European businesses expand investment in Vietnam

On October 21, at the Forum “Expanding digital investment: Connecting European technological advantages with Vietnam’s digital future” organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology in coordination with the European Union (EU) Delegation, European businesses affirmed the trend of expanding investment in high technology, green energy and digital infrastructure in Vietnam.

Expanding investment in core technology

At the forum, EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier said that there are more than 2,400 projects invested by European enterprises in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of nearly 29.5 billion USD. This affirms that Vietnam is becoming a strategic destination in the EU's long-term investment plan in Southeast Asia. The EU is promoting the Global Gateway Initiative to promote investment in green infrastructure, clean energy and digital transformation.

Within this framework, the EU is implementing a public-private investment package with components such as artificial intelligence factories (AI Factory), secure connectivity infrastructure and digital infrastructure serving citizens. “Vietnam is emerging as a new technology hub in the region, and the EU wants to become a trusted partner in technology development, innovation and green energy,” Mr. Julien Guerrier emphasized. A survey by Decision Lab with more than 1,200 EuroCham member businesses shows that 63% of businesses are satisfied with the investment environment in Vietnam, and 52% plan to expand investment in the next 12 months. This confidence focuses on core technology areas such as AI, semiconductors, data centers, renewable energy and green logistics, the spearheads that are shaping the future of Vietnam-EU cooperation.

In fact, European investors are accelerating their presence in Vietnam with many large-scale projects. LEGO (Denmark) invested 1 billion USD to build a factory in VSIP III Industrial Park (Binh Co Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) operating on 100% renewable energy; Pandora (Denmark) poured 150 million USD into jewelry production, creating more than 7,000 jobs; Schneider Electric (France) expanded its technical center in Ho Chi Minh City; Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (Denmark) implemented the La Gan offshore wind power project with a capacity of more than 3 GW... "Europe has strengths in training and technology, while Vietnam has the market, human resources and development aspirations. When the two sides connect effectively, technology will truly serve people and the economy ," analyzed Mr. Nguyen Duc Khuong, Chairman of AVSE Global.

In the semiconductor sector, experts proposed cooperation in research, production and training of high-tech engineers, helping Vietnam participate more deeply in the global value chain. With 5G-6G networks and digital connection infrastructure, European corporations emphasized the need to build safe, stable and highly secure transmission and submarine cable systems - the foundation of e-commerce, digital finance and e-Government. Along with that, many businesses want to develop digital technology infrastructure and open data platforms to increase transparency and ensure national data sovereignty . Space technology corporations such as Thales, Airbus and Kineis proposed transferring AI technology and spatial data to serve smart cities, precision agriculture and climate change management. Meanwhile, energy business groups such as ECOSOI, Bioplant, Truecoop seek investment opportunities in the green - dual digital value chain, promoting circular production, reducing emissions and sustainable development.

Ho Chi Minh City accelerates dual conversion

Attending and speaking at the forum, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha stated that this is a favorable time for European enterprises and Ho Chi Minh City to "join hands" in developing high technology and innovation. The city is transforming itself into a technology and innovation super city with three pillars: digital institutions and sovereignty, core technology infrastructure, and human resources associated with green transformation.

Along with that, Ho Chi Minh City prioritizes three key cooperation directions: promoting high-quality digital investment and finance through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and EU financial institutions within the framework of the Global Gateway Initiative, focusing on digital infrastructure, semiconductors and green energy; enhancing technology transfer and research and development in the fields of AI, semiconductors and new technology standards; building innovation institutions and technology testing spaces (sandboxes) following the European model.

According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, by the end of the third quarter of 2025, the total registered foreign investment capital (FDI) reached more than 28.5 billion USD, an increase of more than 15% over the same period last year, bringing the total accumulated FDI capital in Vietnam to about 530.7 billion USD.

“Ho Chi Minh City is committed to continuing to promote the role of a creative State, accompanying and creating the most favorable conditions to realize cooperation initiatives. The city not only calls for investment but also wishes to co-create and develop with European partners. Ho Chi Minh City is ready to become a trusted destination, where “European technological advantages” connect with “Vietnam’s digital future”, Comrade Nguyen Loc Ha emphasized.

Providing information from a policy perspective, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy commented that Ho Chi Minh City's development strategy is completely in line with the national technology orientation, as Vietnam prioritizes investment in AI, big data, blockchain, 5G-6G networks, cloud computing and cybersecurity. Vietnam wants European businesses to participate more deeply in data center projects, data protection platforms, digital legal services and digital identification, as well as technology transfer in the fields of cybersecurity and e -Government infrastructure - the fundamental factors to form a transparent and sustainable data market according to EU standards.

Source: SGGP

Source: https://htv.com.vn/doanh-nghiep-chau-au-mo-rong-dau-tu-o-viet-nam-222251022075927777.htm