FROM ATTRACTING CAPITAL TO DRIVING GROWTH: CONNECTING GLOBAL INVESTMENT WITH VIETNAM'S GROWTH DRIVERS

Within the framework of the Autumn Economic Forum 2026, the discussion session titled "From Attracting Capital to Driving Growth: Connecting Global Investment with Vietnam's Growth Drivers" focused on the conditions needed to build trust among foreign investors, ranging from legal and institutional frameworks to dispute resolution mechanisms and policy predictability. Lessons from global financial centers were also examined in the context of Vietnam's development, highlighting the need to build an investment environment that meets the expectations of global investors.

Representing VIFC-HCMC, Mr. Richard D. McClellan, CEO of the management body of the Viet Nam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC), took part in discussions on the development orientation of the financial center, linking policy frameworks with specific investment opportunities, deal structuring, and international capital-raising mechanisms. These are key elements in strengthening the connection between global financial resources and investment opportunities in Vietnam.

The session also addressed the "one center, two destinations" linked model between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, aiming to promote complementary strengths between the two international financial centers. Discussions emphasized the need to shift the focus from simply attracting capital to improving the efficiency of capital use, boosting transactions, and creating real value for the economy. For an international financial center to become a hub for global capital, its advantages lie not only in preferential policies but also in its ability to build a transparent, stable, and predictable investment environment. According to the discussion's orientation, VIFC-HCMC aims to connect policy frameworks with concrete investment opportunities, transaction structures, and international fundraising mechanisms, making it easier for investors to access and carry out business opportunities in Vietnam.

Under the "one center, two destinations" model, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are oriented to develop in a way that complements each other, helping to expand the connection between capital flows and investment opportunities. The effectiveness of this model relies not only on attracting global resources, but also on how well that capital is turned into deals, investments, and contributions to the real economy.