(20 August 2026)

Sunwah – On 20 August 2026, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Sunwah Innovations jointly organised DEX Connex Vietnam 2026 at Sunwah Galleria in Ho Chi Minh City. The programme connected Malaysian technology companies with potential businesses and partners in Vietnam, opening up opportunities for business collaboration, solution pilots and market expansion.

The programme was attended by Mr. Firdauz Othman, Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City; Ms. Syahida Binti Ismail, Country Manager of MDEC in Vietnam; Ms. Katie Nguyen, Deputy General Director of Sunwah Group in Vietnam and Chief Representative of Sunwah Group in Ho Chi Minh City; as well as representatives of businesses and partners from the technology and innovation ecosystems of Vietnam and Malaysia.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Firdauz Othman, Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City, highlighted the positive development of economic relations between the two countries. In the first six months of 2026, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Malaysia reached USD 10.8 billion, an increase of 40% year-on-year. In terms of investment, as of the end of April 2025, Malaysia had 770 active projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of nearly USD 13.6 billion, ranking third among ASEAN countries and tenth among all countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Against this backdrop, he emphasised that programmes such as DEX Connex not only strengthen connections between the business communities of the two countries, but also contribute to deepening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and technology in the years ahead.

Mr. Firdauz Othman, Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City

Representing Sunwah Group, Ms. Katie Nguyen highlighted the rapid growth of Vietnam’s digital economy, driven by its young population, strong entrepreneurial spirit and the increasing adoption of digital technologies across various industries. Meanwhile, Malaysian technology companies bring proven solutions, practical experience and a strong understanding of the Southeast Asian market. These complementary strengths provide a solid foundation for businesses from both countries to deepen cooperation in digital transformation and regional economic connectivity.

Ms. Katie Nguyen, Deputy General Director of Sunwah Group in Vietnam and Chief Representative of Sunwah Group in Ho Chi Minh City

This year’s Malaysian business delegation comprised four companies: MedicalMet, WAHDAH, SiteGiant and NADI. During the programme, representatives of each company introduced their products, services, technological strengths and development plans for the Vietnamese market.

A key highlight of DEX Connex Vietnam 2026 was the one-on-one business matching session, which consisted of four rounds of direct discussions. These sessions enabled Malaysian companies to gain a better understanding of actual market needs while engaging in focused discussions with Vietnamese partners on potential solution applications, commercial partnerships and prospective projects.

Through these in-depth business matching activities, the programme aimed to generate practical and long-term outcomes, including pilot projects, commercial partnerships, investment opportunities and market expansion plans. It also provided Malaysian companies with practical insights into Vietnam’s business environment and opportunities to build relationships with local ecosystem partners.

As part of the programme, the MDEC delegation and participating Malaysian companies also visited FPT Software HCM. During the visit, the delegation toured the company’s facilities and met with FPT Software’s leader to discuss the participating companies’ business activities, market needs and potential areas of cooperation.

The delegation then visited Galaxy Innovation Hub in the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park. Representatives of Galaxy Holdings introduced the Group’s technology and innovation ecosystem, while representatives of MDEC and the Malaysian companies presented their solutions, market development plans and proposals for cooperation in Vietnam. Both sides also discussed potential connections and opportunities to implement joint initiatives in the future.

DEX Connex Vietnam 2026 builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Sunwah and MDEC in 2023 to support the international expansion of Malaysian technology companies, particularly in countries and regions where Sunwah has an established presence and strong network.

Through its innovation network in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, Sunwah Innovations connects businesses, startups, universities, investors, government agencies and organisations in Vietnam with regional and international networks. These activities promote cross-border business connections, technology exchange and the commercialisation of innovative solutions.

As a bridge between Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as between Vietnam and Hong Kong, mainland China and other international markets, Sunwah remains committed to working with MDEC to support companies in entering new markets, identifying suitable partners and bringing practical technology solutions into real-world application.