The event, co-organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC), the Vietnam Innovation Institute (IVI), and the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), equipped businesses with the tools and insights needed to thrive in an increasingly complex global market.

Addressing the event, Cao Thi Phi Van, deputy director of ITPC, emphasised that ongoing challenges, including global trade tensions, supply chain disruptions, and rising protectionism, are forcing businesses to become more agile and strategic.

These disruptions also present an opportunity for Vietnamese firms to re-evaluate internal capabilities, innovate, and build a stronger development foundation, she said.

Van highlighted proactive measures being taken in Ho Chi Minh City, such as diversifying markets, enhancing product quality, and leveraging 17 free trade agreements (FTAs) with over 60 global economies to increase competitiveness and integration into global supply chains.

A key highlight of the event was the announcement of the Vietnam – US Fall Forum (VUFF), which marks the first strategic collaboration between Ho Chi Minh City and the Greenwich Economic Forum (GEF), a prestigious US-based economic platform that convenes more than 300 CEOs, investors, and global leaders in finance and technology. The forum is scheduled to take place from October 6–12 across New York, Connecticut, Washington D.C., and Silicon Valley.

VUFF 2025 is considered a special opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to access the investors’ network, policy making, as well as promoting bilateral cooperation in the fields of technology, trade and innovation, Van stressed.

At the seminar, experts from the Vietnam Innovation Institute, Indiana University of the US, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and representatives of the business community analysed the economic and technological trends that are reshaping the global trade landscape.

Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Anh, from Indiana University and Chairman of the Vietnam Initiative, provided an in-depth analysis of recent U.S. tariff policies and their ripple effects across international supply chains, including Vietnam. He pointed out that Vietnam is emerging as a leading manufacturing and export hub, particularly in sectors such as wooden furniture, garments, and semiconductors.

In the high-tech arena, Vietnam has not only expanded its market share but also maintained preferential tax rates, creating a strategic advantage amid the US’ ongoing efforts to restructure its high-tech supply chains.

Expert suggests Vietnam, RoK restructure growth strategies

Dr. Kwak Sung-il, Director of the Security-Economic Strategy Bureau at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, has urged the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Vietnam to restructure their growth strategies toward emerging sectors such as semiconductor or clean energy in light of the rapidly evolving global economic landscape.