UK-Vietnam Business Summit 2025 to launch in Ho Chi Minh City next month

BritCham Vietnam, the host of the event, announced the summit at a media briefing held in the city on Tuesday.

The summit will take place at the New World Saigon Hotel with a view to strengthening bilateral economic ties by bringing together business leaders, government officials, and industry experts to explore cooperation in finance, trade, green transition, and sustainable development.

Matt Ryland, CEO of BritCham Vietnam, said the summit will directly support Vietnam’s goal of transforming Ho Chi Minh City into a regional financial hub.

Renewable energy will be another major focus of the summit, emphasizing Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as pledged at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland in 2021.

The event is meant to link the UK’s expertise in offshore wind technology and green finance with Vietnam’s natural advantages, supporting a sustainable and efficient energy transition.

Ryland added that BritCham Vietnam will continue to help Vietnamese small and medium enterprises through knowledge sharing and green transition training, while fostering broader collaboration among public and private stakeholders.

Nirukt Sapru, country chairman for Vietnam at Jardine Matheson Group, a Hong Kong-based multinational with diverse businesses across Asia, noted that under the revised National Power Development Plan VIII, Vietnam plans to develop between 6,000 and 17,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2035.

Given that most projects take six to nine years to complete, he emphasized the need to remove barriers and accelerate progress.

Sapru highlighted several areas of concern for foreign investors, including the need to lift price caps to reflect market supply and demand, promote rooftop solar and distributed energy models, clarify fees and costs, and improve market access.

Alexandra Smith, Consul General of the UK in Ho Chi Minh City, underscored the strength of bilateral relations, noting an unprecedented number of high-level UK delegations visiting Vietnam in recent weeks.

She said both governments are working closely to maximize the benefits of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the UK’s recent entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Beyond trade, Smith reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Vietnam’s sustainable development agenda through expertise in green finance, renewable energy, climate resilience, and education to foster responsible and inclusive growth.