UOB is stepping up its efforts to help companies seize opportunities in the region’s fastest-growing economy, Vietnam, after securing more than S$3 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. The Bank and Vietnam’s Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) signed an expanded Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which will see the Bank facilitating an additional pipeline of more than S$1.5 billion in FDI into Vietnam.

The expanded Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed.

Vietnam received close to US$14 billion in disbursed FDI in the first nine months of the year4 across all industries and UOB is helping companies from across the region ride on the momentum, focusing on high growth sectors. These are the sectors that the Vietnamese government seeks to develop, namely sustainable energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare and technology.

Tapping the trade corridors between ASEAN and Greater China, UOB has helped more than 150 companies seize opportunities in Vietnam and aims to double the number as part of the latest MOU. As part of the value chain, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which support these sectors will also benefit. More than 2,000 jobs in Vietnam are also forecast to be created from the next wave of investments. This is on top of the more than 17,000 jobs already created under the first MOU. More Singapore companies are also expected to invest into Vietnam as part of increased business and closer ties between the two countries.

Mr Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and CEO, UOB, said, “At UOB, we have been steadfast in our support of Vietnam’s economic development since establishing our roots in the country almost 30 years ago. Over the years, we have experienced first-hand the rise of Vietnam, driven by a strong economy that is set to become the fourth largest in ASEAN by the end of this year.

“The expanded MOU with FIA reaffirms our close and collaborative relationship in helping regional companies tap Vietnam’s vibrant economy, driving their sustainable advancement and boosting trade flows and job creation across ASEAN. With the seamless connectivity and sectoral expertise we offer throughout our regional network, UOB is well placed to support companies looking to diversify their supply chains amid disruptions caused by the global pandemic.”

The expanded MOU will see FIA broaden access to investment opportunities beyond the main cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and into fast-developing cities such as Bach Ninh, Hai Duong, Binh Duong and Dong Nai.

Under the MOU, FIA will also provide companies referred by UOB with advisory on investment policies and dedicated support in investment procedures and applications. The UOB FDI Advisory team provides companies from across the Bank’s network with local insights, market entry support and customized financial solutions, and connects them to regional business opportunities. UOB FDI Advisory and FIA will also conduct webinars with speakers from the Bank’s ecosystem partners, including government agencies, consulting firms and multinational companies, to share their expertise and best practices on investing in Vietnam.

The MOU signing ceremony was conducted virtually today, attended by senior Vietnamese government officials and senior leaders from UOB.

Helping companies to expand their operations into Vietnam

Vietnam continues to be an attractive destination for FDI, with an average of nine per cent growth in FDI inflows from 2015 to 2019. The country’s attractiveness to foreign investors remained unabated amid the COVID-19 pandemic, registering a gross domestic product growth of 2.62 per cent in the third quarter of 2020 even as economies in the region contracted.

With Singapore businesses listing Vietnam as their top market for overseas expansion, UOB will continue to work with Singapore government agencies and trade associations to facilitate investments into Vietnam. Sembcorp is one of the companies, with whom UOB has been working closely in Vietnam to support its industrial park projects.

Mr Kelvin Teo, CEO, Sembcorp Development, said, “Vietnam is a key market for Sembcorp Development. We operate 10 integrated townships and industrial parks in Vietnam under our VSIP10 joint ventures, of which three were launched these couple of years. UOB has supported Sembcorp’s growth in the country and we are happy to build on our strong partnership while expediting sustainable urban solutions as part of Vietnam’s industrialisation.”

UOB has also assisted start-ups and SMEs from across ASEAN in their ventures into Vietnam. In 2019, UOB connected Ruangguru, an Indonesian startup providing education technology solutions, to FIA to facilitate its setting up of operations in Vietnam, in addition to supporting its local banking needs.

This year, UOB also assisted Esco Lifesciences Group, a Singapore life-sciences company, to expand their business in Vietnam by providing banking solutions to support its local operations and cross-border trading activities, as well as to help it manage foreign exchange risks.