VIFC HELPS CONNECT CAPITAL WITH KEY SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY

At the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 (AEF 2026), Mr. Marc Knapper, former US Ambassador to Vietnam and currently an advisor to the Viet Nam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC), gave the opening speech for the discussion panel on promoting institutions, finance, strategic technology, innovation, and unlocking resources.

Mr. Marc Knapper talked about the transformation of Thu Thiem, going from a riverside area under development into the home of Vietnam's international financial center. According to him, this change shows how far Vietnam has come, while also showing the country's big ambitions for development in the next phase.

To become a high-income economy by 2045, Vietnam needs to raise a lot of capital for energy, infrastructure, innovation, and the green transition. He noted that very few countries have reached high-income status without a deep and reliable capital market. Therefore, the VIFC is not just a financial project, but a platform to fund Vietnam's future. From his years of diplomatic work, Mr. Marc Knapper believes that trust is built step-by-step through keeping promises. The Vietnam-US relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023 as the result of nearly three decades of building that trust.

He said that financial centers also work by this rule. Money goes to reliable places, which means places with clear and stable rules, fair ways to solve disputes, smooth cash flow, and where talented people want to live and work.