A delegation of professional services executives from Hong Kong met with Vietnamese government and business leaders in Hanoi last week, helping deepen bilateral ties.
The three-day business mission to Vietnam’s capital – which included representatives from the accounting, legal, consulting and corporate services sectors – was organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
Delegates gained valuable insights on business opportunities and growth trends after meeting the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Finance and the National Innovation Centre, which oversees Vietnam’s start-up and innovation ecosystem.
The group also engaged with industry associations and other bodies – covering areas, such as accountancy, banking and international arbitration – as well as with large local enterprises, such as Kinh Bac Group, a real estate developer, and IT major VMO Holdings.
A lunch seminar co-hosted by the HKTDC and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry encouraged local enterprises to team up with Hong Kong service providers when expanding their business or managing risk.
The seminar attracted more than 120 Vietnamese business representatives and professionals.
The Hanoi mission is part of a campaign called Hong Kong Professionals Plus.
The campaign aims to showcase the strengths of Hong Kong’s professional services while helping practitioners better understand business opportunities in ASEAN markets, remarked Dr Patrick Lau, HKTDC’s Deputy Executive Director, who spoke at the seminar.
Rimsky Yeun, Chairman of the HKTDC Professional Services Advisory Committee – who co-led the delegation with Dr Lau – highlighted the depth of Hong Kong’s talent in providing world-class legal, financial and consulting services, as well as the sector’s extensive experience in facilitating cross-border investment and fund-raising.
“Hong Kong can meet the development needs of Vietnamese enterprises and assist investors from other countries in seizing opportunities in Vietnam,” Mr Yuen said.
Closer connections
During the visit, Tim Koo, a Director with Hong Kong-based advisory services specialist Normsun, signed an MoU with the Institute for Economics and Trade Development to strengthen mutual cooperation.
Trade and economic relations between Hong Kong and Vietnam have become increasingly strong in recent years.
Vietnam is Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner in the ASEAN region, and the city’s sixth largest trading partner overall.
Last week’s visit to Hanoi follows another business mission to Vietnam last year that was organised by the HKTDC and led by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee.
Hong Kong is also positioning itself as a major player in international dispute resolution. A new body, the International Organization for Mediation, should commence operations in the city by the end of this year or by early 2026.
The HKTDC regularly organises business missions across industries.
It will continue to conduct outreach activities to promote the advantages of Hong Kong’s professional services, while helping service providers seize more collaboration opportunities overseas.