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Vietnam’s international financial centre strengthens global foothold

Vietnam’s international financial centre strengthens global foothold

According to the latest Global Financial Centres Index 2026 (GFCI 39), Ho Chi Minh City ranked 84th out of 120 financial centres worldwide, climbing 11 positions compared with 2025. Within ASEAN, the city now ranks third behind Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, overtaking Bangkok and Jakarta.

Hanoi (VNA)– Vietnam’s International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC) has advanced 11 places in the 2026 global financial centre rankings, marking a notable step forward in the city’s ambition to emerge as a regional financial hub and enhance its competitiveness amid accelerating global integration.

The rise reflects steady progress in developing the centre, supported by stronger engagement from the banking sector and the gradual formation of a modern, interconnected financial ecosystem.

According to the latest Global Financial Centres Index 2026 (GFCI 39), Ho Chi Minh City ranked 84th out of 120 financial centres worldwide, climbing 11 positions compared with 2025. Within ASEAN, the city now ranks third behind Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, overtaking Bangkok and Jakarta.

The improved standing signals meaningful gains in upgrading the financial business environment, strengthening infrastructure and deepening connectivity with international markets.

Ho Chi Minh City was also named among the 15 financial centres expected to expand their global influence over the next two to three years. In financial technology (fintech), the city rose seven places from the previous assessment, underscoring rapid growth in digital finance and innovation-driven financial services.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of VIFC-HCMC, described the ranking jump as a strong affirmation that the strategy to develop an international financial centre is on the right trajectory. He noted that the city is gradually repositioning itself on the global financial landscape, moving beyond frontier-market status toward becoming an attractive destination for international capital flows.

Since officially commencing operations on February 11, the centre has recorded several early milestones. These include the launch of an aviation finance hub backed by more than 6 billion USD in committed investment, the development of a maritime finance centre supporting trade finance and logistics activities, and the mobilisation of around 2 billion USD for smart urban data infrastructure and financial programmes.

Meanwhile, research into establishing a digital asset investment fund with committed capital of approximately 1 billion USD is opening new pathways for next-generation financial models. These initiatives form an important foundation for Ho Chi Minh City’s long-term targets of entering the world’s top 75 financial centres by 2035 and the top 50 by 2045, reinforcing its ambition to become a dynamic financial gateway in the region.

Alongside the improved rankings, participation by commercial banks in VIFC-HCMC is accelerating, emerging as a central driver in shaping a comprehensive financial ecosystem. Many banks are actively preparing to establish a presence at the centre to take advantage of specialised policy incentives while expanding operations and enhancing competitiveness in an increasingly integrated financial landscape.

At its 2026 annual general meeting, shareholders of the Nam A Bank approved plans to establish a wholly domestically owned single-member commercial bank operating within VIFC-HCMC. The move is expected to expand the bank’s international financial activities, improve access to global capital sources and develop services tailored to cross-border transactions.

Similarly, Vietcombank plans to seek shareholder approval for the establishment of a subsidiary at the financial centre, aiming to scale up operations while aligning with higher international standards in governance, product development and risk management.

Nguyen Duc Lenh, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam’s Regional Branch 2, said proactive participation by banks not only strengthens institutional capacity and service offerings but also accelerates the development of the financial centre itself.

He noted that VIFC-HCMC is being shaped around emerging global financial trends, including sustainable finance, green finance, carbon credit markets, capital market development and advanced financial services. These areas are expected to create new growth momentum for both the banking sector and the broader economy.

Experts say the active involvement of banks helps expand the scale of financial services while improving capital allocation efficiency and facilitating smoother capital circulation throughout the economy.

An international financial centre functions as a major capital hub, where banks play a pivotal intermediary role linking businesses with domestic and global capital markets.

Investment by banks in technology, digital finance, green finance and specialised financial products is already generating visible momentum for VIFC-HCMC. Over time, these efforts are expected to strengthen the standing of Vietnam’s banking sector while laying the groundwork for Ho Chi Minh City to develop into a competitive international financial centre.

In the longer term, policymakers view the centre as a potential new growth engine, supporting Vietnam’s deeper integration into global financial networks and contributing to sustainable economic expansion.


Source: VNA

Photo: VNA

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Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision (Foxconn), a key electronics supplier to Apple, said it will invest an additional $58.32 million in its Vietnamese subsidiary, Fushan Technology (Vietnam), according to a filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

Foxconn’s unit Chief Expertise Limited will implement the investment, bringing Foxconn’s total investment in Fushan Technology (Vietnam) to $226.29 million while maintaining 100% ownership.

The move is aimed at “long-term investment.” However, the filing did not specify which items the funds would be allocated to.

Before the latest capital hike, Fushan Technology (Vietnam), located at VSIP Bac Ninh Industrial Park in the northern province of Bac Ninh, had been featured in an expansion plan in late 2025.

According to an environmental impact assessment filing for the expansion of its Bac Ninh plant, Fushan Technology (Vietnam) said it plans to install additional production lines to add products such as Xbox gaming devices, electronic components and chargers for smart ring wearables, while lifting smartphone capacity by 30 million units a year to 140 million units annually.

The document also shows the facility would produce up to 100,000 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) each year, with full operations planned from April 2026.

Fushan Technology (Vietnam) was established in November 2011 as Nokia Vietnam. It was renamed Microsoft Mobile Vietnam in December 2014 after US tech giant Microsoft acquired Nokia that year.

In 2017, Microsoft sold its handset business to FIH Mobile, part of the Foxconn ecosystem, after which Microsoft Mobile Vietnam was renamed Fushan Technology (Vietnam) as it is known today.

Fulian receives fresh hundreds of millions in capital injection

Beyond Fushan Technology (Vietnam), another wholly-owned unit of Foxconn in northern Vietnam - Fulian Precision Technology Component - also posted a strong capital increase in Q1/2026.

In January, Fulian Precision Technology Component was approved to raise its charter capital from VND8.48 trillion ($322.08 million) to VND9.13 trillion ($346.77 million), before increasing it further to VND9.46 trillion ($359.3 million) in February.

In March, Foxconn poured a further $287 million into Fulian Precision Technology Component via its subsidiary Ingrasys (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. Following this, Foxconn’s total investment in Fulian Precision Technology Component rose to about $668.5 million, while maintaining 100% ownership. The move ranks among the group’s largest disclosed investments in Vietnam so far this year.

Since beginning its investment in Vietnam in 2007, Foxconn has established a presence in Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Quang Ninh and Nghe An, with Bac Ninh emerging as its key hub.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Foxconn Vietnam headquarters office in Hanoi last week, Pham Hoang Son, Chairman of the Bac Ninh People's Committee, said Foxconn has run 20 projects in Bac Ninh with total investment of about $4 billion, creating around 130,000 jobs.

Beyond its economic contributions, Foxconn has also advanced technology transfer, workforce training and the development of a high-tech electronics ecosystem in the locality, he added.

The establishment of the company’s Vietnam headquarters office is a strategic step to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen engagement with regulators and partners, according to Foxconn Vietnam CEO Chou I Wen.

He added that Vietnam is not only a key manufacturing hub, but also an increasingly notable destination for innovation in the region.

Michael Chiang, rotating CEO of Foxconn, said the inauguration not only marks an expansion of operations but also reaffirms the group’s long-term commitment to Vietnam.

Amid shifting global economic dynamics, Vietnam - particularly Hanoi - is playing an increasingly strategic role in Foxconn’s development network, he stressed.

Foxconn is committed to further expanding investment, advancing technology transfer, developing a high-quality workforce, strengthening cooperation with domestic firms, and contributing to the growth of high-tech industries and sustainable supply chains in Vietnam, the CEO said.

Vietnam, UNIDO sign deal for sustainable industrial development

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The Country Program for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development for 2025–2028 has an estimated budget of $72 million.

Vietnam and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have signed a new Country Program for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development for 2025–2028, marking a further step in their long-standing partnership.

The agreement was signed on April 20 in Hanoi by the Ministry of Finance and UNIDO.

With an estimated budget of $72 million, the program focuses on green industrial transformation, strengthening competitiveness and sustainable value chains, and improving industrial policies and institutions.

Since the official establishment of the partnership, UNIDO has collaborated with Vietnam to implement over 170 projects since 1978 in areas such as small and medium-sized enterprise development, quality infrastructure, energy efficiency, clean production, and sustainable supply chains. Based on this, within the framework of the new program, cooperation between the two parties will continue to be expanded through comprehensive intervention programs and activities, combining policy advice, technical support, and investment mobilization. The program is expected to open up new cooperation opportunities in the field of agricultural processing, particularly for value chains with potential such as rice and tea, focusing on value addition, meeting sustainable standards, enhancing resilience to climate change, and improving livelihoods in rural areas.


Steel giant Hoa Phat inaugurates $76 mln steel pipe plant in southern Vietnam

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Vietnam’s conglomerate Hoa Phat Group (HoSE: HPG) on Saturday inaugurated a new steel pipe plant in the southern province of Tay Ninh with an investment of VND2 trillion ($75.6 million), as the country’s top steelmaker expands capacity to capture recovering demand in construction and infrastructure.

The facility has an annual capacity of 400,000 tons and produces a range of products, including black steel pipes, galvanized steel, and large-diameter pipes for industrial use.

With the addition, Hoa Phat’s total steel pipe capacity rises to 1.2 million tons per year, reinforcing its leading position in the domestic market with an estimated market share of nearly 35%.

Located in the Thuan Dao Industrial Park, the 15-hectare plant benefits from proximity to Ho Chi Minh City and is about 30 km from Long An international port, allowing the company to optimize logistics costs and expand its reach in southern Vietnam and export markets.

The plant is already supplying steel pipes for major infrastructure projects such as Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province and Phu Quoc airport off An Giang province, the company said.

In addition, the facility is equipped with a rooftop solar power system with a capacity of 10 MW, enabling the firm to meet more than half of its electricity demand and reduce operating costs.

In the first quarter of 2026, the group sold more than 241,000 tons of steel pipes, up around 30% from a year earlier. Southern Vietnam accounted for roughly 90,000 tons.

The company targets revenue of VND210 trillion ($7.97 billion) and net profit of VND22 trillion ($835.47 million) this year, up 33% and 42% respectively from 2025. If achieved, this would mark a record high for the group, with steel continuing to contribute about 95% of total revenue.

HPG shares were traded at VND24,800 ($0.94) each on Monday afternoon.

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