Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister regarding international mobilization efforts for the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum (HEF) 2025, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Minh Hằng led an inter-ministerial delegation to visit and work in Switzerland. Accompanying the delegation was Mr. Phạm Phú Trường – Deputy Director of the HCMC Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (HCMC C4IR) – the City’s focal point unit for international cooperation on industrial transformation, innovation, and high technology, and the unit assigned by the City People’s Committee to take the lead in implementing the HEF 2025.

The trip holds significant importance in strengthening political-diplomatic ties, promoting international economic cooperation, and simultaneously mobilizing the participation of leaders of nations, ministers, and the world’s leading businesses and corporations for high-level dialogue sessions at this year’s Forum.

Strengthening international engagement and expanding strategic cooperation with WEF

In Geneva, Switzerland, the delegation held a formal working session with the World Economic Forum (WEF). Mr. Stephan Mergenthaler – Managing Director of WEF – welcomed the Vietnamese delegation, and the exchange took place in an atmosphere of open, constructive, and strategic cooperation.

During the session, the two sides discussed cooperation orientations for the coming period and agreed to step up joint initiatives on smart manufacturing and responsible industrial transformation in Vietnam. This area aligns with both HCMC’s industrial development orientation and the Forum’s theme of “Green Transition in Digital Era”.

Soliciting participation for the HEF 2025 and learning from international forum organization experience

In addition to the working program with the WEF, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Minh Hằng and the delegation held bilateral meetings with leaders, ministers, and senior officials from Switzerland, the Netherlands, and several other European nations. The goal was to attract the attention and attendance of government leaders, businesses, and international organizations at the HEF 2025, while simultaneously exchanging and learning from their experience in organizing large-scale international economic forums.

The partners highly appreciated the initiative of Vietnam and HCMC in organizing this year’s Forum, expressing interest in attending the policy dialogue and one-on-one sessions, as well as engaging in long-term cooperation on the themes of green transformation, innovation, and sustainable development.

Affirming Ho Chi Minh city’s pioneering role in industrial transformation and innovation

With the theme “Green Transition in Digital Era”, the HEF 2025 affirms the commitment of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh city to building a smart economy, promoting green transformation, and ensuring sustainable development.

The Forum is expected to bring together government leaders of various nations, international organizations, global corporations, and the domestic business community. Through this, it will contribute to enhancing HCMC’s role, stature, and influence on the international cooperation map regarding innovation and Industry 4.0.

Find out more about HEF 2025

The Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum 2025 will be an opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City to showcase its development vision for high-tech industry—encompassing smart manufacturing, smart urban development, smart logistics, and smart services.

Interested organizations, agencies, and businesses can visit the official information page of the HEF 2025 at https://hef.gov.vn/ for more details about the programs and registration.