Vietnam Pavilion elevates Vietnam's position on the fintech map

The year 2025 marks an important step forward for Vietnam on the global financial technology map when it first owns the National Pavilion - Vietnam Pavilion at the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) - the world's largest fintech event. Not only a space to introduce the national image, Vietnam Pavilion is considered an important milestone in the strategy to promote innovation, expand international cooperation and enhance the position of Vietnamese enterprises in the global financial and technology value chain.

In order to clarify the strategic values that Vietnam Pavilion brings to the business community, reporters of the Industry and Trade Newspaper had an interview with Dr. Mac Quoc Anh, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Hanoi Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Director of the Institute of Economics and Enterprise Development.

Dr. Mac Quoc Anh, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Vice President and General Secretary of the Hanoi Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Director of the Institute of Economics and Enterprise Development. Photo: Nguyen Huong

Vietnam Pavilion - an important milestone and strategic step forward

- Sir, Vietnam Pavilion's first appearance at the Singapore FinTech Festival is considered an important milestone. Could you elaborate on this issue?

Dr. Mac Quoc Anh: Present for the first time at the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2025, the world's largest event with more than 60,000 experts, 2,000 financial and technology organizations and 800 investment funds, Vietnam Pavilion affirms that Vietnam has officially entered the global digital finance map. This is not just an exhibition booth but also a testament to the readiness of Vietnamese enterprises to create new competitiveness based on innovation.

From the perspective of Industry and Trade, the event opens up at least 5 strategic competitive capabilities:

Firstly, the ability to integrate into the global financial and technology value chain. An organized presence at SFF helps Vietnamese businesses overcome the barrier of being “just a technology user”, affirming their ability to participate in key components such as payment, applied blockchain, insurtech, regtech, AI data, digital security and carbon technology.

Second, the ability to attract high-quality investment capital. When Vietnam appears with a national booth, its image changes from “growth market” to “innovation partner”, helping businesses access smart capital flows such as venture capital, impact investing, ESG funds or digital infrastructure investment funds.

Third, accelerate digital transformation for small and medium-sized enterprises. Plug-and-play fintech platforms help SMEs save 35–40% on operating costs, integrate cross-border payments, eKYC, cloud computing, data security, etc., thereby participating more deeply in the regional market.

Fourth, standardization according to international standards. Vietnamese enterprises have direct access to AML/KYC, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, open data standards or transparent AI rules, which are necessary for the digital economy to account for 25% of the national GDP by 2030.

Fifth, expand the digital service export market. Vietnam is shifting from “software outsourcing” to “solution export” including cross-border payments, data AI, applied blockchain, digital supply chain management and carbon-tech platforms.

Overall, the Vietnam Pavilion at SFF 2025 is a symbol of an innovative, confident and proactive Vietnam integrating into the global digital value chain.

*National Pavilion - Vietnam Pavilion at Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF). Photo: NVCC*

- The cooperation agreements at SFF 2025 range from fintech, carbon-tech to software and technology investment. In your opinion, which sector can Vietnam transform most quickly into a new export advantage?

Dr. Mac Quoc Anh: I think there are four areas that Vietnam can transform most quickly into high-value export advantages.

Firstly , exporting fintech and digital finance services. With the fastest growth rate in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is qualified to export e-wallets, cross-border QR payments, eKYC solutions, data security, financial data management and anti-fraud systems. If the Singapore, Indonesia, India and Middle East markets are exploited well, financial software export revenue can increase to 8-10 billion USD in 5 years.

Second , carbon technology and carbon credit market services. Vietnam has a great advantage with more than 14.7 million hectares of forest and renewable energy ecosystem. Enterprises can completely export voluntary carbon credits, MRV platforms applying AI, blockchain and Net Zero consulting services to ASEAN. The global carbon market can reach 1,000 billion USD by 2030.

Third , export software solutions, especially AI applications and cloud computing. With the advantage of high-quality human resources and prices 40-60% more competitive than the region, Vietnam can become the software production center of ASEAN.

“The Four Strategic Resolutions” - the foundation for creating momentum for SMEs

-In your opinion, what is the sustainable driving force that helps SMEs participate deeply in the global digital supply chain?

Dr. Mac Quoc Anh: For SMEs, accounting for 97% of the total number of enterprises, the "Quad Resolutions" are a package of long-term development drivers in all three aspects: Institutions, technology and integration.

In terms of institutions, Resolution 66 helps reduce compliance costs, standardize data, e-commerce, fintech, protect intellectual property... creating a "legal passport" for SMEs to operate across borders.

Regarding technology, Resolution 57 affirms that science, technology, and innovation are pillars of development, helping SMEs access low-cost digital platforms, AI, blockchain, cross-border payments, and cloud computing.

Regarding integration, Resolution 68 promotes private enterprises to participate in the global value chain at a high level, shifting from exporting goods to exporting technological solutions.

Resolution 59 on business culture helps improve integration capacity, business standards and soft competitive values.

*The Vietnam Pavilion at SFF 2025 is a symbol of an innovative, confident and proactive Vietnam integrating into the global digital value chain. Photo: NVCC*

Building Vietnam Pavilion into a strategic trade and investment promotion platform

- Singapore FinTech Festival is the gathering place of the world's largest financial and technology ecosystem. So what does Vietnam Pavilion need to do to not only be a booth to introduce the country's image, but also to truly become a platform for promoting trade, strategic investment, and long-term connection of Vietnamese businesses with capital, technology and international markets?

Dr. Mac Quoc Anh: In my opinion, Vietnam Pavilion can only fully develop its value if it is operated as a continuous connection platform 365 days a year, not just a showcase for the three days of the event. The most important thing is to position the Pavilion as “Vietnam’s technology and finance center in Singapore”, which represents the image of a country that is emerging as an innovation destination in ASEAN with a dynamic digital ecosystem and a trusted partner of international investors.

Vietnam needs to build Pavilion as a real networking space, where businesses and investment funds meet directly through well-organized B2B, B2G and G2G networking programs. During the three days of SFF, the goal is not only to introduce products, but also to create specific results such as memorandums of understanding, investment commitments or cooperation projects that can be implemented immediately after the event.

In parallel, the Pavilion needs to integrate a national-scale digital data system, a “Digital Trade Hub” so that investors can easily access standardized information about Vietnamese enterprises, investment calling projects, technology, financial capacity or product profiles. This will be an important support mechanism, helping the post-event connection process to take place continuously and transparently.

In the long term, Vietnam should consider setting up a technology and finance connection office in Singapore to maintain a permanent presence of Vietnamese enterprises in this market. At the same time, after each SFF, Vietnam should organize follow-up events such as the Vietnam - Singapore FinTech Forum to strengthen the cooperation network, promote investment and technology programs and expand the digital service market. If the above solutions are implemented synchronously, Vietnam Pavilion will truly become a strategic trade and investment promotion platform, contributing to raising the country's position in the global financial and technology value chain.

- Vietnam is aiming for green growth, carbon market development, financial technology and expanding ASEAN regional cooperation. In your opinion, what policies should be prioritized in the 2025-2030 period to turn opportunities at SFF into real driving forces, ensuring that Vietnamese enterprises not only keep up with but also lead new economic trends?

Dr. Mac Quoc Anh: The 2025-2030 period will shape Vietnam's digital economic position in ASEAN, so the Ministry of Industry and Trade needs to prioritize fundamental policy groups. First of all, it is necessary to complete digital infrastructure, data and digital standards for trade. When electronic documents, cross-border payments, eKYC, digital signatures or international invoices are standardized, Vietnamese enterprises will significantly reduce transaction costs and participate more easily in the regional trade chain.

At the same time, it is necessary to consider the export of digital services, including software, AI, and digital finance, as a new key export industry. This requires preferential tax policies, policies to support market opening, and a system of digital service promotion centers in strategic hubs such as Singapore.

Regarding green development, the carbon market is opening up economic opportunities worth trillions of USD. The Ministry of Industry and Trade needs to play a pioneering role in perfecting the carbon credit trading floor, building an MRV framework according to international standards and supporting enterprises to voluntarily export carbon credits, as well as mastering emission measurement technology.

*Singapore FinTech Festival is the gathering place of the world's largest financial and technology ecosystem. Photo: NVCC*

In addition, one of the key factors is connecting businesses with international capital sources. Vietnam needs to soon form a capital connection center, simplify the process of receiving foreign capital and build a testing mechanism (sandbox) for technology investment, to help businesses, especially SMEs, access the growing ESG and deeptech capital flows.

Finally, for Vietnamese enterprises to truly lead new trends, we must focus on developing digital human resources. There needs to be a national training program for fields such as AI, blockchain, big data, digital finance, and training a team of digital entrepreneurs and chief digital transformation officers (CDOs). This is the decisive factor that helps Vietnamese enterprises not only keep up with trends but also proactively create new value in the digital economy.

Thank you !

The Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, which took place from 12-14 November 2025, celebrated its 10th anniversary with the theme “Technology Roadmap for the Next Decade of Finance” and attracted 65,000 attendees from around the world. The event focused on in-depth discussions on how new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Tokenization and Quantum Computing are reshaping the global financial industry. Over 40 international exhibition zones and 600 exhibitors showcased the latest products and services from governments, financial institutions, technology providers and startups, providing a global perspective on the future of financial services.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/vietnam-pavilion-nang-tam-vi-the-viet-nam-tren-ban-do-cong-nghe-tai-chinh-431750.html