Singapore and Vietnam reaffirmed their robust economic partnership through new collaborative initiatives across energy, digital transformation, and innovation during the 19th Connectivity Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi.
HANOI, 10 October 2025 – Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Dr Tan See Leng and Vietnam’s Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang co-chaired the 19th Singapore–Vietnam Connectivity Ministerial Meeting (CMM) in Hanoi, Vietnam. This was the first CMM since the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Singapore in March 2025.
At the meeting, both Ministers welcomed the strong momentum of bilateral cooperation across five key pillars and eleven areas of collaboration since the last CMM in September 2024. These partnerships demonstrated the depth of Singapore–Vietnam economic relations, with Singapore maintaining its position as Vietnam’s second-largest cumulative foreign investor in 2024.
The Ministers commended the progress of the Singapore Unit, established at the 18th CMM, for facilitating Singaporean investments in Vietnam. Several new initiatives were announced, including the Investment Registration Certificate awarded to Keppel Ltd for its Saigon Centre Phase 3 project, the launch of the Workplan on Digital Transformation between Grab Vietnam and the Da Nang People’s Committee, and the launch of the Off-Airport Cargo Terminal (OACT), a joint venture between YCH Group and Vietnam’s T&T Group in Phu Tho province.
Image by: Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore
Progress was also made in several priority sectors. In energy and sustainability, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to facilitate low-carbon electricity imports from Vietnam to Singapore, operationalise the Implementation Agreement on Carbon Credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and support Vietnam’s transition to a green economy through collaborations such as the Keppel–Petrolimex partnership on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). In agri-trade, Singapore and Vietnam are working towards forming a Joint Agri-Food Trade Task Force to enhance cooperation, while in people-to-people exchanges, both sides agreed to commence the Singapore–Vietnam Innovation Talent Exchange (ITX) Programme, involving 30 companies and 53 individuals from the technology, finance, and biomedical sectors.
Minister Tan See Leng highlighted that the CMM continues to demonstrate the two countries’ shared commitment to strengthening economic cooperation despite global uncertainties. He stated, “Vietnam remains an attractive market for Singapore’s companies and talents, and Vietnamese companies continue to see Singapore as a reliable partner in the region. The CMM serves as a vital platform for both sides to capture new opportunities and foster growth for the benefit of our peoples.”
Established under the Singapore–Vietnam Connectivity Framework Agreement (CFA) in 2005 and upgraded in 2023, the CMM remains the key bilateral economic platform facilitating cooperation in energy, sustainability, infrastructure, digital innovation, and connectivity, further deepening the partnership between both nations.
Source: Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore
