HCMC – Standard Chartered Bank and UK Export Finance (UKEF) co-hosted a forum in HCMC on September 26 to promote trade and investment between Vietnam and the UK.

The event, titled Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities between Vietnam and the UK, followed a luncheon in Hanoi aimed at fostering dialogue. Nguyen Manh Cuong, vice chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, UK Trade Envoy Matt Western, and British Consul-General Alexandra Smith attended, along with business leaders and financial institutions. Discussions focused on export credit agency (ECA)-backed financing, bilateral trade, and infrastructure development. Sessions also addressed Vietnam’s energy and infrastructure priorities, sustainability, and areas for future cooperation. Cuong said HCMC is pushing ahead with projects including metro lines, the Can Gio international transshipment port, transit-oriented development, and large-scale data centers. He noted bilateral trade reached US$4.3 billion in the first half of 2025, while UK investment in Vietnam totaled nearly US$4.7 billion. Nguyen Thuy Hanh, CEO and head of Banking & Coverage at Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam, said the bank aims to channel investment into energy, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure. Tim Reid, chief executive of UKEF, announced a country limit of at least US$6.5 billion for Vietnam to support long-term projects, especially in renewable energy and green infrastructure. He said UKEF is preparing a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance and has appointed Nguyen Do Hoa as country head. Standard Chartered is a major arranger of ECA-backed financing worldwide. UKEF, established in 1919, is the UK’s export credit agency providing insurance, loans, and guarantees for overseas projects.