Singapore and Vietnam highlighted investment, trade, manufacturing and business opportunities during a bilateral business seminar.
The Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and Vietcombank co-organised the seminar “Vietnam – Your Jewel for Business in Asia Pacific” on Monday, 28 September 2026, highlighting investment, trade and business opportunities between Singapore and Vietnam. Supported by the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Singapore, the seminar provided Singaporean businesses with insights into Vietnam’s economic outlook, investment policies, trade links, manufacturing capabilities and emerging sectors.
SMF President Mr Lennon Tan said Singapore and Vietnam had highly complementary economies and described ASEAN as increasingly functioning as “a single production floor”, with different economies contributing distinct roles to regional manufacturing and supply chains. He highlighted Vietnam’s position in assembly and final manufacturing, while Singapore contributed advanced packaging, integration, financing, legal and compliance services.
Opening the seminar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to Singapore H.E. Tran Phuoc Anh highlighted stability, development and sustainable growth as important considerations for investors. He said Vietnam-Singapore relations had developed into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and noted that bilateral trade reached US$37.6 billion in the first eight months of 2026, a 44.9 per cent increase from the same period in 2025.
The Ambassador also highlighted Singapore’s investment presence in Vietnam, with more than 4,500 active projects and registered capital exceeding US$97 billion as of early 2026. He noted that Singapore led foreign investors in Vietnam during the first eight months of 2026, with nearly US$11 billion in registered capital.
The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) was also highlighted as an example of bilateral economic cooperation. The network had grown to 28 industrial parks, with plans to reach 30 by the end of 2026. The parks support manufacturing, technology transfer, workforce development and industrial upgrading.
Vietcombank Chief Economist Mr Nguyen Thang highlighted Viet Nam’s 8.2 per cent GDP growth in the first half of 2026 and its 10 per cent full-year target, supported by public investment, FDI and domestic demand. “Vietnam has persistently demonstrated outstanding macroeconomic performance,” he said, highlighting opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, digital services and global trade, supported by 17 free trade agreements.
Investment Counsellor Ms Thai Thu Phuoc highlighted Viet Nam’s strong economic growth, large domestic market and access to regional and global supply chains as key advantages for international investors. “Vietnam is a production base, a consumer market, and a link to supply chains across ASEAN and Northeastern Asia,” she said, highlighting opportunities in advanced manufacturing, electronics, semiconductors, green energy, digital services and finance. She also noted Singapore’s significant investment presence, with nearly US$100 billion in registered FDI and more than 4,600 projects.
Mr Cao Xuan Thang, Head of the Viet Nam Trade Office in Singapore, highlighted opportunities in logistics, industrial parks, education, healthcare and training. He noted that Viet Nam has 28 industrial parks, with plans to reach 30 by the end of 2026, while its growing workforce and demand for professional services offer further opportunities for Singaporean businesses. “We still have a lot of investment from overseas to Vietnam,” he said, adding that companies could use Viet Nam’s free trade agreements to access third-country markets.
A panel discussion on “Doing Business in Viet Nam” featured Dr David Chia, Mr Christanto Suryadarma, Mr Yeo Wee Yap and Mr Nguyen Hoang Hiep. The discussion covered Vietnam’s manufacturing supply chains, workforce, infrastructure, trade agreements and opportunities for Singaporean companies to develop partnerships and co-innovation with Vietnamese businesses.
Source: IN Diplomacy Reporter
