‘Mr Doom’ set to lift the gloom at VIF

Dr. Marc Faber

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Great ideas

As the government is determined to restructure the economy towards sustainable development, great opportunities are opening up for investors around the world, VIR Editor-in-chief Dr Nguyen Anh Tuan said at a press conference held last week in Ho Chi Minh City to announce the event.

Tuan pointed out the government’s bold steps to reform the banking industry and the stock market as well as to equitise hundreds of state-owned enterprises between now and 2015, saying their foremost need is to mobilise capital and gain experience and ideas from international investors. But the question is how to bridge these opportunities with international capital flows?

“This question has prompted us to join hands with HVS Vietnam Securities Co. and AFC [Asia Frontier Capital] to design a platform, the VIF, to facilitate dialogue, engagements and networking between foreign investors and local business leaders,” he said.

Tuan, who is also chief organiser of the VIF, told reporters that the event was unique. He said it would be a venue for international investors and Vietnamese business leaders to exchange information and find partners.

The event will feature investment guru Marc Faber as the keynote speaker. Tuan said, “Dr Faber is a strategist and one of the most influential figures in the investment world, so the primary goal is to help international investors and Vietnamese business leaders meet and interact with him and other financial heavyweights. Through this they can keep abreast of changes in the world and expand their view on global issues that may affect their investment and business activities.”

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

Dr Nguyen Son, head of the Market Development Department of the State Securities Commission (SSC) said VIF 2014 will be one of a series of events the SSC would take part in this year. He believed VIF would be an interesting draw to foreign investors and that Marc Faber could help them identify investment opportunities in frontier/emerging markets and specifically in Vietnam.

Apt agenda

VIF is scheduled for June 19 and will cover critical topics of concern from businesses and investors.

Under the theme “Have we entered the terminal phase of a gigantic global credit and asset bubble?”, Faber will reiterate his controversial prediction that the world is about to witness a new financial crash deemed to be even worse than those seen in the recent past. He will also explain how the credit and asset bubble was created and its consequences and opportunities for Vietnam.

VIF 2014 will also see the presentation of other high-profile fund managers such as AFC CEO Thomas Hugger, who will deliver a presentation on “Investment strategy in Asian frontier markets and in Vietnam”, and VinaCapital CEO Don Lam, who will ask “Will Vietnam be a destination for foreign capital flows?”.

Faber, SSC Chairman Vu Bang, and other dignitaries will join a panel to discuss “The rise of frontier/emerging markets and opportunities for Vietnam?” – the ultimate theme of the forum. Andy Ho, managing director and chief investment executive of VinaCapital, will act as the panel moderator.  

The event will include a business matching programme arranged by the organisers to help foreign investors and local firms find potential partners.

 “The agenda and its topics are timely and offer investors unique insight into the role of frontier/emerging markets. Given the reputation of the organisers, as well as the world-renowned reputation of Dr Faber, we believe VIF 2014 will attract the attention of numerous investors and corporations.”

VIF 2014 is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Sponsors include Kamm Investment, Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Bank (Sacombank) and Vietnam Dragon Securities Co. (VDSC).

Media sponsors include the Saigon Times Group, Nhip Cau Dau Tu, Vietnam Economic Times, Doanh Nhan Sai Gon, VTV1, HTV9, InfoTV, VITV, FBNC and others.