Guru Faber to headline Vietnam Investment Forum

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The full-day event, co-organised by Vietnam Investment Review (VIR), Malaysia’s HVS Vietnam Securities and Hong Kong’s Asia Frontier Capital (AFC) is planned to be a premier gathering for top leaders from fund and business management communities to exchange ideas on global issues and investment opportunities, the organisers announced May 8.

“The forum will be held under the auspices of Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment. Its aim is to help strengthen international investors and Vietnamese business leaders meet and interact,” said VIR editor-in-chief Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, also head of the organising committee.

“This is a unique event, and a venue for international investors and Vietnamese business leaders to exchange information and form partnerships. We believe it will further enhance Vietnam’s image and expand investment opportunities on a global scale,” Tuan said at the May 8 press conference introducing the forum.

He added that contrarian investment legend Faber, one of the most influential figures in the investment world for his correct predictions on global financial bubbles and bursts, would explore his theories and address the most critical concern of businesses and investors: “Have we entered the terminal phase of a gigantic global credit and asset bubble”?

HVS Vietnam CEO Nguyen Nhat Minh Trieu said the agenda would also cover global capital flow trends toward looking at what the changing role of emerging markets means to their business, defining investment opportunities in Vietnam, and creating strategic partnerships and expanding networks.

Joining Vietnam Investment Forum 2014, AFC CEO Thomas Hugger will deliver an “Investment strategy for frontier markets and Vietnam” and VinaCapital CEO Don Lam will explore “Will Vietnam be a destination for foreign capital flows?” Dr Faber, Hugger and other dignitaries will be featured in a panel that will discuss the rise of frontier emerging markets and opportunities for Vietnam. They will identify investment opportunities in the Vietnamese stock market.

Dr. Christian Kamm, president of US-backed investment advisory firm Kamm Investment, based in Ho Chi Minh City, which is one of VIF 2014’s key sponsors, said “We appreciate the initiative of inviting Dr Faber to Vietnam to join the event. We believe what he is going to share at the forum will be of great value for international investors as well as local business leaders.”

 “Given the reputation of VIR and other organisers, as well as that of Dr Faber, we expect this year’s VIF to attract the attention of numerous investors and corporations,” he added.

Nguyen Son, head of the market development department at the State Securities Commission, told the press conference that Vietnam’s 14-year-old stock market was preparing for another leap as regulators put the finishing touches on leverage exchange trade funds (ETFs) and would-be derivatives.

Son said the Vietnamese stock market was luring foreign investors as its benchmark VN-Index was rising in notoriety around the world.

Similarly, HVS Vietnam CEO Trieu said more foreign capital would make its way into the market this year compared to last year because the valuation was relatively cheap compared to the rest of the region and Vietnam’s macro-economic picture had significantly improved.

Dr Tuan added that Vietnam’s National Assembly and government were working hard this year to improve different business-related laws to continue to improve the country’s investment environment and make it more attractive to international investors.

Faber is now chairman of Indochina Capital, as well as Dragon Capital’s Vietnam Growth Fund Ltd. and a shareholder in AFC.