Nordic, Vietnam push to turn diplomatic commitments into concrete projects
VOV.VN - Long-term investment, technology transfer, and high-quality job creation were central to the Nordic-Vietnam Business Summit 2026, held on October 29 as part of the Ho Chi Minh City Autumn Economic Forum 2026.
Under the theme "The Next Growth Decade Where Vietnamese Ambition and Nordic Standards Compound", the summit was organized by the Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (NordCham Vietnam) in coordination with the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The event gathered 150 representatives from government agencies, diplomatic missions, and businesses.
Thue Quist Thomasen, Chairman of NordCham Vietnam, highlighted major diplomatic milestones over the past 18 months, including the Strategic Partnership on Science, Technology, and Innovation with Sweden (June 2025), the Strategic Partnership with Finland (2025), the Green Strategic Partnership with Norway (April 2026), and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership upgrade with Denmark.
Thomasen stressed that the immediate priority is converting these high-level commitments into investment decisions, commercial contracts, concrete projects, and local jobs.
He noted that Nordic companies excel in environmental standards, sustainability, and local workforce development, as evidenced by major investments such as LEGO’s US$1 billion clean-energy plant in Ho Chi Minh City, Carlsberg’s renewable energy and circular packaging initiatives, infrastructure projects by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), maritime operations by APM Terminals, and Pandora’s transition to 100% renewable energy and recycled precious metals.
To attract high-quality capital, NordCham proposed three priorities: ensuring a transparent and predictable business environment; expanding access to green energy through Direct Power Purchase Agreements (DPPA); and fostering co-development between Nordic businesses, local administrations, and Vietnamese enterprises.
Bui Minh Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, affirmed that the city regards Nordic companies as strategic partners in trade, investment, technology transfer, innovation, and sustainable development.
He emphasized that the city seeks cooperation beyond financial investment, focusing on advanced technologies, management expertise, and innovation capacity to help Vietnamese businesses climb higher in global value chains. Priority sectors include green transition, digital transformation, clean energy, sustainable transport, circular economy, and smart city solutions.
During panel sessions, delegates discussed practical ways to turn high-level diplomatic agreements into economic outcomes through investment contracts and project implementation, while augumenting cooperation in green infrastructure, technology, and sustainable supply chains.
Ho Chi Minh City to host Nordic-Vietnam Business Summit
The Nordic Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (NordCham Vietnam) will host the Nordic-Vietnam Business Summit 2026 on October 29, bringing together 100 senior representatives from government and the Nordic and Vietnamese business communities.
