Addressing Growing Complexity in Modern Engineering Validation

As industries adopt emerging technologies such as wide bandgap power devices and high-speed digital interfaces, engineering teams are facing increasingly complex validation, debugging, and compliance challenges. Signal integrity, power integrity, and measurement accuracy have also become more critical across modern product development environments, particularly as systems operate at higher speeds and tighter tolerances.

Despite wider access to advanced test equipment, many teams may still rely on legacy measurement approaches or have limited exposure to newer testing methodologies and tools. At the same time, accurately interpreting measurement results and identifying root causes continue to require strong application knowledge and practical measurement experience.

In response to these evolving challenges, Genetron introduced its Deminar programme to provide engineers with a more application-focused learning environment. Unlike conventional training seminars that focus primarily on theory, Genetron's Deminars integrate technical education with live demonstrations using real equipment and practical application scenarios.

Combining Technical Education with Real-World Demonstration

Genetron's Deminars are primarily designed for engineers and technical teams involved in research and development, product validation, debugging, and system development. Rather than focusing purely on product features or theoretical discussions, the sessions are structured around practical engineering challenges commonly encountered during development and testing processes.
A typical Deminar begins with an overview of the technology trend or validation challenge being discussed, including the industry drivers behind the adoption of newer technologies and the measurement implications that follow. From there, the sessions move into live demonstrations using actual test and measurement equipment within application-based setups.

Currently, the Deminars cover topics such as:

• Testing methodologies for emerging technologies, including SiC and GaN wide bandgap power applications
• Signal integrity challenges in high-speed serial communications
• Practical probing techniques and measurement best practices aimed at improving signal fidelity and ensuring more reliable test results

Participants may also take part in guided hands-on exercises or structured measurement activities designed to reinforce technical concepts through direct application. Each session concludes with result analysis, discussions on common testing pitfalls, and practical recommendations that engineers can apply within their own development environments.

Expanding Technical Knowledge Across Southeast Asia

Currently, Genetron has conducted Deminars across several countries in the region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and The Philippines.
Rather than tailoring sessions according to geography alone, Genetron customises each Deminar based on the industries, engineering applications, and technical challenges relevant to participating organisations. This allows the sessions to remain highly application-focused and directly aligned with the practical requirements faced by engineering teams in different sectors.
The programme is developed and led internally by Genetron's engineering team. While the company works closely with technology principals and equipment manufacturers to incorporate current test and measurement solutions into demonstration setups, the seminar content, workflows, and technical demonstrations are independently developed by Genetron's engineers to ensure practical relevance and technical accuracy.

Supporting Long-Term Engineering Development

According to Mr John Ong Moh Taur, the Managing Director of Genetron Corp, feedback from participants has been highly positive.

"Many engineers appreciate the combination of technical training seminars with practical demonstrations, as it helps them better understand both the capabilities and limitations of modern test and measurement tools," Mr Ong shared. "The sessions have also helped customers improve confidence in measurement accuracy, troubleshooting workflows, and preparation for future validation requirements."

As test and measurement requirements continue evolving alongside next-generation electronics and digital systems, Genetron plans to expand the Deminar programme with additional topics covering advanced debugging techniques, compliance testing methodologies, signal integrity analysis, and future power electronics applications.

"At Genetron, we believe that engineering excellence comes from combining the right tools with deep application knowledge," said Mr Ong. "The Deminar initiative reflects our commitment to supporting the engineering community through practical technical education, application expertise, and real-world measurement experience."

By helping engineers better understand modern test challenges and methodologies, the company aims to become a trusted technical partner for our customers' current and future development needs.

https://genetroncorp.com/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

To date, the civil construction phase is about 95 per cent complete. The main items are being deployed synchronously, ensuring strict adherence to progress, quality, and safety standards.

Regarding electro-mechanical equipment, the installation of the rotors for units 1 and 2 has been finished. On May 17, the lowering of the Unit 2 rotor was successfully executed – a crucial technical milestone that lays a solid foundation for bringing the plant into commercial operation within 2026.

Despite challenging construction conditions, exceeding the planned schedule demonstrates strong site management capabilities, seamless coordination among contractors (construction, equipment supply, and installation), and developer PC1's proven experience in executing complex energy projects.

Most importantly, the company said, it highlights the dedicated, resilient, and determined spirit of its project managers, engineers, and workers who are dedicating day and night on site to reach the finish line as targeted.

Alongside maintaining the momentum of key projects, PC1 has published the financial report for the first quarter of 2026. The group has fully fulfilled its obligations to explain profit fluctuations in accordance with listed company regulations, immediately following the implementation of the information disclosure authorisation mechanism.

The rapid stabilisation of PC1's operating apparatus – ensuring continuity in governance, finance, and information disclosure – continues to affirm the management capacity, compliance, and adaptability of its governance system amidst various market fluctuations. The positive business growth in the first quarter reflects the efficiency of PC1's core operations, ongoing projects, and the seamless functioning of the entire system.

This success further solidifies the trust of its shareholders, investors, partners, customers, and all employees in the group's stable development roadmap.

PC1 Group says business stable as it cooperates with authorities PC1 Group continues to maintain business continuity and stabilise operation despite the prosecution of certain members of its leadership.

Work starts on Nhat Ban – Haiphong Industrial Zone Phase 2 The groundbreaking ceremony of the Nhat Ban – Haiphong Industrial Zone Phase 2 (NHIZ II) was held on December 19.

PC1 teams up with DENZAI on regional wind projects Vietnam’s PC1 Group has partnered with Singapore-based DENZAI International Holdings to expand cooperation on renewable energy and infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia.

Standard Chartered achieved its 2026 medium-term financial targets a year earlier than planned. It now has a more focused, streamlined and efficient organisation, positioning the bank strongly for the next stage of growth and to deliver its strategy at greater scale and pace.

Accordingly, Standard Chartered will deliver a more than 15 per cent return on tangible equity in 2028, a more than 3 percentage point uplift from 2025, and building to approximately 18 per cent in 2030. The bank will produce a high-teens earnings per share compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and 5-7 per cent income CAGR from 2025-2028 while generating a cost-to-income ratio of approximately 57 per cent in 2028, down from 63 per cent in 2025, aided by positive income-to-cost jaws.

In addition, the bank aims to drive productivity improvements to raise income per employee by approximately 20 per cent by 2028, aided by a reduction in corporate functions roles of more than 15 per cent by 2030. It expects to operate within a CET1 ratio range of 13-14 per cent with a loan loss ratio of 30-35bps through the-cycle. This is coupled with supporting a dividend payout ratio of 30 per cent or more, with a progressive dividend per share.

Bill Winters, group chief executive, said, “Clients need a bank that can help them navigate that environment with confidence – that is where Standard Chartered is distinctive. Our trusted ability to combine network and product capabilities to solve challenging cross-border problems is difficult to replicate. We are investing in the capabilities that will compound our competitive advantages and drive sustainable growth and higher quality returns over time, with clear targets in place.”

Standard Chartered is building the leading super-connector institution for sophisticated clients operating across borders, utilising competitive strengths in areas with long-term structural growth potential. The bank supports clients where international activity is fast growing, complexity is high, and its network creates the greatest value.

Standard Chartered is now the third-largest and fastest growing wealth manager in Asia. Its wealth and retail banking business is accelerating the timeline of its previously stated ambitions from 2029 to 2028, notably targeting $200 billion of net new money, and affluent income to reach 75 per cent of its total.

Meanwhile, its corporate and investment banking business continues to leverage the competitive advantage of a unique global network that can flex to support clients in anticipation of shifts in supply chains and capital flows.

The next phase of the bank's growth will be supported by a simpler, faster and more connected operating model. Specifically, Standard Chartered will continue to apply disciplined workforce planning, aided by a reduction in corporate functions roles of more than 15 per cent by 2030.

It is also scaling practical uses of automation, advanced analytics and AI to streamline processes, improve decision-making and enhance both client service and internal efficiency.

Standard Chartered flags global infrastructure financing gap Benjamin Hung, president of International at Standard Chartered, examines the growing global infrastructure financing gap and why reshaping perceptions, policies, and capital flows is vital for sustainable growth and resilience in emerging markets.

Standard Chartered and ACCA deepen collaboration to develop Vietnam’s talent for a sustainable future Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam and ACCA have strengthened their collaboration to support talent development in Vietnam, reaffirming their shared commitment to building future-ready capabilities for the finance and banking sector.

Standard Chartered Vietnam launches innovative Sustainable Deposit On May 5, Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) launched its Sustainable Deposit solution in Vietnam.

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The assessment, which covers both non-agricultural and agricultural land use duties, has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice for review before being presented to the government.

Ha’s petition urged the MoF to replace the existing fragmented system with a unified Property Tax Law, which seeks to eliminate geographical and quota restrictions to more effectively regulate high-value assets and land resources, while simultaneously bolstering the state budget.

Data from the MoF shows that between 2012 and 2021, the Non-Agricultural Land Use Tax generated an average annual revenue of $68 million, maintaining a steady annual growth rate of 11.2 per cent. While providing a stable stream for the state budget, officials acknowledge the need for policy refinement to discourage land hoarding.

The proposed law is anticipated to have a far-reaching impact on the public, the business community, and property market stability. Consequently, the MoF has urged a cautious research process, including a deep dive into international experiences to ensure the new Law suits the country’s specific socioeconomic conditions.

The roadmap for these changes is becoming clearer, with the MoF planning to submit a proposal to the National Assembly by October. This follows formal approval from the prime minister in 2024 to begin developing a comprehensive property tax.

Beyond revenue collection, reforms aim to increase land use efficiency and potentially introduce taxes on buildings and second homes to limit speculative behaviour. Progressive tax rates for abandoned projects or idle properties are also under consideration to increase housing supply and normalise market prices.

As the MoF refines its proposal, it is also addressing valuation concerns to prevent tax evasion through under-reported contract prices. Furthermore, the Ministry of Construction has voiced support for taxing price differences in transactions to curb artificial market bubbles.

However, establishing a complete system remains challenging due to incomplete legal data, market structure, and the prevailing social sentiment.

Property remains a central financial asset for the Vietnamese citizens to accumulate wealth, often leading to intense public debate surrounding these new tax proposals.

Ministry of Finance tightens fiscal discipline amid global pressures Facing mounting inflation, trade and investment pressures, the Ministry of Finance is stepping up institutional reforms, tightening fiscal discipline and accelerating policy action to safeguard growth momentum and macroeconomic stability.

Tokenised asset market could begin operations in Q3 Vietnam is expected to see the first official activities of its tokenised asset market as early as the third quarter, as the government accelerates efforts to build a legal framework for digital finance and strengthen trust in the country’s digital economy.

FDI a crucial component to double-digit growth Foreign investment is considered a crucial component contributing to the economic prosperity, especially the realisation of double-digit growth across 2026-2030.

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The National Competition Commission under the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued the administrative sanctions on April 9 under Decision No.5/QD-CT. The penalty was imposed for, "providing misleading information to customers regarding the promotional programme applied on August 8, 2025".

During its '8.8' sales campaign, the e-commerce platform used promotional messages such as “Free shipping for all orders,” “Everything comes with free shipping,” and “Free shipping everywhere for all orders” to advertise shipping incentives for users.

However, according to the authority’s conclusion, some communication interfaces related to the campaign did not fully display exclusion conditions and applicable terms, potentially leading consumers to believe that all orders qualified for free shipping without conditions.

Data from the platform showed that around 94 per cent of total orders during the promotional period were eligible for zero shipping fees. The remaining orders either received partial shipping discounts or were not entitled to free shipping because they failed to meet certain conditions.

In addition to the monetary penalty, Shopee has been required to correct the misleading information publicly across its media ecosystem, including its e-commerce website, Shopee app, and official social media platforms.

According to a report from data platform Metric.vn, Vietnam’s e-commerce market generated around VND429.7 trillion ($16.8 billion) in gross merchandise value in 2025, up nearly 35 per cent on-year.

Shopee and TikTok Shop continued to dominate the market, accounting for more than 97 per cent of total industry revenue. Shopee held around 56 per cent market share, remaining the largest platform, despite declining from approximately 64 per cent at the end of 2024.

Meanwhile, TikTok Shop expanded its market share to just over 41 per cent, continuing to narrow the gap through its livestream and short-video sales model.

Among smaller players, Lazada maintained a lower market share while focusing on genuine products, whereas Tiki continued to lose ground amid mounting competition from larger platforms.

An International visitor watches historical footage. Photo: Vietnam Military History Museum

According to the International Council of Museums, more than 37,000 museums across around 158 countries and territories participated in International Museum Day activities last year. The 2026 theme, 'Museums Uniting a Divided World', highlights the role of museums in promoting dialogue, accessibility and cross-cultural understanding.

Karinka Siller, a Russian tourist visiting the Vietnam Military History Museum during the April 30 holiday, said the museum’s interactive displays and visual presentation helped make the historical experience more engaging for international visitors.

“I was surprised about some immersive exhibition spaces. The digital screens and visual materials made the exhibitions easier to follow, especially for visitors who may not know much about Vietnam’s military history,” she said.

Siller added that the combination of historical artefacts and visual elements encouraged visitors to spend more time exploring the exhibitions.

“Sometimes in museums, people move quickly from one section to another. Here, I noticed many visitors stopping longer at areas with multimedia presentations and detailed visual explanations,” she said.

A large LED display presents historical content in Vietnamese and English. Photo: Hanoi Museum

Museums across Vietnam have gradually expanded the use of QR-based interpretation systems, multimedia displays, virtual exhibitions and 360-degree visualisation tools in recent years. Some institutions have also strengthened their digital presence through social media platforms and online archives aimed at extending audience engagement beyond physical visits.

At the Vietnam Military History Museum, immersive presentation methods are increasingly integrated into exhibition spaces displaying military artefacts and historical materials.

Speaking at a training session on digital applications in museum exhibitions on May 6, Lt. Gen. Truong Thien To said museum work should preserve historical memories while making history more vivid, widely accessible, and better connected to the public, especially younger generations, amid digital transformation.

“Digital transformation is no longer an option, but an inevitable requirement to elevate the military museum system in the digital cultural era,” he said.

He described digital transformation in cultural heritage as an urgent and important task, while calling on museums to adopt a more audience-centred approach and strengthen the application of technology to create more interactive and engaging historical experiences.

At the same event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Minh Tri said museums globally are shifting from traditional display models towards more interactive and experience-based formats.

“We use technology to awaken history, so every artefact can tell its own story,” he said.

Similar approaches are also being adopted at other museums, seeking to draw in younger audiences and foreign visitors through more interactive formats.

Students experience interactive displays in a multimedia room. Photo: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

At the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, foreign visitors gathered around multimedia displays while scanning QR-linked information introducing Vietnam’s ethnic minority communities. English-language interpretation systems and multimedia materials were widely used across exhibition areas, attracting tourists and student groups.

Several younger visitors were also seen using smartphones to access translated content and additional exhibition materials through QR-linked platforms, reflecting broader changes in visitor behaviour as audiences increasingly expect more interactive and digital experiences.

Speaking at the opening of a cultural exhibition space at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology on April 11, Prof. Dr. Le Van Loi, president of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said museums bring scientific and cultural knowledge closer to society through public engagement and educational activities.

“Museums play an important role as cultural and scientific institutions while also being a bridge connecting scientific research with the public,” he said.

In Official Letter No.403/DSVH-QLBT&DSTL issued on March 24, the Department of Cultural Heritage encouraged museums to act as ambassadors for International Museum Day by strengthening connections with communities, schools, and international museum networks.

The document also encouraged museums to expand their digital presence through online platforms and social media to widen public outreach, particularly among younger audiences.

All 420 apartment units were sold on launch day

All Persa Place units were fully absorbed within hours, after pre-launch booking demand surpassed available inventory across every apartment category.

The majority of attendees were identified as serious buyers who had researched the project thoroughly before launch, ranging from young families and industrial-zone professionals to experienced investors. Many were financially prepared and moved quickly to secure units once sales opened.

The result not only reinforced Persa Place’s strong market appeal, but also marked Springville’s second consecutive successful sell-through within less than 12 months. Previously, the township’s landed residential phase recorded a 97 per cent absorption rate on launch day before becoming fully taken up shortly afterward.

Premium living standards and financial flexibility

Strong demand for Persa Place underscores growing buyer confidence in both the project’s long-term value and Gamuda Land’s established track record in large-scale urban development.

As the first high-rise precinct within the 18.2-hectare Springville integrated township in Nhon Trach, Persa Place is positioned as a central residential component of the wider master-planned community.

Located along Ton Duc Thang Boulevard (DT25B), the development offers direct connectivity to Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thanh International Airport, and key industrial and logistics hubs, while integrating residential, retail, green space, and lifestyle amenities within a unified urban ecosystem.

The project includes 420 apartment units and nine retail shophouses, with one- to three-bedroom layouts ranging from 38 to 105 square metres.

Designed to appeal to both owner-occupiers and investors, Persa Place targets a broad customer base, including professionals, technical specialists, and buyers seeking long-term rental income and capital appreciation potential.

Persa Place is the first high-rise precinct within Springville

One of Persa Place’s key advantages is its highly competitive pricing, which distributors estimate remains around 40-50 per cent lower than comparable projects in eastern Ho Chi Minh City.

To further ease cash-flow pressure, the Malaysian developer has introduced highly flexible payment schemes.

Under the standard schedule, buyers only need to pay an initial 10 per cent upon signing the sales and purchase agreement, followed by manageable quarterly instalments of 5-10 per cent. This relaxed timeline extends until the expected handover in Q3, 2028, allowing purchasers to comfortably accumulate property assets over a longer horizon.

For buyers utilising financial leverage, partner banks offer loans covering up to 80 per cent of the apartment's value. This package includes a principal grace period of up to 24 months, alongside interest support from the developer of up to 9 per cent, per year for the first 18 months of the loan of 60 per cent contract value upwards.

This financing scheme allows buyers to effectively defer both principal and interest repayments during the initial period, alleviating short-term financial pressure and optimising capital allocation.

Meanwhile, investors with stronger capital capacity can opt for accelerated payment plans that offer direct discounts of up to 7 per cent, with additional incentives potentially raising the total discount package to an impressive 11 per cent.

Buyer confidence is deeply anchored by Gamuda Land’s established track record in Vietnam. The developer is renowned for large-scale, transformative urban developments such as Gamuda City in Hanoi and Celadon City in Ho Chi Minh City – credentials that have undeniably fuelled the decisive purchasing behaviour at Persa Place.

The project’s exceptional market performance is further amplified by broader structural shifts reshaping the eastern economic corridor.

Dong Nai’s official establishment as Vietnam’s seventh centrally governed municipality, effective April 30, 2026, is poised to create massive new momentum for regional development. Within this transition, Nhon Trach is emerging as a premier growth pole, benefiting directly from its industrial dominance and a slate of major infrastructure projects currently underway, including Nhon Trach Bridge, Ring Road 3, Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway, and Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway.

DT25B (Ton Duc Thang Boulevard) connecting Ring Road 3 with National Highway No.51 and the future Long Thanh International Airport

Among these catalysts, Long Thanh International Airport stands as the region’s ultimate growth driver as the mega-project accelerates towards technical completion and trial operations.

This milestone is expected to generate an unprecedented surge in demand for housing, commercial services, and urban infrastructure.

Phase 1 alone is projected to require approximately 14,000 direct personnel, alongside tens of thousands of professionals across the aviation, logistics, and technology sectors.

Concurrently, Dong Nai remains one of Vietnam’s largest industrial hubs, hosting nearly 1,600 active foreign-invested projects and a rapidly expanding community of expatriate experts and skilled engineers. This demographic represents a sustainable, long-term residential base for Springville and Persa Place.

With all high-rise inventory at Persa Place now secured, the latest launch marks a resounding triumph for Springville. Yet, market heat continues to surround the international airport township, with a large pool of prospective buyers now eagerly waiting to capitalise on the development's upcoming phases.

Gamuda Land to expand bussiness in Vietnam Gamuda Land, a leading real estate and infrastructure developer from Malaysia, is planning to invest several more billion US dollars in the Vietnamese market in the near future.

Gamuda Land advances winning streak with Elysian Following the impressive launch of Springville in Nhon Trach, Dong Nai province earlier this quarter, Elysian is the latest success driving Gamuda Land’s continued momentum in southern Vietnam’s real estate market in 2025.

Gamuda Land commit long-term investment On the sidelines of the Vietnam Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Forum 2025 held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 9, VIR’s Bich Ngoc spoke with Khanh Nguyen, general director of Gamuda Land Vietnam, about the company’s outlook for the Vietnamese market.

The 2026 International Coffee Conference, held in Ho Chi Minh City in April, marked a significant turning point with the launch of the Global Coffee Alliance initiative, amidst the coffee industry's simultaneous challenges of climate change and market volatility.

Backed by 19 diplomatic missions and international organisations, including key coffee producers and consumers such as Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, and the UAE, the alliance aims to build a technology-driven global coffee ecosystem and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. Its roadmap prioritises digital transformation, deep processing, and raising incomes for around 125 million coffee farmers worldwide by at least 300 per cent.

Speaking at the conference, Xavier Depouilly, CEO of DXL Research and Consulting, said that coffee is one of the world's largest traded commodities, directly connecting Vietnamese farmers with global consumers. However, behind this impressive scale lie increasingly evident challenges. Climate change is making weather unpredictable, water shortages are directly impacting productivity, while global price volatility is diminishing the potential for long-term investment.

"In this context, utilising deep processing is an urgent requirement to increase added value and enhance the resilience of the entire industry," he said.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam currently has over 710,000 hectares of coffee plantations, ranking sixth in the world in terms of area and being the second-largest coffee exporter globally, after Brazil. This sector contributes approximately 2.5 per cent to GDP and provides livelihoods for over two million workers.

Coffee exports are projected to have reached around 1.6 million tons last year, with a value of approximately $9 billion, a record high. However, about 80 per cent of production remains green coffee beans, mainly robusta, limiting added value.

In the first quarter of 2026, exports reached nearly 590,500 tonnes, equivalent to $2.75 billion. Although production increased by 12.5 per cent, value decreased by 7.1 per cent due to falling export prices, once again demonstrating the heavy reliance on raw material markets.

Tran Van Cong, Vietnam's agricultural counsellor to the EU, said that Europe is the world's largest centre for coffee consumption, processing, and re-export, and a market with increasingly stringent requirements for quality, traceability, and environmental standards. Although Vietnam is the second-largest supplier to the EU, most of its products remain in raw form.

"The paradox is that export turnover is high, but the value generated is not commensurate because the product structure is still heavily focused on green coffee beans. This causes businesses to miss opportunities to participate more deeply in high-value stages such as roasting, extraction, or final consumer products," he said.

According to coffee expert Nguyen Quang Binh, investing in processing technology and brand building is the fastest way to export high-value coffee. Vietnam has begun investing in deep processing and speciality coffee development, but the processing rate remains modest. Compared to foreign-invested enterprises, many Vietnamese businesses still operate in a fragmented manner and have not yet deeply participated in the global supply chain.

Binh cited the example of Nestlé, which has achieved remarkable business results. “Nestlé’s 2025 financial report indicates that the Nespresso brand alone will generate $8.4 billion in revenue in 2025, equivalent to the export value of Vietnam’s entire coffee crop year combined,” he noted. “Meanwhile, Nestlé has many other billion-dollar brands specialising in coffee, such as Nescafé and Starbucks at Home.”

To address this situation, many domestic businesses have begun implementing large-scale deep processing projects.

Vinh Hiep Co., Ltd., a green coffee bean exporter, is investing $710 million in five key projects, including a freeze-drying and spray-drying processing plant with a capacity of 18,000 tonnes per year. The goal is to create high-end products and utilise by-products to produce organic fertilisers, meeting the clean standards of the EU and US markets.

“The project to build a microbial organic fertiliser plant using coffee by-products will regenerate soil nutrients, help reduce input costs for farmers, and ensure clean coffee standards for demanding markets such as the EU and the US,” said Thai Nhu Hiep, chairman of the board at Vinh Hiep.

According to Nguyen Tien Dung, deputy director of Simexco Dak Lak, the issues hindering businesses from engaging in deep processing include inconsistent raw material quality, high investment costs, and pressure to comply with international standards, particularly on traceability and supply chain transparency.

"Furthermore, the VAT mechanism, which involves collecting taxes upfront and refunding them later, has at many times created significant pressure on cash flow, making businesses hesitant to invest in deep processing models, which require much larger medium and long-term capital than raw material trading," Dung stressed.

Simexco Dak Lak has pioneered production according to EU standards on items that do not cause deforestation and reduce carbon emissions. The company has also developed a raw material area of approximately 50,000 hectares, linking with 45,000 farming households, ensuring complete traceability data.

Bui Hoang Yen, representative of the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, believes that while competing on quality with countries like Brazil presents many challenges, cultural factors can become a distinct advantage.

“Positioning Vietnamese coffee in the premium segment, linked to the story of its people, history, and geography, will help the product conquer the international market with its unique identity,” she assessed.

“In addition, free trade deals are becoming an important gateway, helping Vietnamese coffee reach further on the export map. Thanks to this, Vietnamese coffee could access larger consumer markets such as Japan, the EU, Australia, and China,” Yen added.

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Allianz Research has tracked around 250 reported strikes, riots, and civil commotion (SRCC) events over the last five years with active participation exceeding 1,000 people and lasting for more than one day. Pakistan experienced the most SRCC events with 11, followed by Indonesia. Other countries that experienced a high number of events include the US, Greece, Tunisia, Hungary, Iran, and India. Economic pressures, including cost-of-living issues, are fueling protests and strikes worldwide, with citizens demanding better governance and economic reforms. Most public protests around the world are peaceful, but significant insured losses occurred as a result of major unrest events in 2025. The Indonesian riots in August incurred over $50mn in insured losses, while Nepal's September protests could see insured losses higher than those caused by the catastrophic earthquake of 2015, which were more than $200mn. Depending on the duration of the conflict in the Middle East, a heightened risk of SRCC activity is also to be expected, particularly in countries heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil and gas or fertilizers.

"The political violence landscape across Asia remains volatile, with civil unrest in countries such as Indonesia and Nepal, as well as domestic regional tensions including those between Pakistan and India, and Cambodia and Thailand. While some of these events have resulted in considerable losses, they generally have a limited impact on the overall political violence insurance market in the region due to their localized nature and minimal economic consequences. The real risk lies in the potential for these conflicts to escalate into full-scale wars between the respective nations," says Robert James, Senior Political Violence & Terrorism Underwriter, Allianz Commercial Asia.

At the same time, acts of sabotage, including state-sponsored ones, have increased sharply in the last 18 months. On the global stage, the last four years have seen a surge in targeted and malicious attacks on critical infrastructure, such as undersea cables by Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actors. These are usually sponsored by organizations or rogue states including Russia, which is very active in this gray area. Such attacks don't necessarily cause widespread damage, but they can disrupt daily life and business activities, resulting in the allocation of valuable resources to policing and monitoring critical infrastructure.

Adaptation and resilience more important than ever

With geopolitical upheaval, economic pressures, and social media all amplifying the threat of political violence, the potential fallout can lead to substantial economic and insured losses, challenging businesses and their insurers. The pattern of protests and violence in recent years has clearly shown that some industries and occupancies are much more vulnerable to the full spectrum of political violence perils, but any organization can be impacted. One of the most severe PVT risks is the threat of business interruption (BI), which could lead to substantial economic and insured losses, challenging businesses, and their insurers. Adaptation and building resilience are therefore crucial for businesses of all sizes.

The US / Iran conflict is likely to have a significant impact on risk mitigation moving forward. According to the Allianz Risk Barometer, prior to the conflict just over a third (35%) of companies were already exploring nearshoring and evaluating domestic manufacturing options, 32% were looking to improve inventory management, including storing inventory in Free Trade zones, and almost half (49%) were looking at renegotiating and diversifying supply chains, as strategies to adapt to shifting geopolitical risks. Such trends will likely be accelerated by the conflict.

"As we navigate this era of heightened uncertainty, understanding the implications of these risks and mitigating them in our interconnected business ecosystems has never been more critical. Insurance has a key role to play in this regard, and demand for political violence insurance continues to grow. We see an elevated level of interest and more buyers than ever in this space. Clients are broadening their coverage to better fit their risk footprint. This is a marked change from before the war in Ukraine, and which is now amplified by subsequent events," says Srdjan Todorovic, Global Head of Political Violence and Hostile Environment Solutions at Allianz Commercial.

https://commercial.allianz.com/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

MSB, Bac A Bank and Techcombank offered bond yields reaching 8.4–8.9 per cent, per year. During the same period last year, Techcombank and MSB only had to pay 5.2–5.3 per cent, per year on their bonds.

Rising interest rates are the main reason why bank bond issuance has sharply declined during the first four months of this year.

According to VBMA statistics, while banks accounted for 100 per cent of all corporate bond issuance in the market in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, by Q1 of 2026, bank bonds represented only 30 per cent, with real estate bonds surging to take the top position at 60 per cent.

Latest data from VNDirect Securities show that the average issuance interest rate for privately placed bonds by banks in April 2026 climbed to 8.5 per cent per year, up 1.6 percentage points from the end of 2025 and 3.1 percentage points on-year, reflecting significantly higher liquidity pressure and funding costs across the banking sector.

A report from the State Bank of Vietnam shows that the average lending rate among domestic commercial lenders, updated to March 2026, stood at 7.4–9.7 per cent, per year, up 0.3 percentage points from February and 0.7 percentage points from the end of 2025.

Analysts at financial data and information services provider FiinGroup noted that current bond issuance rates have approached lending yields, narrowing profit margins and becoming a key reason behind the decline in bond issuance among banks.

Although bonds remain an important instrument for supplementing medium- and long-term funding sources for banks, experts said higher interest rates have put pressure on funding costs and profit margins, meaning bank bond issuance is likely to remain cautious in Q2 rather than accelerating sharply as seen in the previous years.

In Q1/2026, despite periods of intense capital pressure – particularly to meet demand during the Lunar New Year holiday – banks mainly prioritised flexible funding sources such as deposits, interbank borrowing and open market operations to address liquidity stress instead of turning to the bond channel, resulting in subdued corporate bond issuance activities within the sector during the quarter.

Higher interest rates also explain why public bond issuance during the period saw the rise of many non-financial businesses, such as Transimex Corporation, Coteccons Construction JSC, and BAF Vietnam Agriculture JSC.

The growing diversity of issuers in the public bond market has also partly resulted from Decree 245/2025/ND-CP, which took effect from last September, enabling companies across multiple sectors to turn to bond issuance as a fundraising channel.

Statistics compiled from Q1/2026 financial statements of 27 listed banks show that nearly half experienced declines in capital mobilisation and had to rely more heavily on alternative funding channels, including bond issuance and the interbank market.

Experts, however, warned that the interbank channel is also approaching its limits, while bond interest rates have become increasingly expensive, a development that will further affect funding costs.

Dr. Can Van Luc, chief economist at BIDV and a member of the National Financial and Monetary Policy Advisory Council, noted, “Banks that want capital for lending have to mobilise funds from various sources, including bond issuance. Moreover, when banks provide long-term loans, risks are higher, requiring them to increase provisioning ratios, which in turn raises funding costs.”

According to FiinGroup, the bond market typically accelerates in the second and third quarters each year as demand for production and project implementation rises, while credit institutions step up capital mobilisation to support credit growth and ensure liquidity safety ratios.

This year, however, amid persistently high interest rates, market activity is likely to remain subdued among both manufacturing enterprises and banks. Issuers are expected to proceed more cautiously with fundraising plans while waiting for clearer signals on interest-rate management and broader macroeconomic conditions.

“High interest rates continue to push issuance costs to elevated levels, which could slow down corporate fundraising plans. However, the extent to which interest rates affect corporate bond issuance plans will depend on each company’s profile,” FiinGroup said in its analysis.

Although experts believe caution will dominate the corporate bond market in the coming period, they also noted that tighter controls on real estate credit this year will force property developers to rely more heavily on corporate bonds to compensate for reduced access to bank credit.

Banks conducting massive bond issuances Besides attracting deposits to meet the heightened credit demand at the end of the year, banks are racing to issue bonds to replenish capital sources.

Corporate bond issuances surge as firms accelerate capital restructuring Vietnam's corporate bond market saw a surge in new issuances and early redemptions in mid-October, signalling active capital restructuring by businesses amid stable interest rates and improved liquidity.

Vingroup set for $350 million international bond issuance Vingroup plans to issue up to $350 million in international bonds, with listing documents submitted to the Vienna Stock Exchange.

What are the core factors helping Vietnam maintain its attractiveness to foreign investors?

Over the past three years, despite major global disruptions such as post-Covid-19 inflation, the war in Ukraine and import tariff policies under US President Donald Trump, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam have remained stable at between $38.23 billion and $39.39 billion, a significant improvement compared with previous years.

In the first four months of this year, while the world witnessed escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Vietnam still attracted $18.24 billion in FDI, including newly committed capital, additional capital and capital contributions through share purchases, up 32 per cent on-year. These figures clearly demonstrate foreign investors’ confidence in Vietnam.

Many factors contribute to Vietnam’s attractiveness, but the most prominent – besides political and social stability and sound macroeconomic fundamentals – is the country’s determination to pursue high and stable economic growth, along with the openness of local economy and deep international integration.

Vietnam currently participates in 17 free trade agreements, including many new-generation agreements with major markets such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. This creates a major advantage for FDI enterprises, enabling them to access export markets with preferential tariff rates.

In addition, Vietnam holds a favourable geographical position within Asia’s regional supply chain, possesses an abundant workforce, competitive costs and an increasingly improving business and investment environment. These are factors that foreign investors are particularly concerned about amid growing geopolitical volatility worldwide.

Another noteworthy point is that Vietnam continues to accelerate administrative reforms, improve the investment and business environment and develop infrastructure. These factors are helping strengthen the confidence of the international business community.

Looking at FDI inflows over the past five years, what is your assessment?

Newly registered FDI has fluctuated depending on global investment flows. There were years when inflows into Vietnam declined, such as in 2025 when newly registered FDI reached $17.3 billion, down from $19.7 billion in 2024 and $21.36 billion in 2023. However, realised FDI has increased continuously, from $19.7 billion in 2021 to $22.4 billion in 2022, while the past three years recorded corresponding figures of $23.18 billion, $25.35 billion and $27.62 billion.

In the first four months of this year alone, realised FDI reached $7.4 billion, up nearly 10 per cent on-year. This marks the highest realised for the first four months of the year in the past five years.

It should be noted that newly registered capital only reflects investors’ initial commitments or interest, whereas realised capital represents actual cash flows entering the economy.

The strong increase in FDI disbursement shows that foreign investors are genuinely implementing their investment plans in Vietnam. This is an important signal reflecting foreign-invested enterprises’ confidence in investment efficiency and market prospects.

Notably, in 2025, many foreign-invested enterprises already operating in Vietnam continued to increase capital and expand production capacity. This is an even more positive signal than newly registered capital, as it indicates that existing investors are satisfied with the business environment and operational efficiency in Vietnam.

From another angle, strong disbursement also demonstrates that Vietnam continues to play an important role in the supply chain diversification strategies of international corporations.

Trade tensions between the United States and the European Union are showing signs of re-emerging. How do you assess Vietnam’s FDI attraction going forward?

Internally, based on the country’s existing strengths, I believe Vietnam’s prospects for attracting FDI remain positive. Vietnam holds many advantages in international integration, its position within the regional supply chain and macroeconomic stability.

However, competition among countries to attract investment is now extremely intense. Therefore, Vietnam needs to gradually shift from attracting FDI in breadth to attracting it in depth, prioritising high-tech, environmentally friendly projects with strong linkages to domestic enterprises.

More importantly, the country must continue improving infrastructure quality, human resources and the investment and business environment. If Vietnam maintains its current reform momentum, I believe it will continue to be an attractive destination for international investment flows for many years to come.

Changes in global trade policies under the administration of President Donald Trump will certainly affect investment and export activities in many countries, including Vietnam. The trend of global supply chain relocation is still continuing.

Multinational corporations are increasingly diversifying production locations under the “China+5” and “China+6” strategies to reduce dependence on a single market, and Vietnam is benefiting from this trend. Of course, to better capitalise on these opportunities, Vietnam needs to continue improving the investment environment and enhancing the quality of infrastructure and human resources.

Expectations have grown regarding Vietnam’s ability to engage capital from the Middle East. How can Vietnam seize this opportunity?

Capital inflows from the Middle East currently consist mainly of indirect investment, meaning investment through share purchases, equities or participation in financial markets, rather than traditional FDI involving factory and production facility construction. In the first four months of this year, Vietnam attracted $2.96 billion in indirect investment capital, significantly higher than the $1.83 billion and $930 million recorded in the same period of the previous two years. However, there is still no verified data identifying the exact origin of these funds.

To pull in indirect investment more effectively, Vietnam needs to continue developing its capital markets, particularly the stock and bond markets.

FTSE Russell’s recognition of the significant progress made by Vietnam’s stock market, along with its official confirmation that Vietnam remains on track for an upgrade from frontier-market to emerging-market status, will further enhance the country’s appeal to international investors, including investment funds from the Middle East.

Vietnam reforms strengthen FDI appeal Vietnam’s evolving reform agenda has strengthened its appeal to foreign investors. Giles Cooper, Partner at Allens in Hanoi, explains how sustaining momentum will hinge on policy clarity and consistent enforcement.

Foreign investors seek stronger policies Foreign business associations have called on Vietnam to accelerate administrative reforms, improve policy consistency, and address legal bottlenecks to maintain its attractiveness as a destination for investment.

FDI a crucial component to double-digit growth Foreign investment is considered a crucial component contributing to the economic prosperity, especially the realisation of double-digit growth across 2026-2030.

This event holds special significance for Nghe An province and the North Central region. It is also poart of a series of activities to celebrate the 136^th anniversary of the birth of President Ho Chi Minh.

The investment registration certificate for the Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant project was awarded to the consortium of PV Power, NASU, and SK Innovation at the Vietnam-South Korea Economic Forum on April 24, in the presence of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

The Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant is included in the country's Power Development Plan VIII. The venture plays a central role in Vietnam's strategy for developing clean energy sources, energy transition, and reducing carbon emissions.

Located in Tan Mai ward, Nghe An, the plant has a capacity of 1,500 MW, including a 1,500 MW LNG-based thermal power plant, an LNG storage and regasification system with a tank capacity of approximately 250,000 cubic metres, and a dedicated port within the Dong Hoi Port area – Nghe An Seaport.

The venture is slated to be put into operation and generate electricity in 2030, helping provide a stable and efficient power supply to the national grid, especially in the Northern and North Central regions. Once operational, the venture will meet the energy needs for industrial development, services, logistics, while facilitating investment attraction in Nghe An province.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vo Trong Hai, Chairman of Nghe An People's Committee, said, “The project is expected to become a new growth engine for Nghe An province and the North Central region. At the same time, the implementation of a large-scale venture with modern technology demonstrates the increasingly important role and position of Nghe An province in regional linkage and economic development of the North Central region.”

Choo Hyeong-wook, president and CEO of SK Innovation, said, “SK Innovation, together with its partners PV Power and NASU, has prepared the necessary conditions in terms of resources, technology, finance, and implementation plans. We are determined to build the Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant on schedule, efficiently, safely, and with high quality.”

“We hope that the government leaders, ministries, and Nghe An province will continue to cooperate, create favourable conditions, and support the consortium in carrying out related tasks such as land clearance, construction permits, and power purchase agreements,” he said.

SK Innovation eyes over $2 billion Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant SK Innovation is interested in developing over $2 billion Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant, drawing significant attention from international energy conglomerates, especially South Korean Groups.

SK Group to foster AI ecosystem development in Vietnam SK Group has signed agreements to collaborate with Vietnam on building the country's AI industry ecosystem and developing core AI infrastructure.

$2.3 billion Quynh Lap LNG plant to kick off in May The $2.3 billion Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant, invested by a consortium of Vietnam Oil and Gas Power Corporation, Nghe An Sugar Co., Ltd, and SK Innovation, will commence construction mid-May.

Each bond will be accompanied by a warrant, allowing investors to purchase up to 10 ordinary shares at an expected price of $0.80 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustments.

The capital raised from this offering will be primarily directed towards acquiring new container vessels and upgrading existing seaport facilities and inland container depots. The company’s management plans to seek market opportunities to acquire one to two second-hand container vessels with capacities ranging from 2,500 to 3,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

Hai An Transport and Stevedoring JSC operates one of the largest container fleets in Vietnam

“The addition of larger-sized vessels with capacities ranging from 2,500 to 3,500 TEUs is set to meet operational demand for intra-Asia routes and optimise operating costs on a per-slot basis,” the Board of Directors stated in documents from the company's 2026 AGM. “Despite the overcapacity risk in global container shipping in 2026, domestic and intra-Asia shipping demand is expected to remain strong due to regional trade growth, manufacturing relocation, and Vietnam’s expanding role as a regional manufacturing and export hub”

In addition to immediate second-hand vessel acquisitions, Hai An is dedicating significant resources to monitoring its medium-term new building projects to ensure all capacity expansions proceed according to schedule.

This robust pipeline includes four 3,000 TEU vessel contracts signed in 2025 and two larger 7,100TEU vessel contracts secured in early 2026.

The initial delivery of the 3,000 TEU vessels is slated to begin in December next year, with subsequent handovers planned at steady three-month intervals.

Beyond maritime assets, Hai An is also actively working to expand its port network connectivity by deepening strategic cooperation with other major seaports in the Haiphong area when its Hai An port has reached 100 per cent capacity.

“The port-shipping-logistics integration model may create long-term competitive advantages. Strengthening cooperation with port partners could generate synergies in berth utilisation, cargo throughput, customer base, and operational efficiency,” the board mentioned.

Looking ahead to the 2026 fiscal year, Hai An projects total revenue to reach $205.6 million, representing a marginal 0.2 per cent decrease compared to the $206 million achieved in 2025.

Conversely, the consolidated net profit after tax is projected to climb to $50 million, a 3.6 per cent on-year increase from the $48.2 million recorded in the previous year.

To achieve these financial milestones, the operational volume targets for the year are set at a combined total of over 1.2 million TEUs. This overarching goal includes 500,000TEUs generated from port operations, 496,600TEUs from container vessel operations, and an additional 205,700TEUs from depot services.

Hai An's container fleets account for 38.5 per cent of the total national container shipping capacity, and the company is one of the few domestic maritime transport enterprises possessing a complete maritime value chain, encompassing shipping, port operations, and integrated logistics.

Danang approves $1.8 billion investment in Lien Chieu Container Port Danang People's Committee has approved an investment policy for the overall construction of Lien Chieu Container Port.

Hateco-APM consortium wins $1.76bn Lien Chieu port development in Danang A consortium between Hateco and the Netherlands' APM Terminals will develop the Lien Chieu container port in Danang with an investment of $1.76 billion.

Vietnam announces development plan for inland container depots With the new list of inland container depots, Vietnam is expected to increase cargo consolidation, customs clearance, and connectivity among production areas, seaports and border gates.

GluCurve is the first and only diabetic monitoring system built specifically for veterinary use on cats and dogs. A pet-friendly Continuous Glucose Monitor ("CGM") sensor is painlessly attached to the pet and provides blood sugar levels every 1 minutes for up to 14 days. Pet owners can view the blood sugar readings live on the GluCurve Pet CGM app. In addition, the blood sugar readings are uploaded to the ALRT Veterinary Web Portal, where they are displayed for the veterinarian to easily manage patients and adjust insulin dosing, either remotely or in person.

The first shipment of units has arrived at our Canadian distribution center and orders will be fulfilled starting this week.

More information about ALRT and the GluCurve Pet CGM can be found at www.alrt.com and www.GluCurve.com in the USA or www.GluCurve.ca in Canada

The company participated in the IoT Tech Expo 2026 in San Jose on May 18–19 and was the sole Korea-based exhibitor at the event. The annual trade show, which highlights the latest IoT and AI-powered technologies, attracts more than 200 global technology and manufacturing companies and approximately 8,000 industry professionals. This year, IBM, SAP, and Deloitte hosted exhibition booths, while NVIDIA and Schneider Electric participated as conference speakers.

• Introducing Factova: AI-powered Smart Factory Solution for Production Optimization and Intelligent Manufacturing for SMEs

LG CNS used the event to present the core offerings of its integrated smart factory brand, Factova, to a global audience. Factova leverages AI, big data, and IoT technologies across the entire manufacturing process to optimize production operations and drive intelligent factory transformation. The solution draws on over two decades of technological expertise and operational know-how gained from manufacturing projects in Korea and around the world.

LG CNS is expanding the availability of the Factova platform, proven at large-scale manufacturing sites, to small and mid-sized manufacturers. Factova MES, the flagship solution, is a manufacturing execution system that centrally manages end-to-end production workflows. It uses AI to collect and analyze shop-floor data in real time to reduce inefficiencies in the production process and optimize overall factory operations. Its functions are offered in modular form based on different process types in each industry, enabling customers to start with the core capabilities they need and add extended features as their smart factory matures.

LG CNS also showcased Factova Control, a solution designed to integrate and manage data at the production equipment level. Factova Control gathers and standardizes real-time data from equipment supplied by different vendors and enables centralized control across the line. It also integrates seamlessly with higher-level operational systems such as MES, and enhances production stability through AI-driven anomaly detection and predictive failure diagnostics. For instance, it analyzes real-time data such as motor current, temperature, and vibration to identify early warning signs of abnormalities, supporting the transition from manual inspections by field engineers to AI-driven predictive maintenance. Factova Control is currently deployed across more than 100,000 machines at manufacturing sites worldwide.

• AI Solutions for Ultra‑precise Process Control in Semiconductors and Aerospace, Plus AI‑powered Safety and Environment Services

LG CNS also introduced solutions for industries that require ultra-precise process control, including semiconductors, displays, aerospace, and medical devices. By leveraging equipment anomaly detection (FDC), statistical process control (SPC), and out-of-control action plan (OCAP) solutions, these offerings help predict process defects in advance and maximize production yield through data-driven process optimization.

The company also demonstrated its Gen AI Safety Management service at the event. The service enables shop-floor workers to use a mobile app to take photos of incidents and upload voice memos. Generative AI then automatically analyzes the images to log incident details in the system. The service also provides initial response guidelines based on similar historical cases. It attracted significant interest from trade show participants due to the growing importance of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management at manufacturing sites.

Korean manufacturers that have adopted Factova are already reporting measurable improvements. At one battery plant, the share of conforming products exceeded 90 percent within just one month of deployment, enabling the plant to quickly stabilize production and cut return costs for defective products by approximately 70 percent. At another electronics manufacturing facility, shop-floor productivity increased by roughly 20 percent, with more than 90 percent of process data now being collected automatically.

"We are accelerating our expansion into the North American market by leveraging our deep smart factory build-and-operation experience gained from large-scale manufacturing sites and our advanced AX technology capabilities," said Jun-ho Lee, CEO of LG CNS America. "We will continue to leverage our diverse smart factory solutions to help small and mid-sized manufacturers achieve their vision for AI-based intelligent factories."

Ultra Maritime's ADC systems are engineered to provide mission-ready performance in the most demanding operational environments. Featuring intelligent acoustic output and proven interoperability, these systems are deployed by navies around the world as a reliable layer of defence against evolving undersea threats.

This latest contract further strengthens Ultra Maritime's role in supporting Australia's torpedo defence capabilities. It complements the company's recent selection to supply the Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) system for the Royal Australian Navy's Hunter-class frigates, enhancing integrated undersea protection across the fleet.

Together, these efforts underscore Ultra Maritime's enduring commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable maritime superiority and operational confidence for its global partners.

Visit our website www.umaritime.com, and follow us on LinkedIn.

Under the transaction, HSBC acted as ECA coordinator, mandated lead arranger, facility agent, security agent and original lender. The facility provides local currency financing aligned to Nutifood’s funding needs while benefiting from EFA cover.

The transaction supports the development of social infrastructure in Ho Chi Minh City and demonstrates how export credit agency-backed structures can help deliver VND financing for projects with clear community benefits. By enabling local-currency funding, the facility helps align financing with project costs and supports more resilient funding outcomes for Vietnamese corporates.

This transaction represents a number of market firsts: it is the first-ever export credit agency-supported VND-denominated financing, the first ever ECA-supported deal booked onshore in HSBC Vietnam, and HSBC’s first EFA-guaranteed financing for a project-related corporate loan under EFA’s untied Indo-Pacific Sustainable Infrastructure mandate.

Tim Evans, CEO and head of Banking, HSBC Vietnam, said, “This facility demonstrates how we can bring together export credit agency support and local-currency financing to meet our clients’ needs while supporting projects with tangible benefits for the community. We’re proud to support Nutifood on a landmark social infrastructure initiative that will enhance connectivity in central Ho Chi Minh City.”

“This transaction sets an important benchmark for the market. Working with Export Finance Australia, we’ve delivered an innovative structure that supports VND financing and demonstrates how ECA partnerships can help unlock sustainable infrastructure outcomes across the region,” he added.

Tran Bao Minh, vice chairman of Nutifood’s Board of Directors, said, “We believe that a sustainable business should not only create economic value, but also contribute meaningful and lasting benefits to society. The partnership and support from reputable international institutions such as HSBC and EFA are a great encouragement to us, and also reaffirm that Nutifood is on the right path in pursuing that vision.”

EFA CEO John Hopkins said, “This project demonstrates how EFA can work with international banking partners to support important infrastructure development, while fostering deeper commercial relationships with local corporates that benefit Australian businesses.”.

Delivering the transaction required close collaboration between EFA and cross-functional teams across HSBC, reflecting a shared commitment to bringing innovative, practical solutions to the Vietnamese market within a tight timeframe.

HSBC arranges $200m syndicated loan for GELEX Infrastructure HSBC Vietnam has arranged a $200 million syndicated term loan for GELEX Infrastructure, marking the company's debut offshore US dollar financing.

Foreign Trade University Hanoi students win HSBC Business Case Competition On April 21, the HSBC Business Case Competition 2026, jointly organised by HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. and VietSeeds Foundation, concluded after five months and drew 40 teams from 25 universities nationwide.

Nutifood acquires majority stake in KIDO Foods Nutifood completed its acquisition of a 51 per cent stake in KIDO Foods, Vietnam's leading ice cream producer, on September 23, as part of its strategy to expand into the frozen foods sector.

According to VNDirect Securities, electricity demand in Vietnam is expected to enter a strong growth phase, forming the foundation for the country’s economic expansion. Foreign direct investment inflows into high-tech manufacturing and data centres will be key drivers of electricity demand growth. Additionally, urbanisation, rising income levels, and electrification trends in transportation and services will boost consumption.

The power sector is continuing policy reforms to achieve the dual objective of ensuring energy supply and meeting environmental commitments. Resolution No.70/NQ-TW emphasises the need for policy reforms to encourage investment in new power capacity such as LNG-to-power and renewables. These reforms are expected to unlock a new investment cycle.

Amid the global energy transition, renewable energy has significant development potential. Alongside this is the growing necessity of gas-fired power as a baseload source gradually replacing coal, and the need for grid infrastructure investment to support expanding system capacity.

Hai Nguyen Ngoc, head of Energy and Chemical at VNDirect Securities said, "Vietnam has strong potential for renewable energy development thanks to rising demand, resource advantages, and the global energy transition. Power Development Plan VIII sets ambitious targets for renewables, aiming for them to account for the largest share (40–47 per cent) of the power mix by 2030. Meanwhile, gas/LNG-to-power will also play an increasingly important role, gradually replacing coal-to-power as a baseload source."

"In addition to external risks such as input price volatility and supply, Vietnam’s power sector still faces internal bottlenecks that need to be resolved to unlock power sector development. These include improving the practicality of policy frameworks and addressing transmission grid constraints."

EVN steps up investment in battery storage to support growing renewable capacity Vietnam Electricity is accelerating the deployment of battery energy storage systems across its power network, as the country seeks to enhance grid stability and support the growing share of renewable energy.

MoIT to ensure power supply security for 2026 The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has reaffirmed that Vietnam’s power supply in 2026 will be fully secured, supported by proactive planning scenarios and synchronised solutions across generation, transmission, and demand management.

New Vietnam power technology catalogue maps renewable energy and grid expansion path The Vietnam Technology Catalogue 2026 provides updated data on electricity generation, energy storage, and power transmission technologies to support the country’s green transition.

The event, attended by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, marked a major socioeconomic milestone, and was held coinciding the 136^th birthday anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh.

The National Highway 1A spatial axis project, spanning the section from Ring Road 1 to the Cau Gie interchange, has a total length of approximately 36km and passes through 18 wards and communes in Hanoi. Total investment is estimated at over $6.4 billion.

Construction machinery and equipment stand ready for deployment on the National Highway 1A spatial axis project

The route begins at the connection with Ring Road 1 near the Kim Lien underpass in Kim Lien and Bach Mai wards, and ends at the Cau Gie interchange in Chuyen My commune.

The corridor will be approximately 90m wide, featuring 10 mainline lanes for motor vehicles, six parallel service lanes, and an elevated urban railway line positioned along the central median.

Earlier, Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Vu Dai Thang signed Decision No.2539/QD-UBND approving the specially selected investor consortium to implement the project under a public-private partnership, build-transfer contract model.

Under the decision, the selected consortium comprises Vingroup, New Life Real Estate Development and Investment Co., Ltd., Hoang Van General Trading Co., Ltd., and Future Investment Research and Development JSC.

Among them, Vingroup serves as the lead investor. Hanoi People’s Committee and the investor consortium aim to complete construction and infrastructure systems by 2027, gradually finalising the capital city’s road transport network in line with long-term development planning.

In addition to expanding urban space and improving travel speeds, the project is expected to help redistribute traffic flows more efficiently between ring roads and urban districts, while strengthening connectivity between Hanoi’s urban core, major southern townships, southern localities and coastal regions.

The project is also expected to drive urban renewal and redevelopment along the National Highway 1A corridor, creating momentum to drive socioeconomic growth in the areas it traverses.

According to the investor, the project will integrate modern surveying, design and operational management technologies. Construction and operations will be digitally monitored through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Closed-Circuit Television networks and smart transportation solutions.

Nguyen Viet Quang, CEO of Vingroup, said infrastructure has always played a foundational role in economic growth, spatial expansion and improving residents’ quality of life.

“We hope to contribute to the comprehensive redevelopment of a modern, civilised and synchronised urban development axis, creating a new gateway landscape for southern Hanoi in the future,” Quang said.

The project is a key technical infrastructure work in southern Hanoi, serving as a gateway connecting the capital with the country’s North-South economic corridor.

“Beyond its transportation significance, the project is expected to create a new urban development space for Hanoi that is modern, green and fully integrated, with a century-scale vision aimed at improving residents’ quality of life,” he said.

Under Vietnam’s national development planning, the National Highway 1A-Phap Van-Cau Gie expressway corridor has been identified as a strategic economic corridor linking Hanoi with southern regions and coastal areas, while supporting logistics, supporting industries and multimodal transportation development.

The section from Ring Road 1 to the Cau Gie interchange represents the first phase of the broader National Highway 1A spatial axis project tied to urban renewal and redevelopment across Hanoi.

In the next phase, Hanoi People’s Committee and Vingroup will continue studying an extension from the Le Duan-Dien Bien Phu intersection in Ba Dinh ward to Dai Co Viet street, increasing the road length to approximately 38.8km and linking Hanoi’s historic urban centre with new southern growth poles.

Once completed, the National Highway 1A spatial axis project is expected not only to upgrade transport capacity at Hanoi’s southern gateway, but also to unlock new development potential for urban areas, logistics hubs and service industries along the National Highway 1A-Phap Van-Cau Gie corridor.

The route is expected to become one of the capital’s crucial development axes in the decades ahead.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City ranked in Global Growth Hub Index Savills said on April 22 that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been put in its Global Growth Hubs Index, reflecting their increasingly prominent role in the regional value chain.

Hanoi transition: four dog cat meat traders proactively exit the trade for sustainable careers following training A training initiative is helping dog and cat meat traders in Hanoi transition to more sustainable livelihoods.

Hanoi to host APAC Wind Energy Summit 2026 The APAC Wind Energy Summit 2026 will take place in Hanoi from June 9–11, bringing together global industry leaders to accelerate wind power development across Asia-Pacific.