Vietnam, Indonesia to cooperate in digital economy, EV ecosystem development
Vietnam and Indonesia will expand cooperation to new fields including artificial intelligence, digital economy, green economy and renewable energy; and step up investment in developing electric vehicle (EV) ecosystems and batteries.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo reached this agreement while co-chairing a high-level business dialogue between the two countries in Hanoi Saturday.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo at a high-level business dialogue between Vietnam and Indonesia in Hanoi, January 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of Vietnam government portal.
Among other things, they agreed to create favorable conditions for and encourage their businesses to invest in each other's markets, expand cooperation programs within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JTEP), and strengthen cooperation in the Halal industry and food security.
President Widodo said Indonesia and Vietnam shared a common vision of becoming high-income countries by 2045. To realize that vision, the two sides need to strengthen dialogue and high-quality cooperation, he added.
Indonesia has opened a carbon trading floor and is promoting the development of the EV industry, he said, expressing his hope that Vietnam's leading businesses will cooperate and invest more in Indonesia, helping it realize its goals.
In particular, Widodo wanted Vietnam’s EV maker VinFast to expand investment in the electric vehicle field; low-cost carrier Vietjet Air to open more flights to Indonesian tourist destinations; Sovico Group to invest in tourism and real estate projects; and FPT Software to invest in relevant technologies.
“We also hope to welcome many Vietnamese investors to Indonesia in the fields of banking, finance, education, science and technology and manufacturing,” he said.
PM Chinh said that over nearly 70 years of establishment, the Vietnam-Indonesia relationship had developed constantly, with economic cooperation as a highlight.
“However, economic cooperation is not commensurate with the political relations and the scale of the economies and populations of the two countries,” he stressed.
“There is no reason why businesses from both countries should not explore opportunities and continue to connect and promote investment to realize the high-level agreements as well as the ideas and goals of the two countries, quickly overcoming difficulties in the context of today's complex and unpredictable world developments,” he said.
The Vietnamese leader praised Indonesian investors in Vietnam, saying their successful projects have become models of economic cooperation between the two countries.
“Vietnam encourages businesses to invest in emerging economic sectors such as digital economy, green economy, circular economy, knowledge economy, sharing economy and industries of Indonesia’s strength,” he said, hoping that Indonesian businesses will cooperate and support Vietnamese peers to participate in Indonesia’s supply chain as well as the global one.
“Vietnam always creates the best conditions for businesses, including those from Indonesia, to invest and do business in a stable, long-term and successful manner in Vietnam,” he affirmed.
Following their talks, President Widodo visited the VinFast electric vehicle manufacturing complex in the northern port city of Hai Phong. After visiting the electric automobile manufacturing factory there, he pledged to create conditions for VinFast, a subsidiary of Vietnamese private conglomerate Vingroup, to complete procedures to invest and do business in the Indonesian market.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo in an electric car of VinFast at the Vietnamese manufacturer's plant in Hai Phong city, northern Vietnam. Photo courtsy of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.
Earlier, the EV maker had said it plans to invest at least $1.2 billion in Indonesia in the long-term. Apart from distributing imported cars from Vietnam in the first phase, VinFast said it plans to build a $200-million EV factory in the country with an expected annual capacity of 30,000-50,000 vehicles.
Earlier the same day, President Widodo and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with representatives of businesses operating in either country’s markets.
They were informed that VinFast and GSM, which offers VinFast electric car and motorbike rental and taxi services, and PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk, an Indonesian technology company, have signed an MoU to promote green transport in Indonesia.
GSM is also planning to invest $900 million in Indonesia in the coming time, the leaders were told. After visiting the VinFast factory, Widodo left Hai Phong at noon, concluding his three-day state visit to Vietnam.
- Read More
Indonesia maintains lowest debt ratio among G20 members
Indonesia’s external debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 30.6% in the first quarter of 2025, the lowest among the Group of Twenty (G20) comprising major developed and emerging economies, according to data from the Bank of Indonesia.
Southeast Asia - Sun, July 6, 2025 | 11:27 am GMT+7
Thailand's digital GDP expected to grow 6.2% this year
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry of Thailand expects digital GDP this year to expand by 6.2% year-on-year, despite the potential impact of the U.S.'s reciprocal tariffs.
Southeast Asia - Sun, July 6, 2025 | 10:44 am GMT+7
Healthcare M&As surge in Vietnam on foreign capital inflows
Despite a global downturn in healthcare M&A activity, Vietnam’s market has witnessed major deals in the first half of 2025.
Finance - Sun, July 6, 2025 | 10:40 am GMT+7
Vietnam’s cement giant Vicem posts profit after 2 years of losses
After two consecutive years of losses, Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (Vicem) has reported a consolidated after-tax profit of over VND34 billion ($1.3 million) in the first half of 2025.
Companies - Sun, July 6, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Indonesia, Saudi Arabia sign $10 bln deal on green projects
Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF) Danantara has signed an MoU with ACWA Power, a Saudi Arabian leading green energy corporation, to explore investments in renewable energy projects with total funding estimated at up to $10 billion.
Southeast Asia - Sat, July 5, 2025 | 11:26 pm GMT+7
Thailand yet to reach tariff deal with US: official
Thailand has yet to conclude negotiations with the U.S. on reciprocal tariffs but has gained “valuable insights” that will guide the development of a revised proposal, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said on Friday.
Southeast Asia - Sat, July 5, 2025 | 11:24 pm GMT+7
Soilbuild International starts work on $60 mln ready-built industrial facility project in northern Vietnam
Singapore-based real estate developer Soilbuild International has broken ground on a $60 million ready-built industrial facility in Vietnam’s northern province of Hung Yen.
Industrial real estate - Sat, July 5, 2025 | 11:20 pm GMT+7
Phu Quoc casino owner issues $91.67 mln bonds in capital restructuring
Phu Quoc Tourism Development and Investment JSC, owner of the Corona casino on Vietnam’s resort island of Phu Quoc, has completed the issuance of VND2.4 trillion ($91.67 million) in five-year bonds as part of its capital restructuring plan.
Companies - Sat, July 5, 2025 | 5:54 pm GMT+7
SK Group pushes for potential investment in $2.2 bln LNG-fired power plant in central Vietnam
A delegation from South Korean chaebol SK Group has held a second round of talks with Nghe An province authorities to explore investment opportunities for a $2.2 billion LNG-fuelled power plant project.
Energy - Sat, July 5, 2025 | 1:47 pm GMT+7
Vietnam GDP grows 7.52% in H1, 15-year record high
Vietnam's economic growth rate reached 7.52% in the first six months of the year, a record high in the period 2011-2025, the General Statistics Office reported on Saturday.
Economy - Sat, July 5, 2025 | 10:46 am GMT+7
Vietnam needs two-pronged policy approach to mitigate impact of rising oil prices: RMIT experts
A surge in global oil prices poses a significant threat to Vietnam’s economy and to cushion these impacts, the country needs a two-pronged policy approach, write Dr Vu Hong Nhung and Dr Phan Thanh Chung, lecturers at the economics and finance department, Business School, RMIT University Vietnam.
Consulting - Sat, July 5, 2025 | 8:54 am GMT+7
Vietnam's registered FDI tops $21 bln in H1, highest in 16 years
Registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam hit over $21.51 billion in the first half of the year, up 32.6% and a record high since 2009, while disbursed capital reached $11.72 billion, up 8.1%.
Economy - Fri, July 4, 2025 | 8:50 pm GMT+7
Gemadept’s southern Vietnam port receives mega container ships
Within just over two years of trial operations (from March 2023 to May 2025), Gemalink Port of Vietnamese logistics giant Gemadept in Ba Ria-Vung Tau has safely received 70 container vessels of over 200,000 DWT (up to 232,494.5 DWT) under partially loaded conditions.
Companies - Fri, July 4, 2025 | 4:54 pm GMT+7
Agro-forestry-fisheries exports near $34 bln in H1
Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fisheries exports hit $33.84 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 15.5% increase year-on-year.
Economy - Fri, July 4, 2025 | 3:36 pm GMT+7
Malaysia’s data center operators struggle due to power cost hike
Malaysia’s data center sector is projected to grow at a 22% CAGR from 2023 to 2029 due to cost competitiveness, skilled workforce, and a robust digital ecosystem, according to a report by global investment bank ARC Group.
Southeast Asia - Fri, July 4, 2025 | 3:23 pm GMT+7
Tetra Pak inaugurates expanded aseptic packaging plant in southern Vietnam
Swedish food processing and packaging giant Tetra Pak has inaugurated the second phase worth EUR97 million of its aseptic packaging plant located in the VSIP II-A Industrial Park in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing the total investment to EUR217 million.
Companies - Fri, July 4, 2025 | 3:16 pm GMT+7