Vietnamese tech company listed among 10 Asian companies to watch in 2023

According to Nikkei Asia, VNG, Vietnam’s first unicorn, has emerged as one of the country's most watched companies, and it is expected to make its initial public offering (IPO) this year.

The tech company has registered to trade some of its shares on a local exchange for unlisted enterprises, a move that is often used for businesses looking to test the stock market before later making an official IPO. Indeed, VNG is also reportedly considering a US listing in the future.

Founded in 2004 by Le Hong Minh, an Australian-educated investment banker, VNG started out as an online game publisher and developer called Vinagame. 

With users living in more than 130 countries, VNG aims to reach 320 million customers globally this year. The company is keen to accelerate its international expansion, especially in the US market.

Nikkei Asia noted that after navigating a turbulent year involving war, inflation, and a lingering pandemic, Asian companies have emerged with their sights set on shaking up markets both at home and abroad in 2023.

The media outlet also named nine other corporate names that the general public can expect to hear more of in the year ahead, such as Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, Indonesian coal miners Indika Energy, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), and Japanese power chipmaker Rohm. Others include Hong Kong-based startup Aqumon, the world's largest vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII), Chinese lifestyle social media platform Xiaohongshu, Taiwan's United Microelectronics Corp, and Japanese motor maker Nidec.