Covering approximately 32 hectares within the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone (EZ) and forming part of the Haiphong FTZ under development, the new facility is expected to become one of LG Innotek’s key global manufacturing hubs, specialising in advanced semiconductor solutions.

The new project at DEEP C Haiphong 2 is entirely separate from LG Innotek Vietnam Haiphong’s existing camera module manufacturing complex of three factories, which has attracted more than $2 billion in investment.

Haiphong authorities awarded the Investment Registration Certificate for the $1 billion mega-project of LG Innotek Vietnam Haiphong Co., Ltd. Photo: Thanh Son

This move marks the company’s expansion from camera module assembly into the production of semiconductor components and packaging materials, a critical segment of the semiconductor value chain.

The facility will focus on three core product lines designed to support the telecommunications and AI era.

The first product line consists of semiconductor substrates for radio-frequency modules used in mobile and wearable devices. The second line includes substrates connecting memory chips and processors in mobile devices. The third product line comprises high-value semiconductor substrates designed for CPUs, GPUs and server systems.

Under the latest schedule, construction will commence in the third quarter (Q3) of 2026, trial operations will begin in Q3 of 2027, and mass production is expected to start in Q3 of 2028.

In addition to its core manufacturing activities, the project will also include factory, office and warehouse leasing services to support the broader business ecosystem.

Beyond its scale, the project’s standout feature lies in its core product portfolio of advanced semiconductor substrates.

These products are widely regarded as the hidden backbone of AI servers, data centres, smartphones, autonomous vehicles and other next-generation technologies that are driving industrial transformation worldwide.

The selection of Haiphong for LG Innotek’s $1 billion semiconductor project is expected to significantly expand LG’s high-tech manufacturing ecosystem and provide a solid foundation for the port city to integrate more deeply into the global semiconductor value chain.

Bruno Jaspaert, CEO of DEEP C Industrial Zones, said, “This is a very positive signal. The fact that a corporation such as LG continues to choose Haiphong for new investment projects demonstrates its strong confidence in the city’s development potential. For DEEP C, we are also very proud to have been selected by LG as the location for this project.”

What matters most is not merely the scale of the investment, but LG’s decision to continue investing in Haiphong.

This represents the clearest evidence of investor confidence. No company expands its investment unless it believes in the long-term development prospects of the locality.

Park Hong Keun, general director of LG Innotek Vietnam Haiphong Co., Ltd., stated that Haiphong was one of the most competitive investment destinations in Vietnam and offered exceptional opportunities for breakthrough growth.

“Highly skilled workforce, open investment environment, and strong cooperation among government authorities, agencies and businesses serve as powerful drivers of sustainable development for Haiphong. As a trusted long-term partner of Haiphong, LG Innotek will continue expanding its investments, creating high-quality employment opportunities and attracting talented professionals to contribute to the city’s sustainable development,” he said.

For DEEP C, accompanying the development journey of both LG and Haiphong is highly meaningful. Jaspaert expressed confidence that the value proposition offered by DEEP C was one of the factors encouraging LG to continue choosing Haiphong for future projects.

To date, Vietnam has not yet had a fully-fledged Free Trade Zone. Haiphong’s pioneering implementation of this model therefore represents a highly promising milestone.

LG Innotek selects DEEP C Haiphong 2 as the location for USD 1 billion semiconductor project

A FTZ is an important competitive advantage in attracting international investment. When businesses are provided with more favourable conditions for investment and operations, they gain stronger incentives to choose that location.

“In my view, the benefits of a Free Trade Zone extend beyond investors to the workforce employed there. A sufficiently attractive mechanism capable of drawing experts, highly skilled workers and quality talent will help Haiphong strengthen its competitiveness relative to many other localities in the region," Jaspaert said.

“At a time when competition for talent is becoming increasingly intense, creating favourable conditions for talented people to choose Haiphong as a place to live, work and build a long-term future is extremely important. That is also what I value most about the FTZ model. It not only supports investors but also seeks to provide a better living and working environment for the people employed by those businesses,”

Haiphong Free Trade Zone (Subzones 2 and 3), comprising the Lach Huyen Port area, DEEP C Haiphong 2 Industrial Park and DEEP C Haiphong 3 Industrial Park, covers approximately 3,369 hectares.

It was established by Haiphong People's Committee under Decision No.4068/QD-UBND dated October 13, 2025, based on the special mechanisms and policies authorised by the National Assembly for pilot implementation under Resolution No.226/2025/QH15.

“If Haiphong successfully implements this model, I believe the city will enter a period of breakthrough growth. It will help many companies considering investment in Vietnam make decisions more quickly. When investors look for a Free Trade Zone in Vietnam, Haiphong will be the first destination that comes to mind. If implemented properly, the Free Trade Zone will open a very bright future for Haiphong,” said Jaspaert.

Haiphong welcomes long-term Euro investment With a strategic focus on green development and a rapidly strengthening network of seaports, logistics, and industrial zones, Haiphong city is well positioned to attract a new wave of European investment. Bruno Jaspaert, CEO of DEEP C Industrial Zones, spoke with VIR’s Son Dzung about this evolving landscape

Haiphong partners with US on smart seaport development Haiphong and the United States are set to strengthen cooperation in smart seaport development, following a workshop on port operations.

Haiphong opens new growth frontier with $3.2 billion in investment Haiphong has announced a series of landmark prime ministerial decisions on economic zone development and launched the country's free trade zone, marking a significant milestone in the city's long-term growth strategy.

With over 30 years of expertise in power transmission and distribution, Sieyuan has continued to expand its low-voltage DC product portfolio in recent years. Designed for DC 1500 V applications, the company has developed a full portfolio of DC products comprising frame type switch-disconnectors, rotary switch-disconnectors and molded-case circuit breakers. These products are widely deployed in emerging DC systems including energy storage, solar PV, data centers and DC power distribution.

As one of the world's first manufacturers to achieve UL certification for 2-pole dedicated DC switches, Sieyuan's 2-pole DC switches have been extensively applied in energy storage projects across the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, India, Japan, and beyond, with over 50,000 units cumulatively commissioned and grid-connected worldwide. The dedicated DC structure effectively enhances system power density, while low-power-consumption design reduces operation and maintenance costs — ensuring long-term, stable performance even under demanding operating conditions.

Grounded in diverse global operating conditions and compliance standards, Sieyuan continues to refine its low-voltage DC solutions, delivering green, safe, and efficient core DC switch devices to the world.

For more information, please visit https://en.sieyuan.com/products-services?cid=194&page=1

According to various independent market sources, the metalens market is forecasted to grow into a multi-billion-dollar market over the next few years, with demand for metalens fabrication and testing equipment expected to grow in tandem. This partnership is intended to put in place the equipment capacity needed to meet these potential market growth and expansion. MetaOptics is currently in discussions with potential foundry customers in the United States, Japan and Europe for the supply of these key metalens fabrication equipment and testers.

Under the partnership, the two companies will design, build and industrialise the key fabrication equipment behind the metalens value chain, from research and development through to high-volume manufacturing. The partnership unites Elsoft's proven strength in automated test equipment with MetaOptics' deep metalens design and process expertise.

The collaboration is expected to span three equipment families:

• Next-generation 12-inch Direct Laser Writer platform: MetaOptics' current 4-inch Direct Laser Writer platform, a maskless lithography tool that pattern metalens geometry at about 120nm precision range resolution, offers a quick-turn platform for prototyping and small-volume pilot builds.
  
  The 12-inch Direct Laser Writer platform will enable simultaneous multi-lens writing in excess of hundreds of metalenses, for high-volume mass production of Co-packaged Optics at 0.1mm lens diameter. The 12-inch Direct Laser Writer platform will integrate easily into existing standard semiconductor processes, and provide a superior and cost-effective mass production solution in terms of maintenance and production uptime, as well as ease of conversion;

• Wafer-level automatic metalens testers: automated optical metrology systems that characterise metalens performance, including point-spread function, modulation transfer function (MTF), throughput and uniformity across the visible, near-infrared and short-wave infrared bands, scaling from single-coupon benches for research and development to full-wafer testers for production quality control; and

• Metalens module assembly and test system: an integrated platform that performs sub-micron, active alignment, UV-cured bonding and embedded optical test in a single automated flow, configurable for automated volume production of smartphone-camera and AR-glasses modules. This leading-edge automatic equipment assembles metalens onto sub modular packages of flexible circuit & imaging or monochrome sensors. Both components assembly stations and testing stations are designed to fit a single machine for high throughput and optimum cleanroom space utilisation.

By combining MetaOptics' metalens design and process know-how with Elsoft's equipment manufacturing expertise, the partnership aims to shorten development cycles, improve production yields and shorten the path from prototyping to commercial-scale mass production. Both companies expect to benefit, with MetaOptics accelerating its transition to mass production capabilities as customer engagement moves into active evaluation and volume orders, and Elsoft extending its precision-equipment expertise into the fast-growing metalens market.

"Elsoft's engineering quality speaks for itself, and we are proud to build alongside them," said Mr Thng Chong Kim, Executive Chairman of MetaOptics. "Our 4-inch platforms let our customers prototype and iterate fast, and our 12-inch platforms, born from customer demand, are built for mass production. By pairing our metalens expertise with Elsoft's precision manufacturing, we believe this partnership will deliver far more than either of us could achieve alone."

"We are proud to put the quality and reliability of our systems behind this collaboration," said Mr Tan Cheik Eaik, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Elsoft Research Berhad. "This partnership brings our precision manufacturing and automated-test expertise into the metalens market. Working alongside MetaOptics from prototyping through to mass production, we believe both companies are well positioned to serve the growing metalens industry."

The parties will define the technical specifications, commercial terms and roadmap for the equipment programme, and intend to negotiate and enter into definitive agreements in due course. The partnership is not expected to have a material impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of the Group for the current financial year.

Montage Technology's Industry-First Trial Production of CXL 3.2 MXC Chip

The CXL 3.2 MXC complies with CXL Type 3 specifications, including both CXL.mem and CXL.io protocols. It is designed with PCIe^® 6.x and CXL 3.2 protocol support, delivering data transfer rates of up to 64 GT/s. The chip integrates dual DDR5 memory controllers that support up to 8000 MT/s DDR5 memory. By converting host-side CXL memory requests into DDR commands in real time, it enables efficient data exchange between the host and backend memory, effectively breaking through the memory capacity limits of traditional servers.

Additionally, the chip integrates PCIe 6.x PHY, DDR5 PHY, dual RISC-V processor subsystems, and a comprehensive set of management interfaces. It supports multiple CXL memory expansion form factors, including PCIe AIC cards and EDSFF modules, providing critical support for emerging memory applications such as memory expansion, pooling, and tiered memory architectures.

"The trial production of the CXL 3.2 MXC chip marks an important milestone in Montage Technology's pursuit of CXL innovation and commercialization," said Stephen Tai, President at Montage Technology. "As memory demands continue to surge in the AI era, we are providing our customers with high-bandwidth, large-capacity, and highly reliable memory expansion solutions, accelerating the large-scale adoption of CXL in data center and AI infrastructure."

In addition to the chip, Montage Technology provides a complete software development kit (SDK) along with analysis and testing tools to help customers accelerate product development, compatibility validation, and mass production. The CXL 3.2 MXC has already been integrated into next-generation CXL products by leading memory module manufacturers, including Samsung and SK hynix, with initial validation successfully completed. The solution is designed to align with leading server platforms, including Intel^® Xeon^® and AMD EPYC™, to ensure broad interoperability and optimal performance.

Customer and Partner Feedback:

Jangseok Choi, VP of Memory Product Planning at Samsung Electronics stated: "The combination of CXL 3.2 MXC with DDR5 memory technology offers data center customers a solution that balances performance and capacity. Our collaboration validates the value of CXL in increasing system memory capacity and resource utilization, and provides additional options for next-generation AI infrastructure."

Uksong Kang, Head of Next Gen Product Planning&Std at SK hynix noted: "With the rapid adoption of large language models and generative AI, memory has become a critical factor in system performance. Montage Technology's MXC product demonstrates strong potential for supporting high-capacity memory expansion and resource sharing. We look forward to deeper collaboration in ecosystem validation and product innovation."

Dr. Debendra Das Sharma, Senior Fellow and Chief I/O Architect at Intel remarked: "AI, next-gen cloud systems, and today's industry economics are reshaping server memory architecture and driving demand for CXL. Montage Technology's CXL 3.2 MXC demonstrates how the maturing CXL ecosystem delivers protocol support, compatibility, and performance, helping to unlock the memory expansion capabilities of next-generation Intel Xeon platforms."

Amit Goel, corporate vice president, Compute and Enterprise AI Platform Solutions Engineering, AMD added: "AI and data center workloads are driving continuous evolution of system architecture, making memory a key factor in performance and scalability. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Montage Technology on CXL technologies to deliver a foundation for building more flexible and efficient memory architectures."

Upcoming Events:

Montage Technology will showcase its CXL 3.2 MXC at CXL DevCon and FMS (Future of Memory and Storage) exhibition in the United States. We warmly invite customers, industry peers, and partners to visit our booth, exchange insights, and explore collaboration opportunities.

• CXL Mini DevCon
  Date: August 3, 2026
  Location: Santa Clara Marriott, Santa Clara, USA
• FMS
  Date: August 4–6, 2026
  Location: Santa Clara Convention Center, Booth #845, Santa Clara, USA

In their new paper, "Sampling hard circuits with verifiably high fidelity," the researchers showed that these two goals could be simultaneously achieved by a novel construction of encoded quantum circuits, enabling one of the largest demonstrations of logical quantum computing to date. These circuits and their results are also now openly released on the Quantum Advantage Tracker.

Building Trust into Quantum Results

For years, researchers have used a benchmark known as random circuit sampling (RCS) to test whether quantum computers could outperform classical systems. In simple terms, RCS asks a quantum computer to generate patterns so complex that a classical computer cannot efficiently reproduce them. The challenge has been verification: as the problem becomes harder, it becomes increasingly difficult and then infeasible to prove the quantum computer's answer is correct, without making strong assumptions about the inner workings of the quantum computer.

In their experiment, researchers from IBM and the University of Chicago have addressed this obstacle with a structured alternative to RCS. The team was able to prove that this alternative retains the same hardness criteria as RCS, but crucially the new structure can be used to detect errors during the computation.

"Verification remains one of the biggest challenges in firmly establishing experimental quantum advantage," said Bill Fefferman, Associate Professor at the University of Chicago. "This experiment develops techniques to better characterize the fidelity of hard quantum states under noise, increasing confidence that the quantum computer is solving a computationally hard problem."

Soumik Ghosh, PhD student in Fefferman's group at the University of Chicago, added, "Beyond strengthening experimental validation, advances in verification have the potential to unlock practical applications for the next generation of quantum computers."

In one of the world's largest-known error correction demonstrations, the team executed 70 logical qubits — shielding them from errors to run 2,415 logical two-qubit operations and 468 logical "T gates," both metrics that quantify the complexity of a quantum circuit. Because the circuit was encoded, the logical computation was able to achieve effective logical error rates that were 10 times lower than the physical error rates, enabling the remarkably high circuit fidelity even at the large gate counts.

"We are now firmly in the quantum advantage era," said Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow. "We have demonstrated a quantum computation beyond the practical reach of classical computers that establishes, with statistical confidence, a lower bound on how faithfully it was executed. This milestone gives scientists, developers, and businesses a new foundation for trusting quantum computers as they scale to problems far beyond what we can achieve classically."

The team showed many leading classical simulation approaches faced prohibitive runtimes — while the IBM quantum computer took approximately 15 minutes to accomplish the task.

Error correction, and trust in the computation's output, are essential milestones towards scaling quantum computing — and this work marks a significant step on the path forward.

More Demonstrations of Quantum Advantage Emerge

Today, alongside this milestone from IBM and the University of Chicago, partners from across IBM's ecosystem are announcing more demonstrations of quantum advantage with trusted computations. To learn more, visit https://www.ibm.com/quantum/blog/quantum-advantage.

From July 30 to August 9 at ICE BSD City, Tangerang, VinFast will welcome visitors to an immersive exhibition space designed to bring the complete EV ownership journey to life, from vehicle selection and charging to after-sales services, customer support programs, and solutions that help optimize long-term ownership costs while enhancing vehicle value over time.

A key highlight of VinFast's presence at GIIAS 2026 is the debut of its "Drive Worry Free" proposition, built around five pillars: Zero Operating Cost, Battery Peace of Mind, Ownership Confidence, Service Confidence, and Business Confidence. Through these five pillars, VinFast aims to support customers throughout every stage of EV ownership, from selecting and purchasing a vehicle to everyday use, by addressing practical considerations including operating costs, charging accessibility, battery support, after-sales services, long-term vehicle value, and opportunities to unlock additional economic value.

Visitors who place a vehicle deposit during GIIAS 2026 will also enjoy a range of exclusive promotions. Customers purchasing the VF 3 mini-SUV will receive a MAP shopping voucher worth IDR 3 million. Buyers of the VF MPV 7 and Limo Green will receive a shopping voucher worth IDR 4 million, while customers purchasing the VF 6 or VF 7 will receive a voucher worth IDR 5 million.

In addition, customers who place a reservation at the exhibition will have the opportunity to participate in a lucky draw featuring attractive prizes. The promotion is subject to VinFast's applicable terms and conditions, and shopping vouchers are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.

Alongside these exhibition-exclusive offers, VinFast continues to provide a range of competitive ownership programs designed to enhance customer confidence throughout the ownership journey. These include a resale value guarantee of up to 80%, complimentary charging at the V-GREEN charging network, two years of complimentary battery subscription and a lifetime battery warranty.

Visitors to the VinFast booth can explore the Company's growing product portfolio, including the VF 3, VF 6, VF 7, VF MPV 7, Nerio Green, Herio Green, and Limo Green. Selected models will also be available for test drives, allowing visitors to experience their performance, technology, comfort, and driver assistance features first-hand.

Beyond the vehicle display, visitors can also explore the dedicated V-GREEN charging zone to learn more about the company's expanding charging infrastructure, including its growing network of thousands of charging points across Indonesia and the charging programs available to VinFast customers.

The booth also features the Green Rental zone, showcasing the "Sewa Jadi Cuan" initiative, which enables eligible VinFast owners to make their vehicles available for rental through VinFast's official platform when not in use, allowing them to generate additional value from their vehicles.

In addition, visitors can consult VinFast representatives on warranty and maintenance programs, battery subscription plans, the resale value guarantee program, and a range of flexible financing solutions offered in collaboration with banking and financial partners in Indonesia.

Antonio Zara, CEO of VinFast Indonesia, said: "Choosing a vehicle is not simply about selecting a means of transportation. It is also about choosing an ecosystem that can support customers throughout their ownership journey. Through GIIAS 2026, we want Indonesian consumers to experience how VinFast brings together electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, after-sales services, customer programs, and mobility solutions into one integrated ecosystem, making the transition to electric mobility more convenient and worry-free."

In just over two years since entering the Indonesian market, VinFast has built an increasingly diverse product portfolio while steadily developing a comprehensive electric mobility ecosystem supported by its assembly plant, the V-GREEN charging network, an expanding dealer and after-sales network, Green Rental mobility solutions, and a growing range of customer-focused ownership programs.

To date, VinFast has established more than 40 dealer showrooms across Indonesia and continues to expand its retail footprint, with plans to add more than 150 new showroom locations in the coming years. This expansion underscores the Company's long-term commitment to the Indonesian market and its aspiration to support the country's transition toward greener transportation./.

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

The event took place on July 28 during a working visit to Switzerland, bringing together representatives from Swiss and European investors, financial institutions, and technology companies, including Bowman & Fitzhugh Group, Zurich Cantonal Bank, and Swiss Global Enterprise.

Addressing the dialogue, Thang highlighted the event's significance as Vietnam and Switzerland mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1971–2026), following the conclusion of negotiations on the Vietnam-EFTA Free Trade Agreement.

Reaffirming the Vietnamese government's commitment to further improving the investment climate, developing infrastructure, and supporting businesses throughout their investment and operational activities in Vietnam, the DPM encouraged Swiss financial groups, investment funds, and technology companies to participate in the development of Vietnam's International Financial Centre (VIFC).

He also invited them to expand investment in high-potential sectors, including high technology, AI, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, green finance, and the circular economy.

Swiss and European investors expressed strong interest in Vietnam's socioeconomic achievements and spoke positively about the country's decision to establish a VIFC in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang.

Participants sought further clarification on foreign ownership policies, the application of advanced technologies, particularly AI, in financial services, insurance, and digital infrastructure, as well as Vietnam's plans for developing its capital and bond markets and strengthening the legal framework governing securities.

Many delegates also raised questions about tax policies, investment incentives, the VIFC's role in connecting Vietnam with the global financial ecosystem, and the development of long-term financing instruments, including real estate investment trusts.

Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Finance. Photo: Anh Hien – TTXVN in Switzerland

Responding to investors' questions, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Finance, and State Securities Commission chairwoman Vu Thi Chan Phuong outlined Vietnam's priorities, policy direction, and regulatory framework for building the VIFC, developing the capital market, upgrading the country's stock market classification, and attracting foreign investment.

Discussions at the event reflected growing interest among Swiss and European businesses and investors in Vietnam's market, particularly the establishment of VIFC.

Later the same afternoon, DPM Thang met Monica Rubiolo, a board member, together with senior representatives of Economiesuisse - the Swiss Business Federation, Switzerland's largest umbrella organisation representing the interests of the country's private sector.

Rubiolo said she was honoured to meet the DPM and discuss opportunities to deepen business cooperation between Switzerland and Vietnam. She noted that the Vietnam-EFTA Free Trade Agreement would create new opportunities for companies from both sides to diversify markets, business partners, and supply chains amid increasing uncertainty in global trade.

She also highlighted significant potential for bilateral cooperation in digital transformation, AI, and innovation, while sharing Switzerland's experience in developing an international financial centre based on transparency, good governance, and a stable legal framework.

DPM Thang reaffirmed that Vietnam highly values the role and contributions of Economiesuisse in strengthening economic relations between the two countries.

Welcoming the association's recommendations, he encouraged Economiesuisse to motivate its members to continue investing in Vietnam and share international experience that could help the country improve its foreign investment policies, foster innovation, support business development, and deepen Vietnam-Switzerland economic cooperation.

Photo: Anh Hien - TTXVN in Switzerland

Also on July 28, the DPM met Vietnamese professionals, researchers, and overseas Vietnamese living and working in Switzerland.

The meeting brought together Vietnamese experts employed by leading financial institutions, banks, investment funds, technology companies, and research organisations, including Rothschild & Co Bank, Zurich Insurance, Adobe, Avaloq, Climeworks, Energy Infrastructure Partners, as well as Swiss research institutes, consulting firms, and law firms.

The DPM commended the participants for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed that the Party and state regard overseas Vietnamese as an inseparable part of the nation and an important resource for Vietnam's development.

He said Vietnam is accelerating institutional reforms while promoting sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation. Emerging sectors, including digital finance, digital assets, and fintech, are being prioritised to create better conditions for experts both at home and abroad to contribute their knowledge and expertise.

Representatives of the overseas Vietnamese community thanked the DPM for taking the time to listen to their views and expressed pride in Vietnam's development achievements.

The participants put forward a range of recommendations to support the country's development, particularly in finance, technology, and sustainable development. They also called for more regular communication channels with domestic authorities to facilitate knowledge sharing and policy consultation.

They stressed the importance of maintaining a stable, transparent, and predictable policy environment to strengthen investor confidence.

The DPM asked ministries, relevant agencies, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland to continue strengthening connections with the Vietnamese expert community by developing sector-specific networks and databases. He said these efforts would help boost domestic and international cooperation programmes and projects while making better use of the expertise of overseas Vietnamese in support of the country's long-term development.

Swiss Asia Partner SA joins Prodezi on $100 million Be Milk plant

Swiss-funded GEVA programme boosts Vietnam's green agricultural exports

Vietnam and Switzerland conclude SwissTrade

Vietnam-Switzerland ties gain momentum

Vietnam and Switzerland boost sci-tech cooperation

Switzerland approves joint declaration with Vietnam

Bundle is built on the insight that, in today’s age, people are more motivated by the opportunity to earn something meaningful rather than small discounts. The business model responds to an existing gap within the sector, where most businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), cannot afford to offer rewards large enough to capture customer attention.

Offering an alternative to isolated rewards programmes, Bundle enables brands to combine their incentive budgets into shared reward pools. By participating in the network, every business gains access to rewards far larger than they could offer independently, giving SMEs the ability to compete with the marketing power of much larger companies.

For users, everyday interactions such as making a purchase, referring a friend, or completing another eligible action become opportunities to earn Bundle tickets and participate in shared reward pools. For brands, it delivers a more engaging incentive model with predictable costs and stronger marketing performance.

Through its compliance-based operating model, Bundle will look to launch initially across Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines, where more than 50 founding brands have already joined the platform. With a view to accelerating its expansion into global markets, Bundle has newly closed a $5.5 million pre-seed financing round led by Ethereal Ventures and Further Ventures, with participation from Nascent, GSR, Scenius Capital, Anchorage Digital and Nuwa Capital.

Min Teo, managing partner at Ethereal Ventures, said, “The next wave of blockchain businesses like Bundle will drive mainstream consumer applications by feeling native to users and solving real problems. It is a perfect example that uses shared rewards and blockchain rails to help brands drive loyalty and customer growth at scale.”

Robbie Nakarmi, partner at Further Ventures, said “Through its innovative shared rewards network, Bundle now gives brands of all sizes access to larger rewards to drive higher conversions from their marketing campaigns at a fraction of the cost, creating a more effective way to engage customers. We’re excited to support the company as it expands across Asia and beyond to redefine how businesses approach incentives.”

Every Half Coffee Roasters raises $8 million in Series A financing Every Half Coffee Roasters has closed an $8 million Series A funding round, fully subscribed by existing investors.

Rize raises $31 million to accelerate sustainable rice farming in Vietnam and Southeast Asia On July 16, Rize, Southeast Asia's leading sustainable rice platform, announced the close of a $31 million Series B funding round, comprising $20 million in equity and $11 million in debt financing.

Japanese investors see growing opportunities in Vietnam's startup ecosystem Japanese venture capital firms and investors are deepening their engagement with Vietnam's startup ecosystem. Miki Takahiro, director of the Japan External Trade Organization in Ho Chi Minh City spoke with VIR's Thanh Van about the latest investment trends and startup opportunities.

The findings were announced at a conference on July 30. As of the end of 2025, Ho Chi Minh City had 296,759 active enterprises, up more than 17 per cent compared with 2020.

Over the five-year period, the number of FIEs recorded the strongest growth among all categories of businesses, reflecting the city's increasing attractiveness as an investment destination, according to the Steering Committee for the 2026 Economic Census.

The city is now home to 14,032 FIEs. Although they account for fewer than 5 per cent of the total number of businesses, they generated more than VND3.86 quadrillion ($148 billion) in net revenue in 2025, equivalent to over 31 per cent of the city's total. Their total assets reached nearly $215 billion, an increase of 65.5 per cent compared with 2020.

FDI has flowed strongly into Ho Chi Minh City in recent years. According to the city's Statistics Office, newly registered FDI reached $8.2 billion in 2025, up 21.8 per cent on-year. In the first half of 2026, newly registered FDI totalled $6.8 billion, more than doubling from the same period last year, with growth of over 114 per cent.

The economic census also showed that non-state enterprises remained the largest business group, accounting for 95.2 per cent of all enterprises, or 282,416 businesses. The sector held more than $431 billion in capital and generated $290 billion in net revenue last year.

In addition, Ho Chi Minh City had 661,462 household business establishments, accounting for 12.6 per cent of the national total. Most operate in the wholesale, retail, and service sectors, employing more than one million workers.

Meanwhile, many household businesses engaged in industry and construction have been shifting to new business models or scaling down operations as digital transformation reshapes the business environment.

VIFC set to raise the bar for Ho Chi Minh City’s office market

Ho Chi Minh City receives $4 billion in remittances in H1

Ho Chi Minh City establishes Free Trade Zone linked to Cai Mep Ha Seaport

Ho Chi Minh City calls for investment in Strategic Technology Centre

Speaking at the Summer Economic Roundtable 2026, "From Policy to Growth: Solutions for Achieving Double-Digit Growth, Controlling Inflation, and Maintaining Macroeconomic Stability in 2026," Hoang Van Cuong, vice chairman of the Vietnam Economic Association, said 2026 was a pivotal year. It marks both the first year of the country's 2026-2030 socioeconomic development plan and the first year Vietnam has set a 10 per cent growth target, laying the foundation for sustained double-digit growth in the years ahead.

"High economic growth is meaningful only when it is built on a foundation of macroeconomic stability, effective inflation control, balanced economic fundamentals, and higher productivity. The goal is not growth at any cost, but rapid yet sustainable growth, and high-quality growth," he said.

Citing economic data for the first six months of the year, Cuong noted that Vietnam's GDP expanded 8.18 per cent, the highest first-half growth rate in 15 years, supported by broad-based recovery across all three major sectors of the economy.

Manufacturing and processing industries continued to serve as the primary growth engine, while investment, consumption, and exports all recorded solid improvements. State budget revenue, foreign direct investment (FDI), and total social investment also posted strong gains, providing room for additional growth-supporting policies in the months ahead.

Cuong said, "These results reflected not only the recovery of traditional growth drivers, but also the initial effectiveness of institutional reforms aimed at removing investment bottlenecks, encouraging private sector development, advancing science and technology, fostering innovation, and accelerating digital transformation."

He added that these reforms are creating an important foundation for a new growth cycle driven by higher productivity and more efficient resource allocation.

Despite the encouraging performance, Cuong warned that challenges in the second half of the year remain significant. "To achieve the annual growth target of 10 per cent, the economy must expand by approximately 11.9 per cent during the final six months of 2026, while keeping inflation at around 4.5 per cent and preserving macroeconomic stability," he said.

He stressed that these three objectives must be pursued simultaneously. Prioritising growth alone could increase inflationary pressures and create macroeconomic imbalances, while overly cautious policymaking could cause Vietnam to miss opportunities at a time when global supply chains and international capital flows are undergoing restructuring.

Cuong also identified several structural bottlenecks that require urgent attention. These include continued dependence on the FDI sector for growth, uneven public investment disbursement, difficulties businesses face in accessing finance, implementation capacity that has yet to match policy ambitions, and the fact that science, technology, and innovation have not yet become genuine drivers of economic growth.

"The gap between policymaking and policy implementation is currently the country's greatest challenge in achieving its growth objectives," he said.

Against this backdrop, the Summer Economic Roundtable 2026 focused on solutions to accelerate institutional reform, improve coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, speed up public investment disbursement, strengthen the private sector, enhance the economy's resilience to external shocks, and, above all, improve policy implementation so that government decisions can be translated more quickly into tangible growth.

UOB sees resilience amid cost pressures and external strains According to a June 12 report by UOB (United Overseas Bank), recent data paint a mixed near-term picture, with higher energy costs dampening momentum.

Vietnam's economy grew an estimated 8.4 per cent in second quarter Vietnam's economy is estimated to have expanded by just under 8.4 per cent on-year in the second quarter, according to the National Statistics Office.

Businesses propose fresh growth drivers for second-half GDP expansion The local business community has proposed regulatory and financial reforms, including an FDI-linked sandbox and a small- and medium sized enterprise digital bank, to help accelerate GDP growth in the second half of 2026.

ADB maintains Vietnam's growth outlook amid Southeast Asia downgrades The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has slightly lowered its growth forecast for developing Southeast Asia while maintaining its outlook for Vietnam, citing disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East conflict.

The assessment was made by Nguyen Trong Thoan, representing the research team of Vietnam Economic Times (VnEconomy), at the Summer Economic Roundtable 2026, held on July 30.

Recent developments in the global economy indicate that international production networks are entering a new phase of structural transformation. The COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, rising trade protectionism, the green transition, and the rapid advancement of AI are fundamentally changing how multinational corporations organise manufacturing and investment. These are no longer temporary adjustments, but long-term shifts that are reshaping the architecture of global production.

At the same time, multinational companies are adopting new criteria when selecting investment destinations. While low labour costs and investment incentives were once the dominant considerations, companies now place greater emphasis on innovation capacity, workforce quality, digital infrastructure, energy security, and the stability of the investment environment.

"If the previous wave of globalisation was driven primarily by cost optimisation, multinational corporations are now redesigning their investment strategies based on an entirely different set of priorities," Thoan said.

According to VnEconomy's research, three major forces are driving the current restructuring of global production chains. First, trade and tariff policies. The US has expanded Section 301 tariffs on products including electric vehicles, semiconductors, and batteries, while introducing additional tariffs linked to labour standards. These measures have prompted multinational corporations to reassess their supply networks and reduce dependence on a single market through strategies such as China+1, friend-shoring, and near-shoring.

Second, the rapid advancement of AI and automation. The widespread adoption of industrial robots, AI, and big data is altering competitive advantages in manufacturing. Labour-intensive production is gradually giving way to production systems that depend on digital infrastructure and highly skilled workers.

Third, a stronger focus on supply chain resilience. Disruptions caused by the pandemic and geopolitical conflicts have encouraged companies to prioritise stability by distributing production across multiple countries to ensure business continuity.

Thoan noted that developed economies are intensifying industrial policies aimed at building strategic technology ecosystems. The US and the European Union have introduced large-scale support programmes, including the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, the European Chips Act, and the Net-Zero Industry Act, to engage investment in semiconductors, electric vehicles, and clean energy.

Across Asia, countries including Japan, South Korea, and China are increasing investment in research and development while accelerating AI, robotics, and smart manufacturing.

More importantly, competition among countries has shifted. Rather than relying primarily on tax incentives or inexpensive labour, governments are increasingly competing by building comprehensive industrial ecosystems that combine efficient logistics, reliable energy supplies, research institutions, skilled human resources, and transparent legal frameworks.

Against this backdrop, the VnEconomy research team believes Vietnam remains an attractive investment destination thanks to its political stability and extensive network of free trade agreements.

However, while the FDI sector contributes more than 70 per cent of Vietnam's export turnover, the country faces a strategic turning point. Traditional advantages such as low labour costs and preferential investment policies are no longer sufficient to secure long-term competitiveness. The greater challenge lies not in attracting larger volumes of investment, but in improving its quality by drawing projects in research and development, chip design and manufacturing, AI, batteries, and other high-value industries.

"This transition could become one of the defining factors shaping Vietnam's future growth quality," Thoan said. "Over the long term, an economy's competitiveness will depend not only on the number of factories it attracts or the amount of investment it secures, but also on its ability to generate greater value within global supply chains."

The restructuring of global production networks also presents opportunities for Vietnam to strengthen its position in international manufacturing.

Supported by deep international integration, political stability, a growing domestic market, and an increasing focus on science, technology, and innovation, Vietnam is well-placed to deepen its participation in global production networks.

To reposition Vietnam within global value chains, Thoan and the VnEconomy research team proposed four key policy priorities.

First, improve strategic foresight. Changes in geopolitics, trade policies, technological development, and the green transition influence not only investment flows but also industrial development, export structures, and each country's position in global value chains. Vietnam should strengthen its capacity to anticipate developments in trade and technology policies to support long-term planning.

Second, improve the quality of foreign direct investment. Investment attraction policies should prioritise projects that bring technology transfer, establish research and development centres, and build stronger linkages with domestic enterprises.

Third, strengthen domestic private enterprises. Private capital should be encouraged to invest in supporting industries, high technology, and research and development rather than focusing primarily on sectors offering rapid financial returns. This will enable Vietnamese companies to become direct suppliers to multinational corporations.

Fourth, develop a stronger industrial ecosystem. The research team called for accelerated investment in digital infrastructure, reliable and green energy supplies, high-quality workforce development, and improvements to the business environment to support higher-value industrial growth.

58% of Chinese supply-chain executives plan supplier diversification in 2026, DP World finds DP World's Global Trade Observatory data shows 58% of Chinese supply-chain executives intend to increase suppliers and diversify sourcing in 2026, with AI deployment (50%) and digitalisation (44%) topping the growth agenda.

Draft law targets global manufacturers for key industries The draft Law on Key Industries proposes new incentives, government procurement mechanisms and investor commitments on technology transfer to attract global manufacturers and strengthen domestic industrial capabilities and supply chain resilience.

Global supply chain restructuring presents new opportunities for logistics sector Global supply chain restructuring presents new opportunities for Vietnam's logistics sector, but capitalising on this trend will require accelerated infrastructure development, digital transformation, green logistics, and stronger regional connectivity.

On July 29, SCG recorded Adjusted Cash earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of VND34.85 trillion ($1.34 billion) in the first half of 2026, up 35 per cent on-year, with profit for the period reaching $394 million.

The improvement reflected disciplined cost management, diversified raw material sourcing, business restructuring, expansion of high-value-added products, and wider adoption of robotics and AI across ASEAN.

Thammasak Sethaudom, CEO of SCG, said, “While global conditions remain uncertain, our direction is clear–strengthening competitiveness, investing for the long term, and growing together with Vietnam. We remain confident in Vietnam's industrial future and continue investing in innovation, sustainability, and people.”

As Vietnam and Thailand celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, SCG also reaffirmed its commitment as a trusted long-term partner in Vietnam after more than three decades of investment and operations.

Vietnam continued to play an important role in SCG's regional business, generating $1.42 billion in revenue during the first half of the year, an increase of 126 per cent on-year, supported by improved business performance and the resumption of operations at Long Son Petrochemicals (LSP) late last year.

These investments aim to strengthen Vietnam’s industrial competitiveness through modern manufacturing, greener production and workforce capability.

At LSP, construction of the Ethane Feedstock Enhancement Project has surpassed 60 per cent completion, continuing to progress despite temporary feedstock disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Once completed, the project will enhance feedstock flexibility, helping improve operational resilience while supporting the long-term competitiveness of Vietnam's petrochemical industry. The adoption of robotic welding technology is also enhancing construction quality, safety, and productivity.

In SCG Decor, exports of glazed porcelain tiles from PRIME Group increased 24 per cent on-year, reflecting growing international demand for higher-value products manufactured in Vietnam. The company is expanding production capacity to support future export growth, further reinforcing Vietnam's position as a manufacturing hub for premium construction materials.

Meanwhile, SCGP is expanding corrugated packaging capacity in southern Vietnam through an investment of approximately $23.9 million. Scheduled for commercial operation in 2027, the project will be equipped with modern technology to improve supply reliability, and better serve customers in one of Vietnam's fastest-growing manufacturing regions.

As Vietnam works towards its Net Zero 2050 commitment, demand continues to grow for low-carbon materials, more efficient manufacturing, and circular economy solutions. SCG is aligning its investments with these priorities by developing products and technologies that help reduce environmental impact across the value chain.

During the period, SCG leadership met with Party General Secretary and State President To Lam to reaffirm the group's support for Vietnam's development in high-value industries, green growth, and the circular economy.

Recent sustainability initiatives include commercialising packaging made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic, expanding energy-efficient ceramic tiles, encouraging low-carbon cement solutions, and receiving independent green product certifications–all supporting customers in reducing environmental impact while strengthening Vietnam's transition towards a more sustainable economy.

As Vietnam continues to move towards higher-value manufacturing and a greener economy, developing a skilled workforce will be essential to sustaining long-term growth. Through partnerships with universities, industry organisations, and community initiatives, SCG is helping equip young people with practical skills in modern manufacturing, digital technology, and sustainability.

Recent examples include the launch of BMP Academy by Binh Minh Plastics in partnership with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, as well as LSP’s renewed “Sharing for Society” partnerships with 34 local organisations–initiatives that help strengthen industry collaboration while preparing talent for the future.

As Vietnam continues to strengthen its industrial competitiveness and pursue long-term sustainable growth, investment in resilient supply chains, advanced manufacturing, and innovation will remain increasingly important. Building on more than three decades in the country, SCG will continue investing in projects that support these priorities while contributing to Vietnam’s energy security, industrial development, and Net Zero 2050 ambitions.

Long Son Petrochemicals to suspend operations from mid-May Thailand's Siam Cement Group will temporarily suspend operations at its Long Son Petrochemicals plant in Vietnam from mid-May due to the prolonged Middle East crisis.

30-year SCG backs green development as Vietnam enters next phase of net-zero journey After investing more than $7 billion over three decades, SCG now sees the country's net-zero transition as the next defining chapter of its development.

SCG calls for new growth model at Nikkei Asia Forum SCG called for a new growth model advancing carbon neutrality through competitiveness, energy security and innovation, addressing delegates at the Nikkei Asia Forum APAC 2026 in Bangkok.

During the meeting on July 30, officials discussed plans to develop the extension as an urgent infrastructure project to improve connectivity between the city and the airport in Dong Nai province.

According to Vice Chairman of Dong Nai People's Committee Ho Van Ha, there are currently three planned railway lines connecting to Long Thanh: the North-South high-speed railway, the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh railway, and the extension of the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien metro line to the Dong Nai City Administrative Centre and Long Thanh International Airport.

"With a large population, increasing traffic volume between Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City, and the operation of Long Thanh International Airport, there will be significant demand for transport connections between the airport and surrounding areas," Ha said. "Extending the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien metro line from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai – a total length of approximately 44.5 km, of which about 2.9 km passes through Ho Chi Minh City – will provide an additional connection option, complementing other transport routes and aligning with the global trend of urban rail development."

The project is considered vital to enhancing transportation connectivity between the two cities and other areas within the expanded urban region. The people's councils of Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City have agreed that this project involves both localities, assigning Dong Nai city as the managing agency for implementation.

The project is expected to be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, specifically a build-transfer contract. Dong Nai planned urban development sites along the route using the transit-oriented development model and prepared land funds to mobilise resources to implement the project. Dong Nai separated the land clearance project into an independent project and is implementing it along the entire route, with basic completion expected before December 31.

At the meeting, representatives of ministries and agencies agreed to classify the project as urgent under the Law on Construction, and proposed reporting to the government for consideration within its authority to provide a legal basis for implementation.

They also requested that during implementation, dossiers and procedures be reviewed and refined to ensure compliance, and that the functions and tasks of relevant agencies be clearly defined to avoid overlap. On investment preparation, project appraisal, and implementation under the PPP method, ministries will coordinate, guide, and support localities according to their assigned functions and tasks.

Ho Chi Minh City to finance Metro Line 4 with public-private partnership Ho Chi Minh City is considering a proposal from Sovico Group to invest in Metro Line 4 using a build-transfer contract with payment via land funds combined with Transit-Oriented Development.

Chinese contractor to formulate feasibility study for Metro Line 4 A consortium comprising China’s Guangzhou Metro Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., ARUP Vietnam, and TEDI SOUTH has been licensed to carry out the feasibility study for the nearly $6 billion Metro Line 4 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City to start construction on four urban railway lines Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee is accelerating the procedures to start construction on four urban railway lines from now until the end of 2026, with the goal of completion by the end of 2030.

THACO, Huyndai Rotem to advance railway localisation On June 11, THACO and South Korea’s Huyndai Rotem signed a specific agreement for technology transfer and localisation of metro rolling stock in Vietnam.

Hanoi breaks ground on three rental housing, five urban railway projects Hanoi People's Committee has broken ground on three rental housing projects and five urban railway projects, with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung in attendance.

Thales' building

Vietnam’s digital economy is no longer asking only how quickly businesses can digitise. Increasingly, it is asking whether they can digitise with trust. As more services move online, personal data now sits at the centre of customer relationships, payments, employee management and daily operations. Data protection is becoming part of the operating licence for digital business.

The Personal Data Protection Law brings that shift into focus. Among its obligations is a time-sensitive requirement: certain personal data protection violations that are likely to cause harm may need to be notified within 72 hours of detection, depending on the circumstances and regulatory requirements.

The important word is detection. A business cannot report clearly on what it has not detected, and it cannot assess what data was affected if it does not know where that data resides. Many organisations will struggle here not because of weak intent, but because of weak visibility. The law tests what an organisation can demonstrate, not just what it intended.

Compliance is moving from intent to evidence

Vietnam’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), Law No.91/2025/QH15, took effect on January 1, building on the earlier Decree 13 framework and giving Vietnam a clearer legal foundation for personal data protection.

For boards, executives and CISOs, the real shift is not simply that the rulebook has expanded. It is that compliance now needs to move from stated commitment to operational evidence. A privacy policy explains intent. Consent language captures permission. Internal guidelines define responsibilities. All remain important. But the PDPL raises a more practical leadership question: can the organisation prove that personal data is being handled properly in day-to-day operations?

That means knowing where personal data is stored, who can access it, how it is protected, when it is shared, and how quickly the organisation can respond if something goes wrong.

In a trust-based business environment, a personal data incident does more than trigger a regulatory response. It can weaken customer confidence, unsettle partners, increase scrutiny from stakeholders and disrupt business momentum. For organisations handling consumer, employee, financial, health, location or identity data, trust is difficult to rebuild once lost.

This is why PDPL readiness is better treated as a governance, resilience and trust issue than as a legal checklist.

The hardest practical gap is often the simplest to describe: many organisations do not have a complete view of where personal data lives.

Personal data rarely sits in one neat system. In many Vietnamese enterprises, it is spread across on-premises systems, legacy databases, local servers, business applications, branches and business units.

It also sits with third parties: payroll providers, distributors, insurers and service providers. Data already moves constantly across these on-premises environments, between branches, business units and out to third parties. The question is not only where data is stored. It is where it travels.

An organisation cannot protect what it cannot see, delete what it cannot find, or restrict access to data it has never classified. It cannot respond quickly to an incident without knowing what data was affected, and it cannot demonstrate compliance if its data map is incomplete.

Cross-border transfer sharpens the same point. Where data moves outside Vietnam, the PDPL and Decree No.356/2025/ND-CP require organisations to understand and document how and why. That is less a legal form to file than a test of how well an enterprise understands its own data flows, vendors and partners. Weak visibility over data movement is where compliance quietly breaks down.

The implementation bar is rising quickly

Vietnam’s direction of travel was clear well before 2026, especially after Decree 13 introduced its first obligations. But the PDPL, together with Decree No.356/2025/ND-CP, has sharpened expectations. Organisations are now moving from awareness to execution.

For CISOs and executive teams, five questions now matter most: Where is our personal data? Who has access to it? Can we detect misuse or abnormal movement? Can we prove control during an audit or incident? And can we explain cross-border data flows with confidence?

From regulatory readiness to provable trust

Closing that gap is not a paperwork exercise. It calls for the ability to locate personal data wherever it sits, classify what is sensitive, monitor how it is accessed and moved, and protect it consistently.

It also requires controls that ensure the right people reach the right data at the right time, and protection for the applications that collect and expose it.

This is where Thales works with organisations in Vietnam, strengthening the foundations the PDPL now assumes across applications, data and identities.

Globally, Thales supports governments, critical infrastructure operators and regulated enterprises with the same requirement: protecting sensitive data to a standard that can be evidenced.

The goal is not to add another layer of policy. It is to help make data protection something an organisation can operate, monitor and demonstrate.

Vietnam has one of the region’s fastest-growing digital economies, and the PDPL is part of building the trust that growth depends on.

Trust will not be built by paperwork alone. It will be built by organisations that know their data, protect it consistently, and can demonstrate control when it matters most.

The first step is understanding where you stand. Thales partners with organisations across Vietnam to provide the technology, cybersecurity and data protection capabilities needed to assess PDPL readiness, identify compliance gaps, and understand where the disconnect between policy and demonstrable compliance truly exists.

To start that conversation, visit our ‘Addressing the Personal Data Protection Law in Vietnam’ webpage or speak with the Thales team.

Going the extra mile for data protection in Vietnam A Vietnamese enterprise recently held a team meeting in order to share and discuss a new legal instrument, and also recorded the meeting alongside the names and/or photographs of participants, plus their questions. In the course of recording, a notice saying “by attending this meeting, you consent to being recorded” came up on the screen. In this situation, whether this kind of consent has satisfied valid consent, if Decree 13 is applicable, could be raised.

Personal data decree poses compliance challenges Robert Trong Tran, partner, EY Vietnam Cybersecurity Services Co., Ltd.; and Thach Thi-Cam Tran, senior manager, EY Law Vietnam Limited Liability Company, delve into the challenges businesses are facing over enforcement of Decree 13 on personal data protection, and suggest recommendations to cope with compliance challenges.

Rising data security budgets fail to curb insider breaches Organisations worldwide are boosting investment in safeguarding sensitive information, but insider threats remain a costly weak spot.

Digital boom raises stakes for data protection as cyber risks grow Data breaches are becoming increasingly common for businesses in Vietnam, where accelerating digitalisation has often outpaced the ability to safeguard sensitive information.

"The newly approved institutional framework will provide Haiphong with a modern and streamlined governance model, competitive policy mechanisms, and stronger capacity to attract large-scale, technology-intensive, and high-value-added projects," Chau said.

"With the ambition of becoming one of Vietnam's leading economic centres and an increasingly important international trade gateway, Haiphong will continue prioritising sectors where it already enjoys strong competitive advantages, including logistics, port services, science and technology, digital transformation, innovation, and multimodal transport connectivity," he added.

The freed trade zone (FTZ) is expected to become a key platform for attracting high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI), promoting technology transfer and strengthening linkages between domestic enterprises and multinational corporations, in line with the orientation set out in the Politburo’s Resolution No.10-NQ/TW on foreign-invested economic development.

The strategy builds upon a solid economic foundation. Haiphong currently hosts 1,868 foreign-led projects from 42 countries and territories with cumulative registered capital exceeding $54 billion, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of Vietnam’s total accumulated FDI. It is also the only locality in the country to have maintained double-digit economic growth for 11 consecutive years.

During the first half of 2026, the city’s GDP expanded by 11.33 per cent, ranking third nationwide and leading all centrally governed cities.

Cargo throughput reached nearly 96 million tonnes, while newly registered FDI exceeded $3.1 billion, reflecting sustained momentum in industrial production, logistics and export-oriented manufacturing.

The latest planning decisions significantly broaden Haiphong’s development vision. While the city’s traditional strengths have long been anchored in its deep-water port system, industrial base and strategic location in northern Vietnam, the newly approved framework is designed to create a more diversified and innovation-driven growth model.

Under Decision No.288/QD-TTg, Haiphong Specialised Economic Zone will cover approximately 5,300 hectares in the western part of the city and focus on high-technology industries such as AI, robotics, big data, advanced chemicals and research and development.

Rather than merely expanding industrial land, the zone is intended to reshape the city’s investment structure towards knowledge-based industries, innovation and advanced technologies.

Meanwhile, Southern Haiphong Coastal Economic Zone, spanning around 20,000ha, is planned as a new marine economic growth pole built on seaport services, logistics, high-tech industries, modern urban development and green growth.

At the centre of this development strategy is the 6,292-ha Haiphong FTZ, which is expected to evolve into a regional hub for high-tech manufacturing, international logistics, trade and modern services, with priority given to semiconductors, IT, automation, supporting industries and digital infrastructure.

At the conference on July 30, Haiphong approved 13 newly licensed and expanded projects with a combined registered capital of approximately $2.6 billion.

The city also signed two MoUs on industrial park infrastructure development, with an estimated total investment of $540 million. Altogether, the projects receiving approval and the MoUs signed at the event represent investment commitments of around $3.2 billion.

Among the most notable projects is LG Innotek Vietnam’s second venture, worth $1 billion, at Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park (Zone 2), located within the Haiphong FTZ.

After a decade of successful operations at Trang Due Industrial Park, the company’s decision to expand semiconductor chip production highlights continued confidence in Haiphong’s investment climate while illustrating the city’s success in attracting higher-value manufacturing projects.

Beyond the newly announced projects, Haiphong has maintained robust investment momentum throughout 2026.

As of July 22, the city had enticed approximately $3.26 billion in FDI, up 71.8 per cent on-year, with nearly 90 per cent of total investment concentrated in industrial parks and economic zones.

The figures underscore the continued role of these zones as the city's principal engines for attracting foreign investment while laying the foundation for the next generation of technology-intensive capital inflows.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau said the event represented more than the implementation of administrative decisions. It marked the beginning of a new development phase and mirrored the commitment of both the Vietnamese government and Haiphong authorities to fostering a favourable investment environment for domestic and international businesses.

“Geopolitical competition, supply chain restructuring, digital transformation and the transition towards greener growth are reshaping global investment flows. Against this backdrop, Haiphong city possesses favourable conditions to pioneer a new development model. Following the recent administrative merger, the city now benefits from a larger economic scale, broader development space and distinctive advantages in ports, logistics and institutional mechanisms,” said DPM Chau.

Looking ahead, Haiphong's future growth will be driven by three complementary strategic development spaces: Dinh Vu–Cat Hai Economic Zone, Southern Coastal Economic Zone and Haiphong Specialised Economic Zone.

The nearly 6,300-ha FTZ, strategically integrated with both major economic zones, is expected to serve as an institutional platform linking these development areas into a unified economic ecosystem connecting manufacturing, international trade, investment attraction and technology transfer.

Haiphong’s competitive position is further reinforced by continued improvements in logistics infrastructure.

According to the 2025 Container Port Performance Index released by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, Haiphong Port climbed 17 places to rank 13^th globally, providing a stronger foundation for the FTZ to develop into an international logistics gateway.

DPM Chau noted that Haiphong possesses a unique combination of strategic advantages, including its geographic location, a world-class seaport and logistics network, a strong industrial base, ample development space, and a range of preferential policy mechanisms.

However, he stressed that what investors seek is not merely incentives, but greater confidence in policy stability, transparency and effective implementation.

In this regard, the city's most important competitive advantage should be a facilitating government that treats businesses' time and costs as valuable social resources and regards investors' success as the success of both the city and the country.

Echoing this message, Chairman of Haiphong People's Committee Do Thanh Trung reaffirmed the city's commitment to accompanying investors throughout the investment process, ensuring the most favourable conditions for projects to be implemented efficiently, promptly and sustainably.

Haiphong gains new growth impetus from strategic planning and integrated infrastructure Backed by a pilot Free Trade Zone and synchronised multi-modal infrastructure, Haiphong is positioning itself as a regional logistics and industrial hub within global supply chains.

Experience first internationally benchmarked green compound in Haiphong Amid the relentless pulse of Haiphong city, where deadlines and traffic horns never cease, Sol Garden preserves three hectares of multi-layered greenery, offering a sanctuary where fatigue is gently soothed and life reclaims its truest meaning.

PSA Vietnam to develop container berths at Lach Huyen Port in Haiphong On July 3, PSA Vietnam (PSA) and Lach Huyen International Logistics & Industrial Park signed an agreement for PSA's investment in Lach Huyen Port Investment JSC to jointly develop and operate four deep-sea container berths at Lach Huyen Port in Haiphong.

Haiphong partners with US on smart seaport development Haiphong and the United States are set to strengthen cooperation in smart seaport development, following a workshop on port operations.

1. Supply Chain Resilience
2. Co-creation of Innovation
3. AI and Digital Investment
4. Energy Transition

1. Understanding the specific strengths of each country and region.
2. Identifying critical areas along the value chain.
3. Creating resilience across regions, industries, and companies that transcends mere cost-efficiency.

• Perry Ferrer (PCCI, Philippines) proposed the implementation of supply chain visualization tools and the necessity of establishing a mutual recognition framework for skilled labor.
• Hans Lukiman (KADIN, Indonesia) emphasized the importance of creating pathways that allow returning workers to contribute their acquired skills back to domestic industries.
• Nguyen Vu Kien (VCCI, Vietnam) advocated for the development of supply chain traceability systems.
• Musa Adnin (ASEAN-BAC, Brunei) brought up a practical case where no Japanese firms participated in recent domestic data center tenders, pointing out that "while Japan possesses superior technology, it lags behind Western and Chinese competitors in terms of business execution and deployment speed."

In response to these recommendations, Ms. Yumiko Hata (Director, Asia and Pacific Division at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, METI, of Japan) expressed her gratitude for the proposals and stated, "We will promote measures toward energy security and supply chain resilience in close cooperation with the chambers of commerce of each country."

To consolidate the rich insights from this dialogue, Chairman Masuo Kuremura presented the "DISG Task Force Joint Declaration" at the conclusion of the meeting, which was officially adopted.

Background of the Joint Declaration

While ASEAN continues to enjoy robust economic growth, geopolitical tensions, energy supply chain risks originating from the Strait of Hormuz, and structural shifts in industries driven by AI and digitalization are impacting the regional economy. Under these circumstances, Japan and ASEAN have compiled the Joint Declaration to co-create a sustainable and resilient economic foundation.

Key Points of the Joint Declaration

The Joint Declaration aims to strengthen public-private partnership and regional cooperation across the following five priority areas:

1. Building Resilient Supply Chains

Acknowledge that securing the stability and diversity of supply chains, including critical materials and technologies, is essential for regional economic growth. Japan and ASEAN will upgrade production, logistics, and procurement networks through deeper industrial cooperation, enhancing resilience and mitigating concentration risks.

2. Cooperation in Economic Security Fields

Strengthen mutually beneficial, complementary partnerships in a highly volatile international environment. Cooperation will focus on information sharing, human resource development, and investment promotion in strategically critical sectors, including semiconductors, automobiles, AI/digital infrastructure, and energy.

3. Cooperation in Energy Transition and Next-Generation Energy Fields

Pursue the dual goals of energy security and carbon neutrality by establishing supply infrastructure and technical collaboration in next-generation fields, such as biofuels, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and small modular reactors (SMRs). Regional energy resilience will be enhanced by leveraging the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), and the Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia (POWERR Asia) frameworks.

4. Promoting Innovation and Industrial Upgrading

Position digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX) as keys to economic growth and industrial competitiveness, and promote inter-enterprise collaboration and open innovation in areas such as AI, data utilization, and next-generation mobility. The goal is to generate ASEAN-originated innovation through cooperation among large enterprises, SMEs, startups, and academia.

5. Next-Generation Human Resource Development and Contribution to Local Communities

Recognize that talent cultivation and active personnel exchanges are indispensable for sustainable development. Japan and ASEAN will promote exchanges among next-generation leaders, specialists, and young entrepreneurs, contributing to a diverse, inclusive, and resilient society.

https://ameicc.org/disg/

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

At this year's awards in Ho Chi Minh City on July 30, Palm City was recognised as Best Luxury Urban Lifestyle Development Vietnam 2026, while Palm River received the Best Innovative Integrated Residence Vietnam 2026 award.

These recognitions underscore Huong Viet Properties' long-term development strategy of building integrated urban communities through thoughtful master planning, people-centric design, and sustainable value creation.

Huong Viet Properties develops its projects with the vision of creating integrated living ecosystems, bringing together architecture, nature, lifestyle amenities, wellness facilities, and green building solutions into cohesive master-planned communities. The recognition of both Palm City and Palm River at the Dot Property Vietnam Awards 2026 further validates the company's commitment to this development philosophy.

"Receiving these two awards at the Dot Property Vietnam Awards 2026 is a meaningful recognition of the development direction that Huong Viet Properties has consistently pursued," said Nguyen Si Toan, the managing director of High-rise Real Estate Business Division, Huong Viet Properties.

"We believe the true value of a real estate development extends beyond its scale or architectural design. It lies in its ability to create a high-quality living environment where residents can connect with nature, enjoy comprehensive amenities, and experience sustainable value over the long term. These awards inspire us to continue investing in thoughtful planning, innovative design, and human-centric urban developments that enhance everyday living."

Palm City – redefining resort-inspired urban living

According to the judging panel, Palm City distinguished itself through its 'Urban Retreat in the City' development concept, creating a balanced living environment that seamlessly combines the vibrancy of urban life with the tranquillity of nature.

Spanning 30.6 hectares, Palm City is master-planned as an integrated township comprising residential communities, commercial and office spaces, international schools, an international hospital, and approximately 3km of riverside parkland, forming a self-contained ecosystem designed for modern urban living.

Strategically located along the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway frontage road, Palm City offers convenient access to the Thu Thiem International Financial Centre, downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thanh International Airport, and key infrastructure projects, including the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Metro Line, the An Phu Interchange, and Cat Lai Bridge. Its prime location and comprehensive master plan have established Palm City as one of the premier integrated townships in eastern Ho Chi Minh City.

One of the defining factors behind Palm City's recognition is its 'Sustainable Luxury' philosophy, which promotes a harmonious balance between architecture, nature, and quality of life. Leveraging its prime riverside setting, the development maximises water frontage and expansive green spaces to create a healthier microclimate, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and deliver a more comfortable living environment for residents.

Palm City also features more than 100 on-site lifestyle amenities, including international schools, an international hospital, retail and commercial facilities, sports and recreation areas, riverside parks, and vibrant community spaces.

According to the judging panel, Palm City's ability to provide a comprehensive live–learn–work–play environment within a single integrated township sets it apart from conventional residential developments. This holistic approach reflects the evolving expectations of today's homebuyers and aligns with global trends in premium urban living.

Palm River – an integrated residential concept shaping a new lifestyle standard

As the newest residential precinct within Palm City, Palm River has been developed under the Luxury Boutique Apartment concept, inspired by the vision of 'Resort Living in the Heart of the City'.

Occupying a prime dual-riverfront location at the heart of the township, Palm River offers residents a tranquil nature-inspired environment while enjoying seamless access to the fully established infrastructure and comprehensive amenities of Palm City.

According to the awards organiser, Palm River stands out through its Biophilic Design philosophy, complemented by Wabi-Sabi-inspired interiors, creating living spaces that foster a closer connection with nature while embracing simplicity, balance, and wellbeing.

The development also incorporates more than 40 wellness and water-inspired amenities, including a Sky Onsen, Cold Plunge Therapy Pool, a 70-metre lap pool, infinity pool, private spa, Sky Yoga Deck, Sky Gym & Pilates studio, golf simulator, clubhouse, sky observation deck, and a collection of riverside relaxation spaces. Together, these facilities are thoughtfully designed to support the lifestyle aspirations of today's wellness-conscious urban residents.

Palm River demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability through the integration of green building solutions from the earliest planning stages. The project is pursuing EDGE certification, targeting a minimum 20 per cent reduction in energy, water, and embodied material consumption through high-performance glazing systems, insulated roofing, LED lighting, water-efficient sanitary fixtures, and environmentally responsible construction materials.

The development also incorporates a two-stage water filtration system with UV purification technology, low-emission E1-certified materials, and design strategies that optimise natural ventilation and daylight throughout each residence.

According to the judging panel, Palm River's seamless integration of sustainable design, modern technology, and wellness-focused amenities represents an innovative residential model that embraces the future of sustainable urban living, earning it the Best Innovative Integrated Residence Vietnam 2026 title.

Advancing people-centric urban development

The two accolades at the Dot Property Vietnam Awards 2026 further reinforce Huong Viet Properties' growing presence in Vietnam's real estate market and reflect the company's commitment to developing integrated urban communities that meet international standards.

Palm City and Palm River have been recognised as exemplary developments that embody the future of modern urban living, where architecture, nature, lifestyle amenities, and sustainability come together to create lasting value for residents while contributing positively to the evolution of Vietnam's real estate landscape.

Looking ahead, Huong Viet Properties will continue to expand its project portfolio in line with its long-term development strategy, placing residents' needs and experiences at the heart of every project. The company remains committed to continuously enhancing planning, design, development, and operational excellence to deliver sustainable value for communities and future generations.

Huong Viet launches The Aura tower in Ho Chi Minh City Huong Viet Properties officially launched The Aura office tower at Hai Ba Trung street in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3.

Huong Viet Properties strengthens integrated real estate vision Real estate developer Huong Viet Properties is building a sustainable growth platform combining development expertise, operational excellence, and long-term value. Nguyen Si Toan, managing director of High-rise Real Estate Business Division, spoke with VIR’s Bich Ngoc about the company's strategies and competitive advantages.

Vietnam's industrial property sector shifts towards green growth Vietnam’s industrial property sector is entering a new phase of green development, requiring developers to adapt their strategies to an increasingly competitive landscape.

Industry Shifts from Plans to Action

Nopadol Ramyarupa, Vice Chairman of TCMA said the industry has moved beyond pledges and is now focused on execution. TCMA member companies are advancing the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap through: expansion of low-carbon cement, improved energy efficiency, increased use of alternative fuels and raw materials (AFR), greater reliance on renewable energy

TCMA is also involved in the Saraburi Sandbox low-carbon city, a pilot project developed with GIZ under the Thai-German Cooperation on Energy, Mobility and Climate (TGC EMC).

"TCMA now has tangible progress and clear direction. The challenge is scaling up while maintaining competitiveness," Mr. Nopadol said.

Germany Backs Industrial Decarbonization

Ebba Schall, chargé d'affaires at the German Embassy in Thailand said Germany is prioritizing emissions reduction in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement through innovation and international cooperation.

"#MadeInGermany reflects standards of innovation, quality and sustainable development. This partnership will help adapt proven technologies to Thailand's context," Ebba said.

The cooperation covers technology transfer, capacity building, access to green finance and support for industry readiness.

"The transition to a low-carbon economy is not a cost, but an investment in future competitiveness," she added.

Government Speeds up Support Mechanisms

Dr. Kittisak Prukkanone, Director of the Division of Strategy and International Cooperation at Department of Climate Change and Environment said the partnership highlights closer coordination between government, industry and international partners.

The government is accelerating climate legislation, green investment incentives and financial tools to support low-carbon technologies, including carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).

"This will help unlock new investment models and support long-term industrial transformation", Dr. Kittisak said.

He added that businesses should prepare by investing in technology, improving data systems and adapting operations to future regulations.

Key Technologies in Focus

The technical conference highlighted three technologies critical to reducing emissions in cement production:

• LC3 (calcined clay cement) to reduce clinker content
• CCUS to address unavoidable emissions
• Industrial AI to improve efficiency and reduce energy use

Driving Long-term Transformation

Nopadol said achieving net-zero emissions will require sustained cooperation across sectors. "Success will depend on consistent action and the ability to scale, while strengthening Thailand's competitiveness and positioning the country as a low-carbon industry leader in ASEAN".

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

Across the industry, firms are accelerating AI investments to improve productivity, deliver more personalised client experiences and unlock new growth opportunities.

83% of family offices globally have already identified AI as a top strategic focus within the next five years[1], and 74% are expecting to increase their AI investments over the next three years[2]. Performance improvement and operational efficiencies continue to encourage firms to embed AI into aspects of client management and operations[3].

Under the guiding vision of "Human-Led. AI-Scaled. Future-Ready.", WRISE AI Labs is a strategic innovation platform to explore and advance practical AI applications for WRISE Group. The initiative will focus on areas including AI-powered client servicing experience, intelligent automation, relationship manager empowerment, advanced analytics, digital intelligence platforms and next-generation client engagement.

Unlike many AI initiatives that focus primarily on technology deployment, WRISE AI Labs adopts a platform-based approach, developing AI capabilities that can be deployed across multiple business functions. Each initiative will be guided by clear objectives and measurable outcomes to ensure AI delivers meaningful business value.

Strategic and Technical Leadership to Drive AI-Native Wealth Management

The appointment of Dr. Wu as Group Chief Scientist is central to this strategy. Dr. Wu will work closely with WRISE's leadership team to shape the Group's AI roadmap and provide strategic and technical leadership for the WRISE AI Labs initiative.

WRISE has partnered with Dr. Wu and Guangzhou Panorama Intelligent Technology Investment Co., Ltd. ('Panorama'), a state-backed investment vehicle aligned with Guangzhou's technology strategy. This collaboration aims to combine its wealth management expertise with advanced AI capabilities. It reflects the Group's belief that the future of wealth management will be shaped by the combination of business and technical leadership.

As part of the partnership, WRISE will commit an initial investment of HKD30 million to accelerate the development of WRISE AI Labs and early-stage AI applications across the WRISE Group. The investment reflects the Group's long-term commitment to building practical, scalable and AI-native capabilities that create measurable business value.

The announcement follows WRISE's recent recognition of the AI-Ready Enterprise Initiative: Transformation Enterprise Award at the SGTech Industry Gala 2026, further reinforcing the Group's progress in building an AI-ready organisation.

Derrick Tan, Group Executive Chairman of WRISE Group, said: "AI is set to fundamentally reshape the financial industry — not by replacing human relationships, but by making them more intelligent, responsive and scalable. The launch of the WRISE AI Labs initiative and the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Wu as Group Chief Scientist mark an important milestone in our journey to build a human-led, AI-scaled and future-ready wealth management platform.

Dr. Wu brings deep scientific expertise, entrepreneurial experience and a global technology vision. Together with Panorama and the WRISE leadership team, he will help us translate AI innovation into practical business outcomes — empowering relationship managers, enhancing client engagement and strengthening our long-term growth capabilities."

Building an AI Innovation Platform for Real Wealth Management Needs

WRISE AI Labs will serve as a bridge between scientific innovation and business applications, developing AI capabilities that enhance productivity, decision-making and client experience across the Group.

Dr. Jeffrey Wu, Group Chief Scientist of WRISE Group, said: "The future of enterprises will be AI-native, with intelligence embedded into decision-making, operations and client engagement. Wealth management is fundamentally relationship-driven, making it an ideal environment for responsible AI to enhance advisor capabilities rather than replace them.

I am excited to join WRISE Group and work with its leadership team to advance the WRISE AI Labs initiative. Our goal is to combine scientific thinking, AI capabilities and real wealth management scenarios to develop practical solutions that improve efficiency, support better decisions and create sustainable value for clients and stakeholders."

Dr. Wu is a leading AI strategist, cross-disciplinary technology entrepreneur and innovation leader with extensive experience in enterprise AI transformation, digital transformation, data intelligence and emerging technologies. He is Chairman of XALL Technology Investment Group. He also serves as Founder & CEO of Guangzhou Panorama Intelligent Technology Investment Co., Ltd. ("Panorama"). In addition, he is Co-Founder and Chief Scientist of Zhongke Shiyun and a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Suzhou Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. With extensive experience across Australia and China, Dr. Wu previously served as APAC Technical Director for IBM Watson Analytics in Australia, where he led enterprise AI and data intelligence initiatives across the region. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Looking ahead, WRISE intends to leverage selected AI capabilities developed through WRISE AI Labs to support new business opportunities, strategic partnerships and future digital growth initiatives.

[1] Forbes: The Rise And Rise Of AI-Powered Family Offices

[2] Ocorian：Family offices turn to AI but avoid investing in the sector for now

[3] BCG: AI and the New Economics of Wealth Management-2026 Global Wealth Report

Disclaimer

This press release is for general information only and does not constitute an offer, invitation, solicitation or recommendation of any financial products or services in any jurisdiction. Products and services (if any) are provided only by appropriately licensed WRISE group entities in the relevant jurisdiction and are subject to applicable laws and regulations.

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

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

More at thinkingmachin.es.

Announced on July 29, the facility will enable Ukko Renewable, a subsidiary of Groupe Duval, to develop an initial pipeline of over 2 GW of wind, within a broader pipeline of more than 3 GW of wind, solar and hydropower projects across Vietnam, and other regional markets.

The facility reinforces the commitment of the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) and Groupe Duval to support the energy transition in high-growth Southeast Asian markets.

Ukko Renewable is developing one of Southeast Asia’s most diversified renewable energy pipelines, spanning onshore wind, ground-mounted and rooftop solar, run-of-river hydro and pumped storage projects. Ukko Renewable has secured an initial 1.4 GW pipeline in Vietnam – with projects prioritised under Vietnam’s revised Power Development Plan VIII – that scales to a broader 2.1 GW pipeline, in addition to a series of wind and hydro assets in the Philippines, which boasts a highly supportive rules-based Green Energy Auction Programme.

EAAIF's funding will enable Ukko Renewable to advance the initial pipeline to a 'ready-to-build' state, ensuring that the projects are developed to international standards and can attract long-term commercial and institutional capital to progress construction for operations. Ukko Renewable is backed by Groupe Duval, which provided initial growth capital alongside strong corporate governance support and expertise in infrastructure delivery in emerging markets.

Once the targeted initial pipeline is successfully delivered and operational, it is estimated to avoid approximately 2.2 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent each year and benefit over 2.8 million end-users.

This transaction marks a significant milestone in EAAIF’s commitment to climate finance in emerging markets and its expanding mandate in Asia.

Martijn Proos, co-head of Emerging Market Alternative Credit at Ninety One, the fund manager of EAAIF, said, "This transaction with Ukko Renewable underscores EAAIF’s commitment to accelerating climate finance and demonstrates the central role of targeted lending in transition markets. This supports the development of green-field assets and creates a pathway to attract commercial and institutional investment, accelerating the clean energy transition in Vietnam and the Philippines."

The transaction also represents a major landmark in Ukko Renewable's growth strategy and provides the financial resources key to accelerating one of the region's most varied portfolios of renewable energy projects.

Christophe Guyard, CEO of Ukko Renewable, said, “This facility strengthens our financial capacity, validates our team's track record and enables us to efficiently advance our broader pipeline of over 3 GW of renewable energy assets, which will deliver crucial clean power and energy security to rapidly growing economies in Southeast Asia.”

GuarantCo and Standard Chartered collaborate on climate action GuarantCo and Standard Chartered have signed a MoU announcing the intention to develop a climate-focused deal framework that aims to increase funding opportunities in Vietnam and accelerate climate action.

PIDG makes $8.68 million investment in Hoa-Binh-Xuan Mai clean water treatment facility The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) has made an equity investment of VND218.6 billion ($8.68 million) in Hoa Binh-Xuan Mai Clean Water Limited Liability Company, a project run by AquaOne Water Corporation.

Hoa Binh-Xuan Mai water treatment plant inaugurated On April 30, The Private Infrastructure Development Group and AquaOne celebrated the inauguration of the Hoa Binh–Xuan Mai water treatment plant.

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

LOT Polish Airlines has started selling tickets for direct flights from Warsaw to Hanoi, expanding its route network as interest in Asia continues to grow. The national carrier is offering a year-round connection to the Vietnamese capital and is expected to launch direct flights to Bangkok soon.

Hanoi will become the fifth city in the airline's Asian long-haul flight network, complementing the existing connections with Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi, and Bangkok. The inaugural flight to the Vietnamese capital will take off in March 2027.

The Warsaw–Hanoi route will operate year-round, with three flights per week. Departures from Chopin Airport will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3:15 PM, while return flights from Hanoi will take to the skies on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8:35 AM local time. Flights from Poland to Hanoi will last approximately 10 hours and 25 minutes, and the return journey will take 11 hours and 20 minutes, with passengers enjoying the comfort of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Robert Ludera, board member and chief commercial officer of LOT Polish Airlines, said, "Vietnam is one of the most dynamically developing markets in Asia, and its importance for Polish business and tourism is steadily growing. It is a country of exceptional cultural and natural richness, captivating with its authenticity, exquisite cuisine, and diverse landscapes – from the vibrant city of Hanoi to the picturesque Ha Long Bay."

"The launch of the Hanoi route reflects our ambition to further strengthen LOT Polish Airlines' presence in Asia and continue developing our Warsaw hub as a gateway between Central and Eastern Europe and some of the world's most promising destinations," Ludera noted.

Vietnam and Poland target bilateral trade turnover of $5 billion Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has proposed the strengthening of economic ties with Poland to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion.

Vietnam, Poland enter new era of development Vietnam and Poland are entering a new period of bilateral ties. Polish Ambassador to Vietnam Joanna Skoczek spoke with VIR’s Minh Tung about the journey and future prospects.

Vietnam, Poland to boost ties to new height Vietnam and Poland are looking to upgrade bilateral ties to a new height after their 75-year journey of fruitful cooperation. Ho Chi Hung, permanent vice president of the Vietnam-Poland Friendship Association, talked to VIR’s Minh Tung about future cooperation.

According to its financial report, feed production, poultry farming and vegetable oil operations all delivered better results than the prior-year, but a sharp decline in live hog prices in the second quarter dragged down the overall livestock segment and compressed group-level profitability.

Gross margin fell from 21.5 per cent to 15.4 per cent on year, reducing gross profit by $6.8 million to $26.1 million, a decline of 20.8 per cent on year.

For the first half, Dabaco recorded consolidated revenue of $334.8 million, up 12.8 per cent on year, while net-profit after tax dropped 34.7 per cent to $26.5 million.

The first half’s result represents 59.4 per cent of the company's full-year net profit target of $44.8 million - itself a 25.9 per cent reduction from 2025 actual earnings - reflecting the company's expectation that live hog price pressure will continue to weigh on full-year performance.

Cash flow from operations turned negative in the first six months of the year at $3.8 million, against a positive $47.2 million in the same period last year.

The company's liabilities also increased by 17 per cent to over $368 million, with $296 million being short-term debt (up 12 per cent). Short-term borrowings increased by 17 per cent to $224 million. The debt-to-equity ratio reached 85 per cent.

Dabaco set the target to reach $1.17 billion in revenue for the whole year, up 22 per cent on-year. Meanwhile, the company forecast after-tax profit to decrease 25.9 per cent on-year to $44.8 million.

C.P. Vietnam's three decades of growth and its journey to global dining tables Years of developing a fully integrated production model have enabled CPV Food Binh Phuoc to successfully export processed chicken to Japan. This achievement has served as a springboard for the CPV Food Binh Phuoc complex, and for C.P.Vietnam as a whole, to advance further in its mission to become the “Kitchen of the World”.

Japfa maintains position in top 10 animal feed firms Japfa Comfeed Vietnam has been named among the country's top animal feed producers for 2025, reflecting strong performance and industry credibility.

Japfa Vietnam hosts annual customer conference On January 27-28 in Ho Chi Minh City, Japfa Comfeed Vietnam hosted the Customer Conference 2026, welcoming more than 300 customers and strategic partners from the southern region.

MAE proposes amendments to 10 laws to cut red tape The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is proposing to add the draft law amending and supplementing several articles of 10 laws in the fields of agriculture and environment to the national legislative programme.

BAF Vietnam faces penalty for breaching competition law BAF Vietnam and Thanh Xuan Clean Agriculture Development have been fined a combined nearly VND900 million ($35,300) for failing to notify authorities of an economic concentration transaction.

The event combined technology demonstrations and learning sessions with interactive games and employee engagement activities.

The programme introduced employees to new and enhanced features across Citi’s suite of proprietary AI tools.

Through practical demonstrations and guided sessions, participants learned how Citi AI tools can support everyday activities while retaining appropriate human review and accountability.

The event also provided opportunities for employees to exchange ideas, test different applications and learn from Citi’s AI Accelerators – colleagues who help promote the effective adoption of AI tools.

“AI is changing how organisations operate, and its real value comes from enabling people to work more effectively, and dedicate more time to activities that require judgement, creativity and strong client relationships,” said Minh Ngo, Citi Vietnam’s country officer and banking head.

“By strengthening AI capabilities across our organisation, we are building a more innovative, connected and productive workplace that can serve our clients even better,” she noted.

In 2025, Citi announced that its internal AI tools had reached more than 80 markets. Citi tools have been helping automate routine activities, provide contextual information, and streamline workflows, enabling employees to focus on higher-value responsibilities.

Citi sharpens its focus on institutional banking Citi boasts strength in cross-border payments and supply chain finance. Minh Ngo, newly appointed Citi country officer and banking head for Vietnam, discussed the bank’s strategic priorities in this country with VIR’s Thien Huong.

Citi Vietnam named Best Sustainable Bank by FinanceAsia Citi Vietnam has been named Best Sustainable Bank in Vietnam at the FinanceAsia Awards 2026, reinforcing the bank’s role in supporting clients and the country’s long-term sustainable development agenda. The award ceremony took place in Hong Kong on June 25.

Citi Vietnam marks Global Community Day 2026 in Phu Tho and Lam Dong Citi Vietnam marked Global Community Day 2026 with two meaningful community initiatives aimed at supporting local schools and creating better learning environments for children in Phu Tho and Lam Dong provinces.

Citi Vietnam named Best International Bank by Euromoney Citi Vietnam has been named Best International Bank in Vietnam at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, recognising the bank’s ability to serve corporate clients through Citi’s global network, institutional expertise, and digital banking capabilities.