VIFC-HCMC WELCOMES UK TRADE COMMISSIONER, EXPANDING FINANCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION

On August 14, the Viet Nam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC) held a working session with Mr. Martin Kent, the UK Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, along with representatives from British businesses and corporations.

During the meeting, Mr. Martin Kent congratulated VIFC-HCMC on its progress in establishing and developing an international financial centre, noting that Vietnam has risen to 84th place in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI). He affirmed that the UK will continue to support VIFC-HCMC alongside TheCityUK and UK PACT, contributing international management expertise and professional capacity building.

Both sides discussed potential areas of cooperation, with a strong focus on FinTech and topics such as cybersecurity, tokenization, blockchain, and emerging financial technology solutions.

Representing VIFC-HCMC, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan, Vice Chairman of the Executive Body of the International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, expressed appreciation for the valuable insights shared by the UK business community. He emphasized the strategy to research and establish a FinTech Hub as a core component of the VIFC-HCMC ecosystem. In addition to FinTech, the Centre is promoting specialized financial sectors tied to Ho Chi Minh City’s strengths, including maritime finance, logistics, and investment finance.

CEO Richard D. McClellan highlighted the UK as a key partner for VIFC-HCMC, particularly given its strengths in the FinTech ecosystem, skilled workforce, and experience in training and professional development. These are key areas where VIFC-HCMC aims to expand collaboration as it builds and operates the Centre.

Both CEO Richard D. McClellan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan shared that VIFC-HCMC does not aim to duplicate models from financial hubs like Dubai or Singapore, but rather to build a model tailored to Vietnam's unique identity and strengths. Backed by a stable socio-political environment, the Centre aims to strengthen investor confidence and develop a transparent, secure, and highly connected financial ecosystem. 

This approach will effectively attract and channel international capital into the real economy, support businesses and investment projects, and deliver practical contributions to economic growth - step by step establishing the Centre as a vital gateway linking Vietnam with global capital flows, financial institutions, and international markets.