Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association: Focusing on business networking and innovation as the core of its activities in 2026.

On December 15th in Hanoi, the Central Committee of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association (VSFA) held a plenary meeting of its Executive Board to summarize activities in 2025 and set directions and tasks for 2026. Delegates affirmed the increasingly substantive role of people-to-people exchanges within the framework of the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; identifying 2026 as a pivotal year, focusing on business networking, innovation, and preparation for the 3rd Congress.

Friendly exchanges are shifting towards substantive connections.

According to the report presented by Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung, Vice President and Secretary General of VSFA, at the Conference, 2025 marks a new stage of development for people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Singapore, in the context of the two countries upgrading their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (March 2025) and jointly celebrating important milestones: the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 60th anniversary of Singapore's National Day.

The plenary meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

Over the past year, VSFA's activities have shifted significantly from friendly exchanges to substantive connections, focusing on effectiveness and serving the priorities of bilateral relations. Besides strengthening understanding and friendship, the Association has emphasized promoting new areas such as economic diplomacy , innovation, digital diplomacy, health diplomacy, environment, and culture, with a people- and community-centered approach.

In that spirit, VSFA has achieved three outstanding results: Promoting its role as an economic bridge, fostering linkages between the business communities of the two countries, especially Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); the trade and investment promotion forums jointly organized by the Association are increasingly becoming a reliable address for businesses and investors; linking the Association's activities with priority socio-economic development programs of the country through building and effectively mobilizing a network of partners in Vietnam and Singapore, from diplomatic missions and business support organizations to industry associations and local associations; proactively implementing humanitarian and socially impactful programs, notably the Social Enterprise Innovation Support Program (SEIP), launched in 2024 and further expanded in 2025, contributing to enhancing the innovation capacity and sustainable development of community enterprises.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association, presented a report at the conference. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

A pivotal year for a new phase of development.

The conference unanimously assessed that the Vietnam-Singapore people-to-people exchange program in 2025 has achieved substantive and in-depth results, contributing to a solid social foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. However, to better exploit the potential for cooperation, it is necessary to strengthen the links between the Central Association and local associations, and to put the signed agreements into concrete implementation.

At the conference, Mr. Nguyen Huu Thanh, Vice Chairman of VSFA Hai Phong, stated that the city has attracted numerous investment projects from Singaporean businesses with an estimated total registered capital of over US$10 billion, making Singapore the second largest foreign investor in Hai Phong. These projects focus on processing and manufacturing industries, logistics, industrial park infrastructure, trade and services, and renewable energy, creating tens of thousands of jobs, promoting technology transfer, and improving the quality of the local workforce. Based on this experience, Hai Phong proposed adding content on connecting and supporting vocational training to the VSFA's work program in 2026 and subsequent years, better meeting the high-skilled workforce needs of Singaporean businesses. This includes focusing on linking businesses with vocational education institutions, researching the Vietnam-Singapore vocational training model, and expanding student and lecturer exchange programs.

Ms. Tran Thi Xuan, President of VSFA Can Tho, suggested that the Central Association should more clearly demonstrate its role as a focal point and support for local associations, especially in areas facing many difficulties. Accordingly, the Central Association should not only play a guiding role but also strengthen connections and provide support in terms of voice, partners, and resources, helping local associations maintain effective operations amidst changes in organizational structure and operating mechanisms.

Mr. Vu Viet Ngoan, Chairman of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association, speaks at the conference. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

Many opinions at the Conference suggested putting the signed cooperation agreements into substantive implementation, with the connection between the Vietnamese and Singaporean business communities and innovation as the overarching theme for activities in 2026; strengthening linkages between business associations of the two countries to support small and medium-sized enterprises in enhancing their innovation capacity and participating more deeply in the supply chains of large projects; and linking business networking activities with existing innovation programs, selecting key areas for in-depth implementation, creating concrete and measurable results in 2026.

Regarding the SEIP program specifically, suggestions were made to expand its scope and scale of implementation, spreading it strongly to localities through the Association's organizational system. Accordingly, SEIP needs to be expanded to the field of financial innovation, linking technology with the process of building, testing, and critically reviewing financial policies at both macro and micro levels; and at the same time, adding an innovation pillar in education, developing Vietnam-Singapore educational cooperation models, and applying new technologies and training methods. Through this, SEIP will gradually be positioned as a long-term innovation cooperation platform of the Association, connecting policy - technology - community - partners in Singapore.

Speaking at the Conference, Mr. Le Trung Hieu, Deputy Head of the Asia-Africa Department (Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations), highly appreciated VSFA's ability to maintain stable and in-depth operations and create a substantial impact amidst the streamlining of its organizational structure and the reorganization of mass organizations. In particular, the signing of a bilateral cooperation agreement with Singapore, witnessed by the Prime Ministers of both countries, was considered a significant highlight, demonstrating the Association's prestige and position. The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations will continue to support VSFA, while also emphasizing the importance of early and thorough preparation for the organization and personnel of the 3rd Congress.

Delegates attending the conference pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

In his concluding remarks at the Conference, Mr. Vu Viet Ngoan, Chairman of VSFA, emphasized that 2026 is a pivotal year, both for implementing new directions in foreign relations and people-to-people diplomacy, and for preparing for the 3rd Congress. Based on the summary of activities in 2025, the Association will focus on several key tasks to create a foundation for the next phase of development.

The VSFA Chairman noted the importance of realizing the cooperation agreement signed with the Singapore Small and Medium Enterprises Support Association, emphasizing the need for the Central Association to develop specific activities to make the cooperation more substantive and strengthen connections between the business communities of the two countries. The Association will also consider the possibility of organizing a Vietnam-Singapore Investment and Finance Forum in Singapore in 2026, based on a thorough assessment of the new context and practical conditions. If implemented, VSFA will act as the focal point, coordinating with relevant agencies and organizations to promote policy exchanges and bilateral financial cooperation.

Mr. Vu Viet Ngoan proposed forming a model of closer cooperation between the Central Association and local associations, building a unified VSFA system, and increasing linkages and effectiveness. In that spirit, the Central Association will expand and deepen cooperation with localities such as Hai Phong and Can Tho, support the organization of forums and workshops to connect communities, and expand the network of partners participating in the Association's programs.

Regarding preparations for the 3rd Congress, the Association's leadership will continue discussions to develop a model of leadership succession, ensuring that it both builds upon achievements and creates a new foundation in terms of thinking, resources, and development momentum, in line with the new context.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/hoi-huu-nghi-viet-nam-singapore-lay-ket-noi-doanh-nghiep-va-doi-moi-sang-tao-lam-truc-hoat-dong-nam-2026-218391.html