The conference aimed to strengthen direct connections between Vietnamese localities and the Korean business community, promote their potential and advantages, and attract investment in sectors with high added value.

The event was attended by a delegation from Quang Ninh City, led by Le Van Anh, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee; a delegation from Bac Ninh City, led by Tran Thi Hang, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council; and Nguyen Dong Trung, Deputy Director General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Korean side included representatives of Aju News and the Korea-Vietnam Economic and Cultural Cooperation Association (KOVECA), along with more than 200 delegates from major groups and businesses, including Samsung, LH, Hanwha, Lotte and Shinhan Bank, as well as economic organisations and associations from the two countries. The Vietnam Association of Businesses in Korea (BAVIK) also attended, helping promote the role of the Vietnamese business community in Korea as a bridge between the two sides.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho stressed that Vietnam–RoK relations were growing strongly and becoming increasingly substantive under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Economic, trade and investment cooperation continued to serve as important pillars, while expanding into new areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, clean energy and innovation.

Ambassador Vu Ho affirmed that strengthening direct links between Vietnamese localities and Korean businesses was of practical significance, helping utilize complementary strengths, expand investment opportunities and make bilateral cooperation more substantive. The embassy will continue to proactively connect partners, promote the investment environment and support businesses from both countries in turning cooperation opportunities into reality.

At the conference, representatives of Quang Ninh City and Bac Ninh City introduced their potential, advantages, development orientations and priority areas for attracting investment from the RoK.

The two localities have complementary strengths, with one standing out in marine economy, tourism, logistics and energy, while the other has a strong electronics and high-tech industrial base and a developed FDI business ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, Le Van Anh highlighted Quang Ninh’s geo-economic advantages, seaport system, border gates, transport infrastructure and potential for developing a multi-sector economy. With its orientation towards green, modern and sustainable growth, Quang Ninh is keen to strengthen cooperation with Korean businesses in renewable and clean energy, green industry, logistics, smart seaports, infrastructure, smart cities and environmental technology.

The city also encouraged Korean businesses to explore and expand investment in high-quality tourism, services and other sectors with high added value, making effective use of its potential and advantages.

Meanwhile, Tran Thi Hang, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Bac Ninh City People’s Council, highlighted the locality’s industrial base, electronics manufacturing ecosystem and network of FDI businesses, including the presence of many Korean groups. Bac Ninh also desires to attract more high-tech investment projects, particularly in semiconductors, next-generation electronics, AI, supporting industries, research and development (R&D), smart manufacturing and automation.

The locality also values stronger links between FDI businesses and domestic enterprises, promoting technology transfer, training a highly skilled workforce and enhancing local businesses’ position in global supply chains.

Discussing prospects for cooperation, representatives of KOVECA and the Korean business community said there was a need to shift decisively from diplomatic exchanges and cooperation activities towards direct links between local governments and businesses, with practical needs and specific projects at the centre.

Accordingly, Quang Ninh could strengthen ties with Korean localities with strengths in tourism, seaports and the marine economy, such as Busan, Gangwon and Jeju, while Bac Ninh has considerable potential for cooperation with industrial centres such as Gyeonggi, South Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang.

KOVECA Chairman Kwon Sung Taek proposed prioritising specific cooperation projects in high-end tourism, seaport logistics, smart cities and eco-industrial development in Quang Ninh, while ramping up cooperation in semiconductors, electronics, AI, robotics, smart factories and supporting industries in Bac Ninh.

He also called for expanded cooperation in education, high-quality workforce training, student exchanges, legal employment opportunities and local cultural exchanges. KOVECA affirmed its readiness to serve as a bridge through cooperation committees, business forums, investment promotion activities and business-matching support, helping identify feasible projects for implementation.

The conference also provided an opportunity for Korean groups and businesses to discuss investment needs, the business environment and project implementation prospects directly with representatives of Vietnamese localities. Areas of particular interest included semiconductors, AI, electronics, supporting industries, clean energy, logistics and infrastructure development.

The discussions pointed to opportunities to combine South Korea’s strengths in technology, capital and management experience with Vietnam’s advantages in market access, human resources and its position in regional supply chains.

Through the event, the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK reaffirmed its role as a bridge connecting Vietnam’s central agencies and localities with Korean groups, organisations and the business community. Linking Bac Ninh with businesses in technology, electronics and semiconductors, while introducing Quang Ninh to partners with strengths in green energy, logistics, infrastructure and modern industry, indicated a focused investment promotion strategy that matches each locality’s advantages with investors’ specific needs.

The conference is expected to pave the way for survey, networking and project implementation activities between localities and businesses of the two countries in the coming time, helping attract high-quality investment, adopt advanced technologies, expand value-chain links and make the Vietnam-RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership increasingly substantive and effective.

Source: VOV

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