(27 July 2022)

Sunwah – On 27 July 2022, a Luncheon introducing collaboration opportunities between Hong Kong/the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Vietnam in the new normalcy, titled “Towards a New Stage of Hong Kong/GBA and Vietnam Partnership”, hosted by Sunwah Group and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore, was successfully held in Ho Chi Minh City. Other co-organizers of the Luncheon are the Hong Kong – Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (HKVCC), the Hong Kong Business Association in Vietnam, the China Business Association in Vietnam, and the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union.

Attendees of the Luncheon included Mr Tran Phuoc Anh, Director of External Relations of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr Wei Huaxiang, Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City; Mr Kang Myongil, Consul General of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City; Ms Wong Chia Chiann, Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City; Mr Sok Dareth, Consul General of Cambodia in Ho Chi Minh City; together with nearly 200 participants, including representatives from Ho Chi Minh City related departments; leaders from Vietnamese universities, various trade associations and leading local and international companies.

Dr Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Sunwah Group; Mr Wong Chun To, Director of HKETO in Singapore; Mr Tran Phuoc Anh, Director of External Relations of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr Wei Huaxiang, Consul General  of China in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Kang Myongil, Consul General of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City; Ms Wong Chia Chiann, Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City; Mr Sok Dareth, Consul General of Cambodia in Ho Chi Minh City and representatives from various trade associations at the Luncheon

Vietnam is now recognized as one of the fastest growing economies in the region, especially in the post-pandemic era. Ho Chi Minh City, with an important position in commerce, education, culture, science and technology, currently targets to become an international financial center and smart city. Meanwhile, the Greater Bay Area consisting of Hong Kong, Macau and nine modern cities of Guangdong province including Guangzhou and Shenzhen is a key economic and technological development region of China. The event aimed at introducing recent development achievements of Hong Kong in particular and the Greater Bay Area in general, which facilitate new opportunities for Vietnamese companies to enter this potential market and explore IPO opportinuties with HKEX. The Luncheon is also a great opportunity for the Hong Kong and Chinese business communities and academic institutions to explore and exchange with their Vietnamese peers from various fields.

Mr Wong Chun To, Director of HKETO in Singapore, stated the positioning for Hong Kong’s future development under the 14th Five-Year Plan. Mr Wong said, “Apart from the continuous support for Hong Kong in enhancing its status as an international financial, transportation and trade centre, as well as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, the Plan has raised for the first time its support for Hong Kong in four emerging sectors, namely supporting Hong Kong to enhance its status as an international aviation hub and develop into an international innovation and technology hub, a regional intellectual property trading centre and a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.”

Mr Wong Chun To, Director of HKETO in Singapore delivered welcome remarks at the Luncheon

Dr Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Sunwah Group, who also serves as Chairman of HKVCC and the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union, in his keynote speech highlighted the recent developments of Hong Kong and the GBA. He said: “With a total area reaching 56,000 sqm. and a population of nearly 86 million people, GBA is a dynamic and potential market in Asia for many Vietnamese companies.”

Dr Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Sunwah Group, Chairman of HKVCC and the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union, delivered a keynote speech at the Luncheon

“Hong Kong can leverage its unique advantage as an international financial centre and being the world’s freest economy for many years to play a key role in connecting Mainland China with Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam,” he added.

Dr Ba Shusong, HKEX Chief China Economist and Mr Abhishek Bakshi, HKEX Head of ASEAN Issuer Services gave introductions on Hong Kong’s listing and financial services. HKEX is home to over 2500 listed companies from around the world, with a total market capitalisation of US$ 5 trillion . Over 110 Southeast Asian companies are listed on HKEX, covering a range of sectors that include Financials, Consumer, Materials, Energy and Information Technology.

On education, Professor Hongbin Cai, Dean of the Business School of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), spoke at the Luncheon. He said: “HKU will launch executive education programs in Vietnam in areas such as Digital Transformation, Leadership, Business Analytics, and Fintech strategies, which have a huge demand for talent. Besides, the partnership between HKU Business School and Sunwah Group will also foster entrepreneurship in Vietnam through organizing a wide range of innovative events, as well as instructional and cultural exchange programs.”

Mr Tran Phuoc Anh, Director of External Relations of Ho Chi Minh City, said “Vietnam and Hong Kong are currently recovering from the severe impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. After hearing from Hong Kong representatives at today’s Luncheon on strategies for maximizing the enormous potential of cooperation between Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, I believe this is a great opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to strengthen cooperation with Hong Kong partners, particularly in the areas of commerce, finance, logistics, technology and innovation”.

Mr Tran Phuoc Anh, Director of External Relations of Ho Chi Minh City, spoke at the Luncheon

At the Luncheon, a Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony between Sunwah Innovations and HKU Business School was held, marking a new step in the cooperation between the Group and the leading university of Hong Kong.

MOU Signing between Sunwah Innovations of Sunwah Group and The Business School of the University of Hong Kong