Newly-established association hoped to boost Vietnam-UK financial ties
Comprising members who work and conduct research at investment banks, asset management funds, fintech companies, and strategic financial consulting firms, Vietnam Finance and Investment Association in the United Kingdom is well-positioned to stay abreast of global trends, international standards, and effective operational models of the modern financial industry.
London (VNA) - The Vietnam Finance and Investment Association in the United Kingdom (VIFA UK) was officially launched in London on June 27 (local time), with the aspiration of becoming a trusted bridge between the community of financial experts, investors, and entrepreneurs from both countries and around the world.
As a non-profit organisation with around 100 members who are experts in finance, asset management, investment, law, and fintech from the UK, Vietnam, and several other countries, VIFA UK aims to build a cross-border collaboration ecosystem to share knowledge, experience, and opportunities in the fields of finance and investment.
At the launch event, VIFA UK's executive board announced three strategic pillars for development during the 2025–2028 period: connection and in-depth training through regular workshops and mentorship programmes involving leading industry experts; research collaboration and policy review through consultations and critiques by international specialists; and support for the Vietnamese community in the UK and on the globe via a financial advisory.
Christine Le, VIFA UK founder, said that the association possesses key advantages to make practical contributions to the development of Vietnam’s financial sector. Operating in London, one of the world’s leading financial centres, and comprising members who work and conduct research at investment banks, asset management funds, fintech companies, and strategic financial consulting firms, VIFA UK is well-positioned to stay abreast of global trends, international standards, and effective operational models of the modern financial industry.
Radiana Vlahova, Executive Director of the London Southside Chamber of Commerce (Photo: VNA)
Assessing the association’s role in promoting Vietnam–UK trade and investment ties, Radiana Vlahova, Executive Director of the London Southside Chamber of Commerce, stated that VIFA UK offers opportunities to connect cultures and business sectors between the two countries, with the goal of creating a trustworthy environment where investors and entrepreneurs can support and collaborate with one another./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting in Hanoi on June 28 with the UK business community and enterprises operating in Vietnam, outlining a vision for long-term cooperation in key sectors aligned with Vietnam’s newly issued “four strategic pillars”.
An official of the UK Department for Business and Trade identified green technology, fintech, health care, and many others as promising areas for deeper collaboration between Vietnam and the UK.
The association will remain dedicated to building a compassionate, inclusive, and culturally proud Vietnamese community that remains deeply connected to those in both the UK and Vietnam.
Da Nang has forged partnerships with more than 22 Japanese localities, and Japan remains its top foreign investor, with 1.14 billion USD committed across 261 projects.
PepsiCo, the world’s second largest food and beverage company, has invested about 1 billion USD and now runs seven manufacturing plants and eight distribution centres in Vietnam, employing more than 15,000 locals.
Deputy PM Nguyen Chi Dung welcomed Erex’s efforts to bring biomass power technology to Vietnam, emphasising that its ongoing projects will make a positive contribution to the country’s energy sector and further deepen the cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.
The resolution also aims to create an attractive environment for investment in the financial service sector to promote investment attraction and the free movement of international capital between the International Financial Centre and the world; develop the stock and insurance markets, banking activities, fintech, digital assets, commodities, and e-commerce in Vietnam and integrate with international markets.
The same morning, he attended the Vietnam – Spain Business Foum where various cooperation initiatives from both nations were highlighted, including those in green transition, high-quality human resources training, supply chain development and Vietnam House Logistics Centre establishment.
Vietnam is a key partner for Bulgaria in Southeast Asia, with potential for future joint work in IT, innovation, green transition, digital transformation, high-tech agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.
The US has long been one of Vietnam’s top export markets, yet it remains highly regulated, with stringent technical standards, tariffs, and import procedures. The seminar will address key challenges faced by Vietnamese exporters, focusing on consumer trends, technical regulations, rules of origin, import duties, logistics, and cross-border e-commerce.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Brazil has long been Vietnam’s leading trade partner in Latin America. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1989, two-way trade has shown impressive growth.
The significant increase in frozen durian exports is attributed in part to favourable market-opening policies, particularly the export protocol signed with China in August 2024. The ministry’s guidance and local authorities’ efforts in deep processing and market diversification have enabled businesses to reduce reliance on fresh durian exports and seize new export opportunities.
Petrovietnam’s production highlights in the first half of this year included 4.82 million tonnes of crude oil extracted; 2.99 billion cu.m of natural gas; 16.65 billion kWh of electricity, up 8% year-on-year; 950,200 tonnes of urea fertiliser; and 3.78 million tonnes of refined petroleum (excluding the Nghi Son Refinery), up 26.8%.
The company’s total revenue topped 69.36 trillion VND (approximately 2.64 billion USD), up 22% against the target while pre-tax profit is estimated at 800 billion VND, a whopping 93% higher than the H1 target.
The Momentum is specifically designed for international maritime operations and is capable of docking at deep-water ports such as Dung Quat - one of Hoa Phat’s key transshipment hubs, which handles the majority of raw material imports for its steel plants.
As challenges are on the horizon, the Government outlined several missions and measures for the final six months of the year, including closely monitoring the operations of two-tier local government model, implementing regulations on decentralisation and authority distribution to provide timely guidance and resolve local bottlenecks, ensuring smooth settlement of administrative procedures.
Since its launch in 2019, the Tetra Pak plant in Ho Chi Minh City has employed more than 350 workers and is among the first factories in Vietnam to receive LEED Version 4 Gold Certification, a global benchmark for green building standards
The Osaka–Da Nang route will operate four times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, adding to the existing daily Narita–Da Nang service, bringing the total number of weekly flights from Japan to Da Nang to 11.
Aquatic exports last month inched up just 4% from a year earlier to 876 million USD, a steep drop from May’s 20% surge, marking the weakest monthly gain in the first half.
