(18 December 2024)

Sunwah – From 16 to 20 December 2024, Dr. Jonathan Choi, Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (CGCC), Chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Entrepreneurs Alliance (GBA Alliance), Founding Chairman of the Hong Kong-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of Sunwah Group, led a delegation of 60 enterprises from the Greater Bay Area to Vietnam. The delegation explored business environments and potential partnerships with local enterprises, engaging in various activities in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) from December 16 to 18, 2024.

On the morning of 16 December, the delegation met with Mr. Vo Van Minh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Duong Province, along with representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Planning and Investment, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Construction, Becamex Corporation, and the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP). During the meeting, Dr. Choi highlighted the development potential of Binh Duong Province, comparing its industrial structure to that of Shenzhen, China. He expressed hopes that the visit would open new collaboration opportunities, particularly in high-tech and digital transformation industries.

Dr. Jonathan Choi (left) and Chairman of Binh Duong Mr. Vo Van Minh (right)

Chairman Vo Van Minh expressed appreciation for the delegation’s interest, emphasizing the long-standing cooperation between Chinese enterprises and Binh Duong, particularly in manufacturing. He expressed hopes of attracting more high-tech companies from China to help upgrade and modernize the province’s traditional industries.

The delegation had in-depth discussion with leaders and representatives of Binh Duong government and enterprises

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Sunwah Innovation Center to learn about its contributions to Vietnam’s startup ecosystem, particularly in connecting Vietnamese startups with the Greater Bay Area. At the Center, the delegation attended a forum organized by the Hong Kong Business Association in Vietnam, discussing cooperation opportunities between Chinese and Vietnamese enterprises. Mr. Michael Chiu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Business Association in Vietnam, also participated.

The networking event with Hong Kong Business Association in Vietnam

In the evening, the delegation attended the seminar “Greater Bay Area Enterprises Explore Opportunities in Southeast Asia”, organized by the GBA Alliance. The seminar aimed to strengthen exchanges and share resources between enterprises from the Greater Bay Area and Southeast Asia.

Seminar “Greater Bay Area Enterprises Explore Opportunities in Southeast Asia”

In his opening speech, Dr. Choi emphasized Vietnam’s key role, particularly HCMC, in fostering economic and trade collaboration with the Greater Bay Area. Representatives from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia shared experiences on connecting local enterprises with investment opportunities from the Greater Bay Area. The seminar also served as a platform for entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and identify collaboration opportunities.

On the morning of 17 December, the delegation visited the Consulate General of China in HCMC and met with Consul General Wei Huaxiang. During the meeting, Dr. Choi expressed gratitude for the Consulate’s support for Chinese enterprises in Vietnam and affirmed Vietnam’s potential as a destination for expanding economic and investment cooperation. Consul General Wei praised Sunwah Group’s contributions to fostering business connections between the two countries and expressed hopes for more bilateral cooperation projects in the future.

The delegation met with Consul General Wei Huaxiang

In the afternoon, the delegation met with Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, and representatives from various municipal departments. Dr. Choi proposed supporting HCMC in building an international financial hub by connecting with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He also highlighted potential areas of collaboration, including smart city development, clean energy, public transportation, and major infrastructure projects. Chairman Phan Văn Mãi welcomed the proposals and pledged to facilitate conditions for Greater Bay Area enterprises to invest in HCMC.

The delegation had in-depth discussion with leaders and representatives of HCMC government

On the afternoon of December 17, the HCMC-Greater Bay Area Investment and Trade Forum was held, with over 200 delegates from business associations, Greater Bay Area entrepreneurs, and leaders of southern provinces in Vietnam participating. The Forum focused on investment opportunities in key sectors such as finance, trade, green technology, and manufacturing. Networking sessions were also organized, enabling participants to explore specific and practical collaboration opportunities.