(MPI) - The Singapore Business Federation in collaboration with the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment organised the seventh Singapore Regional Business Forum (SRBF) under the theme Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Sustainable Growth in Hanoi on July 7.

Singaporean Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai and Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung (from left to right) at the event. Photo: MPI

This is the first time the SRBF has been held outside Singapore. With more than 1,000 participants from different countries, the forum is a chance to promote Vietnam-Singapore relations in a more successful manner, and also to strengthen regional collaboration.

The forum, among the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership, will contribute to deepening the bilateral ties between the two countries.

Singaporean Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng said that, the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Singapore has been continuously consolidated across all fields, particularly in trade and investment. Currently, Singapore is the second largest foreign investor in Vietnam, and Singaporean investors have been expanding their business in different sectors, contributing to the export activities, job creation and improvement of labour capacity of the country.

Vietnam and Singapore had signed the digital economy and green economy partnership with focus on some specific areas such as innovation and science and technology. The two sides also agreed to develop an ecosystem of human resource training, enhance connectivity in infrastructure development, seek to reduce carbon emission, and expand cooperation opportunities in trade, investment, finance, and education.

Photo: MPI

According to Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, there remains big room for the countries to boost cooperation since the two sides enjoy sound six-decade ties. He expressed his hope that economic cooperation will remain an important pillar in the bilateral relations and a driving force to lift the ties to a new height.

Choosing Vietnam for SRBF 2023 shows the trust and commitment of Singaporean businesses in the attractiveness of Vietnam and the Southeast Asia in order to achieve sustainable development and future prosperity. The forum is also an opportunity to share lessons in term of innovation spirit and realisation of global aspirations.

At the forum, 12 memorandum of understanding were inked between both Singaporean and Vietnamese public and private organisations, including chambers of commerce, education and finance institutions. Notably, MPI’s Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) and the SBF have exchanged a cooperation document in order to promote investment and trade cooperation between the two countries’ business communities, exchange information about investment policies, potentials and opportunities in some emerging industries and investment projects./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment