This was emphasized by the Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) at the forum titled “Industrial Investment Trends in Northern Vietnam – Opportunities and Challenges 2026”, co-organized by Business Forum Magazine and the Hai Phong People’s Committee on the afternoon of April 15.

The forum “Industrial Investment Trends in Northern Vietnam – Opportunities and Challenges 2026”, co-organized by Business Forum Magazine and the Hai Phong People’s Committee, took place on the afternoon of April 15

Sharing at the forum, Vice President Hoang Quang Phong stated that in recent years, the manufacturing sector has continued to play a pivotal role in Vietnam’s economy, contributing significantly to growth, exports, and investment attraction. In 2025, the industrial sector accounted for approximately 31.6% of GDP, with the processing and manufacturing segment alone making up 24.4%, reaffirming its central role in the national economic structure. This recovery trend is clearly reflected in the Industrial Production Index (IIP).

In 2025, the IIP increased by around 10.1% compared to the previous year, with the processing and manufacturing sector rising by as much as 11.1%, indicating strong expansion in high value-added production sectors. Manufacturing and processing continue to be the most attractive destination for FDI flows.

In the first 11 months of 2025, total registered FDI reached USD 33.69 billion, of which the processing and manufacturing sector accounted for 82.9% of total implemented capital. This clearly reflects Vietnam’s position as a strategic production base in the global supply chain, particularly in industries such as electronics, components, precision engineering, and supporting industries.

Vice President of VCCI Hoang Quang Phong delivered the opening remarks at the forum

“Based on the growth momentum of 2024–2025, 2026 is projected to remain a year of positive growth for the manufacturing sector, with the IIP expected to grow by 7–9%. Although the pace may slow due to the larger scale of production, the key trend will be a shift from extensive to intensive growth,” Vice President Hoang Quang Phong noted.

He also pointed out that Northern Vietnam is a region with great potential, with Hai Phong being considered a “fertile land” that continuously attracts major multinational corporations. Hai Phong currently ranks among the top localities in attracting FDI nationwide, with around 1,000 FDI projects from 40 countries and territories, and total accumulated FDI capital reaching USD 33.8 billion. The occupancy rate of industrial parks and economic zones in the city has exceeded 70%.

According to Vice President Hoang Quang Phong, after nearly 40 years of attracting FDI and developing industry, most localities in Northern Vietnam now have industrial parks, with occupancy rates still being prioritized over environmental and social criteria. Therefore, traditional industrial park models are no longer suitable in the current context, where digital transformation, Industry 4.0 technologies, sustainable consumption, and workers’ health have become increasingly important.

The forum attracted many enterprises to showcase their products

He stressed the need to frankly acknowledge that the region is facing significant challenges in achieving rapid and sustainable development, particularly in industrial investment. The lack of coordination in industrial development strategies and investment attraction remains an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. At the same time, localities must adopt new thinking on industrial development in the current context.

Restructuring industrial investment toward key and spearhead industries based on high scientific and technological content, innovation, and research and development is an urgent requirement for Northern Vietnam to transform its growth model.

He also recommended that the region redefine its key industries, flagship products, and core products, as well as identify production locations and supporting industry supply hubs to form product linkages that can create breakthroughs in supply and consumption.

For foundational industries that require large initial investments and have long payback periods, government support and preferential mechanisms are necessary. Provinces and cities should focus on economic zones with strong industrial potential that can act as pioneers and lead breakthroughs, while supporting other regions.

At the same time, the region needs to restructure its economy based on resource allocation by province, establish clear industrial targets, and avoid rigid, one-size-fits-all industrial indicators that create unnecessary pressure during implementation.

Vice President Hoang Quang Phong emphasized that to achieve sustainable industrial development, the region must build an effective ecosystem to transform and develop existing industries through innovative and efficient approaches, closely linked with information and communication technologies.

Industrial parks, especially those located near urban centers, should be gradually restructured toward eco-industrial park models. This is a suitable long-term and sustainable model for the post-industrial phase of export processing zones and industrial parks, while also allowing integration with urban, commercial, and service functions.

This restructuring represents a comprehensive transformation in both management mechanisms and state coordination in a fair and transparent market economy. Therefore, regional linkage to restructure the economy and transform the growth model is a new task that requires new directions in cooperation and division of roles among localities.

The Vice President also acknowledged and praised Business Forum Magazine for coordinating with VIMF to organize a series of forums in Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bac Ninh, noting that these events are timely, relevant, and of high practical value.

He expressed confidence that the 2026 forum series, starting with the forum on “Industrial Investment Trends in Northern Vietnam – Opportunities and Challenges 2026”, will serve not only as a professional event but also as a strategic dialogue platform, contributing to a more sustainable and deeply integrated development phase for Vietnam’s industry.