and national exports.

Within its mandate, VAFIE proactively organized numerous investment promotion activities and worked with major corporations from various countries to introduce Vietnam’s potential, opportunities, and specific investment projects.

By assisting FDI enterprises in resolving operational difficulties and obstacles, the association also contributed to “on-the-spot investment promotion,” leading many projects to expand operations, thus increasing total FDI capital in Vietnam.

Could you provide more details about the activities to support enterprises in resolving difficulties and obstacles in their investment and business operations? What specific challenges have they faced, and what has VAFIE done to help address them?

The most common challenges faced by FDI enterprises involved the implementation of tax policies, particularly import duties, VAT refunds, corporate income tax, and global minimum tax. Other issues related to customs regulations and the application of preferential policies for import-export activities of export processing enterprises. Some businesses also encountered difficulties regarding investment expansion procedures and land matters.

Based on enterprises’ reports and recommendations, VAFIE conducted research and consulted experts and relevant authorities to clarify issues. Over the past year, it recommended that tax and customs authorities and local governments organize dialogues with businesses to address their concerns.

As a result, many legitimate recommendations were resolved satisfactorily, while others lacking legal grounds were clearly explained by competent authorities. VAFIE highly appreciates the cooperation of local tax and customs departments and departments of finance in organizing these dialogues.

For many years, providing feedback to improve laws and policies has been a regular activity of VAFIE. How was this activity implemented in 2025?

Beyond organizing seminars and policy dialogues, a highlight in 2025 was VAFIE’s active participation in the appraisal of legal normative documents. The Ministry of Justice invited the association to serve as a member of the Appraisal Council for draft laws and decrees, with one vice chairman representing VAFIE. The association also established a legal committee led by a vice chairman, supported by experienced lawyers and members.

Strengthening enterprise support activities has enabled VAFIE to closely monitor law enforcement practices, promptly identifying tax and policy shortcomings, and enhancing the quality of policy recommendations, particularly in taxation, customs, import-export regulations, and international accounting standards.

How did VAFIE’s International Cooperation Committee operate last year?

International cooperation and business networking remained VAFIE’s key priorities. In 2025, the association consolidated its International Cooperation Committee and the Enterprise Promotion Support Center. These units organized and co-organized numerous forums and investment promotion conferences, supported foreign enterprises in surveying investment opportunities in Vietnam, and arranged delegations of Vietnamese enterprises to explore investment and trade opportunities abroad.

VAFIE also signed and implemented multiple memoranda of understanding and cooperation programs with domestic localities such as the Hanoi Department of Finance, and with business associations from China, India, South Korea, Russia, and Northern Australia, among others. These efforts have created effective connectivity channels, strengthened investment cooperation, and supported enterprises in integrating more deeply into global value chains.

How do you assess the economic outlook for 2026 and the role of VAFIE in supporting the double-digit growth target?

Looking ahead to 2026, Vietnam is entering a new development phase with a double-digit economic growth target approved by the National Assembly. Achieving this goal requires effectively leveraging opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital transformation, green transition, and existing free trade agreements, while mobilizing both domestic and foreign resources for development investment.

In this context, swiftly institutionalizing and effectively implementing key resolutions issued by the Politburo is crucial, especially Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation; Resolution 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new context; Resolution 66-NQ/TW on reforming law-making and law enforcement; Resolution 68-NQ/TW on private sector development; and Resolution 79-NQ/TW on state economic sector development.

VAFIE will actively contribute to drafting legal documents to institutionalize these resolutions, particularly mechanisms and policies aimed at fostering a new-generation FDI wave in high technology, digital transformation, and green transition, creating spillover effects for domestic enterprises and enhancing the FDI sector’s contribution to the national economy.

In parallel, the association will focus on effectively implementing signed cooperation agreements, organizing investment promotion forums and conferences, supporting member enterprises, and strengthening linkages between FDI enterprises and domestic firms. Based on priority investment project lists, VAFIE will identify strategic investors and investment funds to introduce, exchange information, and call for investment into key sectors and localities.

The increase in high-quality FDI inflows and the development of the FDI sector will be vital drivers for Vietnam to achieve its goal of rapid and sustainable economic growth.

VAFIE is the parent entity of The Investor (www.theinvestor.vn) and Nha dau tu (www.nhadautu.vn).

Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, chairman of the Vietnam’s Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE), used to be vice head of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. He was later editor-in-chief of Vietnam Investment Review (VIR).