Delegates at the investment and business event in Lao Cai province attract strong interest from domestic and international businesses

Connecting businesses and localities in the northern provinces

The “Meet Up 2025” program was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, leaders of central ministries and departments, and around 300 delegates, including representatives from diplomatic missions, international organizations, trade promotion agencies and foreign business associations in Vietnam; provincial and city leaders, Vietnamese industry associations; representatives from trade promotion organizations and business associations in Southwest China; as well as corporations, enterprises and investors.

According to VCCI President Pham Tan Cong, this event was an opportunity for Government leaders, relevant ministries and departments, leaders of Lao Cai province, and regional localities to engage with diplomatic agencies, international organizations, and major domestic and foreign enterprises on policy directions and development visions for the region in general, and Lao Cai in particular. Lao Cai was selected as the host of the “Meet Up 2025” program due to its dynamic transformation, offering great potential for both domestic and international investors in the near future. VCCI expected the event to boost regional connectivity and leverage the strengths of the Kunming–Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong economic corridor, establishing an efficient railway-based economic corridor with Lao Cai as the central hub linking neighboring provinces and Southwest China. This will not only support Vietnamese and foreign enterprises doing business in Vietnam, but also open up favorable opportunities for ASEAN companies to connect directly with the Chinese market and vice versa.

Previously, in 2022, the VCCI President and the Chairmen of the People's Committees of four provinces and cities including Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong and Hung Yen, signed the Eastern Highway Economic Corridor Agreement (VEHEC). This initiative was part of implementing the Party and State's policy on promoting regional connectivity, aiming to enhance coordination in harnessing and developing the potential and strengths of the four localities along the Hanoi–Hai Phong–Mong Cai highway. The signing ceremony took place within the framework of the "Economic Connectivity of the Eastern Highway" forum, jointly organized by VCCI and the four provinces and cities, with the participation of the Provincial/Municipal Party Secretaries of the localities, leaders of central ministries and departments, and nearly 300 delegates representing domestic and international business associations, Vietnamese enterprises and APEC-region companies. The Eastern Highway Economic Corridor Initiative aims to develop a sub-regional economic connectivity model, creating new development space, maximizing local advantages, fostering a favorable business environment, driving high economic growth and building a strong business community, forming a new growth pole in the Red River Delta and the northern region. The four localities possess significant advantages in terms of top-tier transport infrastructure, with the Eastern Expressway linking Hanoi at one end and the Mong Cai border gate connecting to the vast Chinese market at the other. Enterprises in the region benefit from access to three international airports (Noi Bai, Cat Bi and Van Don) and a network of international seaports. The participating parties agreed to establish a Regional Connection Council and assigned VCCI a permanent role in coordinating economic connectivity activities among the four provinces and cities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, along with other leaders, visits a booth displaying local products

Promoting southern economic development

In March 2025, VCCI Mekong, in collaboration with the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, published the Mekong Delta Annual Economic Report. This is the first national-scale, annual report aimed at promoting the socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta.

According to VCCI President Pham Tan Cong, this year’s report analyzed the structure of capital sources that contribute to total social investment, aiming to identify the challenges the Mekong Delta faces in mobilizing capital for development. Based on this analysis, it recommended policies for the government to create a comprehensive, long-term strategy for mobilizing investment resources, enabling the region to fully tap into its economic potential.

This important event drew the attention of leaders from central agencies, local authorities in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces, as well as numerous Australian enterprises, FDI companies in Ho Chi Minh City, international organizations in Vietnam, experts and domestic businesses.

According to VCCI President Pham Tan Cong, this report supports the implementation of Resolution 57/NQ-CP dated April 21, 2022, which outlines tasks and solutions to improve socio-economic regional institutions. Under this resolution, the Government has tasked VCCI with leading and coordinating with relevant agencies to independently assess and periodically report on the overall socio-economic development of the regions.

After four years of implementation, VCCI has reported the findings of the report to Party agencies, the Government, the National Assembly and relevant ministries. The results have been highly praised and are now valuable resources for planning and policymaking.

VCCI also co-organizes various effective programs and events, including the annual conference with the Ministry of Finance on tax and customs, aimed at sharing information, discussing cooperation mechanisms and fostering a favorable environment. VCCI hosts dialogue events on boosting green transformation in enterprises, industrial parks and economic zones.

VCCI President Pham Tan Cong said these events provide an opportunity to engage with representatives from diplomatic agencies, foreign promotion organizations and international bodies, while also allowing investors, businesses and local authorities to exchange practical experiences and explore new development strategies. As a national organization representing the business community and serving as a bridge between businesses and the government, VCCI reaffirms its role as a policy advisor, offering solutions to create the most favorable environment for sustainable business development. VCCI is committed to supporting provinces and cities nationwide in attracting investment, promoting trade and enhancing international economic integration.