AGP Executive Report

Trade & Logistics: The first batch of foreign trade cargo using China’s Pinglu Canal has cleared customs and will sail from Nanning Port to Vietnam’s Can Tho Port, with the 134.2-km river-to-sea route due to start full operations on Sept 16—an important new corridor for Vietnam-linked supply chains. Customs & Trade Facilitation: A World Customs Organization push on Authorized Economic Operators highlights how proactive compliance reviews can cut duty/tax risks and prepare firms for post-clearance audits, aiming to speed clearance without weakening border security. Defense Industry & Regional Security: India and Vietnam used BRICS sidelines to deepen maritime and defence ties, stressing technology sharing and defence industrial cooperation, with coordination through ADMM-Plus. Agriculture & Tech: Vietnam is exploring UAVs and a low-altitude economy to build domestic supply chains and testing capacity, with spillovers expected for logistics, farming, and smart-city services. Energy & Power: The IEA says coal demand in Southeast Asia will stay broadly stable this year, with Vietnam and the Philippines expected to lead thermal coal import growth. M&A in Consumer/Industry: Mekong Capital has exited Mutosi after Ariston acquired a majority stake, boosting Vietnam’s residential water purification market with stronger manufacturing and distribution. Policy & Community: Vietnam’s overseas Vietnamese affairs resolution (Resolution 23) shifts focus toward creating mechanisms to unlock the community’s knowledge, networks, and market access.

BRICS Summit Signals Nuclear Safety and Trade Push: BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration, flagging “deliberate attacks” on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, while also warning against rising unilateral tariffs and non-tariff barriers and calling for practical cross-border payments in local currencies. Vietnam Trade Promotion Shift: Vietnam’s GoGlobal 2026-2030 plan moves beyond raw export push toward brand-building and deeper supply-chain integration, with buyers increasingly demanding green production, traceability, and digital transformation. Vietnam Finance Watch: Vietnam’s banking liquidity is improving as deposit growth edges ahead of credit expansion, raising hopes dong rates may be near a peak, though analysts warn rate cuts may be limited by global conditions and currency pressure. Retail Expansion in Vietnam: AEON announced two more mall openings in 2026, extending its shift from big-city focus to regional hub cities. Smart Agriculture Linkages: A Korea-Vietnam expert argues smart agriculture can scale faster by combining Korea’s tech and data-driven farm management with Vietnam’s production conditions and crop resources. Energy Reality Check in Laos: A report highlights Laos’ electricity export boom alongside frequent outages at home, underscoring grid and reliability gaps that Vietnam investors should watch in regional power projects.

Middle East Shipping Shock: The US says it has destroyed about nine Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz, warning more are coming—raising oil and diesel prices and threatening a key global energy chokepoint. Vietnam–France Industrial Push: French dairy group Bel expects To Lam’s France visit to unlock industrial and tech cooperation, including a €16.7m expansion to double capacity for products like “The Laughing Cow.” BRICS Sidelines for Vietnam: Vietnam’s PM Le Minh Hung met Modi in New Delhi, stressing coordination on innovation, digital transformation, clean energy and sustainable development as BRICS adopts the New Delhi Declaration. Clean Energy & Green Industry Deals: Hung urged India’s ACME and GMR to invest in Vietnam’s clean energy, green industry, new materials and infrastructure. Green Finance for Vietnam: Nam A Bank secured a $30m Proparco loan to expand green credit for renewables, energy efficiency and green buildings. Food & Traceability: Norway retained its lead as Vietnam’s top Atlantic salmon supplier, citing growing consumer focus on origin and quality. Retail EV Expansion: VinFast signed MoUs with 13 Philippine dealers to open 27 new showrooms as EV demand rises.

VinFast Leadership Reset: Vietnamese EV maker VinFast named founder Pham Nhat Quan Anh as global CEO, signaling a restructuring push toward an “asset-light” model and expansion in Southeast Asia and India. BRICS Summit Focus: India opened the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi with a “resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability” agenda, after hosting 350+ meetings across 25 cities during its chairship. Vietnam–Russia Urban Tech Ties: Hanoi and Russian localities stepped up cooperation on urban railways, science-technology and digital transformation, including investment policy approvals for Moscow-linked projects. Industrial Investment in Quang Ninh: Amata City Ha Long signed a land sublease for a $15m tech plant to produce high-value electronic components, targeting ~17m units annually and supporting supply-chain integration. Market Pulse: VN-Index fell below 1,800, closing at 1,795.21 as selling hit large caps, despite higher liquidity. Regional Trade Signals: Cambodia’s trade with RCEP members jumped 21% in Jan–Aug, with Vietnam among top partners—another reminder of how regional pacts keep reshaping sourcing and exports.

BRICS Summit & Finance: Russia’s Putin pitched an NDB-backed investment platform for BRICS projects in trade, infrastructure, logistics and tech, while India’s Piyush Goyal urged BRICS to link payment systems and expand local-currency trade; Iran’s Pezeshkian pushed for stronger use of national currencies and proposed local-currency lending and even a BRICS reinsurance fund. Vietnam Diplomacy: PM Le Minh Hung will lead Vietnam’s delegation to the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, aiming to move from “engaging” to “shaping” rules in global frameworks. Vietnam-Platform Watch: Vietnam’s competition watchdog is reviewing Grab’s pricing, fees and commission policies after driver backlash and calls to boycott. EV Retail Expansion: VinFast signed MOUs with 13 dealer partners to build 27 new showrooms across the Philippines, targeting 60 dealerships in 2026. Maritime Heritage: India’s NMHC Lothal Phase 1A hit ~82% completion, with Vietnam among 13 countries signing MoUs to collaborate. Trade Risk Reminder: US-Iran tanker strikes around the Strait of Hormuz are again pushing oil and diesel prices higher, underscoring how shipping disruptions can ripple into Asia’s costs.

Vietnam–APEC Energy Talk: Vietnam urged deeper APEC cooperation on energy security, renewables and technology sharing at the 16th APEC Energy Ministerial in Beijing, stressing a balance between supply security, competitive pricing and emissions cuts. Vietnam Investment Law Overhaul: Vietnam will remove 62 sectors from its conditional investment/business list under an amended Law on Investment effective March 1, 2027, shifting toward post-inspection while tightening controls in sensitive areas. Vietnam Property Shift: Developers are pivoting from resort-style coastal projects to large, long-term residential townships along Vietnam’s seafront, with Vinhomes and Sun Group leading big-scale plans. Vietnam Policy Credit Push: Dak Lak’s policy lending via the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies has accelerated, with nearly $157m disbursed in the first seven months of 2026 to support poor and near-poor households. EV Export Move: Kim Long Motor shipped the first batch of Vietnamese-branded electric buses to Thailand, highlighting a push to raise vehicle localisation rates. BRICS Summit Context: As BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi, Vietnam’s PM Le Minh Hung is listed among attendees, with summit priorities including food and energy resilience and critical supply chains. Market Watch: Vietnam’s VN-Index edged up as liquidity stayed subdued and foreign investors returned to net buying ahead of an FTSE Russell upgrade.

Digital Infrastructure: Singtel and Thailand’s Gulf Development will jointly build the Vietnam-Thailand-Singapore submarine cable system, with the first link expected to be operational by 2030, aiming to support rising cloud, AI and data-centre demand across the region. Cyber & Industry Security: Proofpoint says multiple China-aligned hacking groups used the same “BlueMoon” exploit kit targeting Chromium and Windows flaws, including attacks on NGOs and a Vietnamese manufacturing entity—reminding firms to patch fast. Consumer Trust & Scams: A GSMA ASEAN report finds 45% of scam cases across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam remain unresolved; messaging apps are the top scam channel and most victims recover nothing. Manufacturing & Trade: Vietnam Industry and Technology Week 2026 opened in Hanoi with 2,000+ booths and a focus on electrification, automation, green manufacturing and supply-chain restructuring. EV Strategy: VinFast plans two new electric vehicles for India after pausing some earlier India manufacturing plans, signaling a cost-and-scale rethink. Policy & Compliance: Vietnam issued guidance on e-commerce law and compliance rules, as enforcement and cross-border trade scrutiny continues.

Vietnam–Russia Energy & Tech: Vietnam and Russia exchanged cooperation documents in Moscow covering justice, finance, investment, transport, energy, nuclear safety, science and technology, education and minerals, while also mapping quantum technology cooperation. Strategic Oil Storage: Zarubezhneft and Petrovietnam signed a framework deal to jointly set up a strategic oil reserve in Vietnam, with timelines and size not disclosed. Tourism Push: Vietnam set a target of 45–50 million international visitors and 80–90 billion USD tourism revenue by 2030 under a new action programme, linking tourism to digital transformation and green transition. Logistics & Digital Commerce: TikTok’s Swift Logistics project in Ho Chi Minh City received an investment certificate for 25.85 trillion VND, aiming to start in Nov 2026, with plans tied to logistics and digital payments. Cyber & Consumer Trust: A GSMA ASEAN report says nearly half of scam cases across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam remain unresolved, with AI increasingly used in scams. Food Inflation Risk: OCBC warns El Niño could drive higher food prices across ASEAN, raising inflation risk especially for net food importers like Vietnam. Industry Safety: Secutech Vietnam 2026 opened in Hanoi with 500 booths, as Vietnam reports thousands of fires and explosions and rising rescue activity. Power Equipment M&A: Mico Group completed its acquisition of NEM Energy, positioning for gas-fired power demand tied to AI data centers. BRICS Context for Vietnam: Vietnam is listed as a BRICS partner country as India hosts the summit focused on resilience, food and energy supply chains.

Vietnam–Russia Deal Flow: President To Lam and Vladimir Putin witnessed a fresh batch of cooperation documents covering justice, finance, transport workforce training, ethnic affairs, digital judicial transformation, and energy/nuclear safety, with Petrovietnam-linked investment items also exchanged in Moscow. BRICS & Global Trade: BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi (Sept 12–13) is set to focus on resilience in food, energy, health, disaster reduction and critical supply chains, with Vietnam listed among partner countries and the agenda shaped by West Asia risks and trade/tariff uncertainty. Transport Infrastructure: Vietnam has delayed the start of its US$67bn North–South high-speed rail to end-2027, pushing the flagship 1,541km project about a year amid slower site clearance and procurement planning. Energy & Renewables: Azerbaijan and Vietnam’s ROX Energy discussed a 200MW wind project, including feasibility work and wind measurements, while Vietnam also pushes renewable energy hub models for greener supply chains. Digital & Data Security: A Vietnam-linked Advance Passenger Information System database reportedly exposed 220m traveler records for years, raising fresh concerns for border-tech governance and cloud configuration controls. Finance & Payments: Russia and Vietnam continue shifting toward national currencies in mutual trade settlements, while Latitude raised $35m to help businesses move stablecoins into local payments—an angle that could matter for Vietnam’s fintech growth. Food & Supply Chains: Singapore’s SFA is studying whether “best before/use by” foods can be donated safely, a theme that echoes Vietnam’s broader food resilience and waste-reduction push.

Manufacturing Pulse: S&P Global data shows Vietnam’s manufacturing PMI rose to 53.3 in August, with new orders accelerating for the 14th straight month above 50. Wood & Forestry Exports: Vietnam’s wood and wood product exports hit about $11.69bn in eight months (+5% y/y), led by the US (49.9% share) while China surged (+46.4% to $1.54bn). Corporate Deal: Japan’s Nissha plans to exit its investment in Vietnam’s USM Healthcare Medical Devices after finding accounting issues tied to circular transactions around the prior acquisition. Policy for Creative Industries: Vietnam is considering VAT refunds for foreign film crews as part of a draft Law on Cultural Industry Development, aimed at boosting investment and IP commercialization. Energy & Industry Infrastructure: Petrovietnam and South Korea’s KEPCO agreed to speed up talks on Vietnam’s nuclear power roadmap, including Ninh Thuan 2. Logistics & Trade Pressure: Asia port congestion is pushing carriers to adjust routes as peak-season demand splits across corridors. Connectivity Boost: Vietnam climbed in global broadband rankings on stronger 5G and fibre investment, with data centre capacity expanding to support cloud and AI. Water Sector M&A: Mekong Capital exited majority ownership of Mutosi to Ariston, expanding recurring filter-replacement revenue. Automation Showcase: ProPak Asia highlighted cup filling and sealing automation from China’s GCPACK, targeting mid-scale food and beverage producers.

Aviation Investment: Southern Vision Investment has become a strategic investor in AVi8 Airways, backing the carrier’s plan to build an ACMI and charter platform across Southeast Asia. Healthcare Procurement: Vietnam’s PM Le Minh Hung ordered the health sector to fix medicine and medical equipment supply bottlenecks and tighten transparent pricing mechanisms ahead of a healthcare law amendment submission in October 2026. Logistics Tech Promotion: MG Ship and Morning Global Group marked their 40th anniversary with a promotion offering free months of AI supply-chain tools and shipping credits for new customers. Trade Policy Reform: The World Bank urged Bangladesh to phase down para-tariffs and regulatory duties to reduce “anti-export bias,” recommending a multiyear tariff reform roadmap. Industry Dispute (Plywood): The US International Trade Commission moved toward duty orders after finding unfairly priced hardwood and decorative plywood imports harming domestic producers, including from Vietnam. Bilateral Politics/Industry Links: Vietnam’s top leader met Russia’s State Duma chair in Moscow, signaling continued legislative support for the Vietnam–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Trade & Investment Promotion: Vietnam is stepping up its presence at the 23rd China–ASEAN Expo, leasing a full 3,000 sq.m area with 170 booths and nearly 100 firms, including Trung Nguyen, TH Group, Saigon Coffee and Biti’s, while expanding beyond traditional goods into AI, smart cities and industrial park development. Industrial Upgrading in the Regions: Dak Lak is expanding industrial promotion support for rural enterprises to buy modern machinery, adopt digital tools and cleaner production, aiming to build more integrated agro-processing, fisheries processing and logistics value chains. Finance & Capital Markets: Vietnam International Financial Centre (VIFC) is proposing six product/service groups—funds and asset management, asset-backed digital assets, carbon credits, commodity trading/derivatives infrastructure, fintech and bonds—rolling them out in phases. Macroeconomic Momentum: Vietnam’s economy is accelerating in Q3, with industrial production up 11.9% year-on-year and foreign trade hitting a record 770.14bn USD in the first eight months, alongside rising retail services and disbursed FDI. Sustainability & Built Environment: GELEX headquarters in Hanoi achieved LEED Gold certification, underscoring Vietnam’s push for greener industrial and office infrastructure. Agri-Infrastructure Study: The Philippines’ DA commissioned a PHP150m study on a Candaba Swamp waterway concept to ease flooding and create an alternative logistics network for agricultural commodities. Healthcare Reform: Politburo Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW sets up comprehensive healthcare system reform, targeting quality, equity, access and faster digital transformation.

Vietnam–Korea Energy & Rail Talks: Vietnam’s National Assembly chair Tran Thanh Man met Korea’s PM Han Seong-sook in Seoul, urging smooth delivery of tech transfer and talent cooperation, while Korean firms push into Vietnam’s infrastructure including high-speed rail and nuclear power. AI Data Centre Collaboration: Deputy PM Ho Quoc Dung toured SK Telecom’s Haein GPU AI centre, highlighting sovereign AI computing and resource reconfiguration for model development and deployment. Power Market Shift: Vietnam is laying groundwork to aggregate rooftop PV, behind-the-meter batteries and EVs into virtual power plants to ease solar curtailment and improve grid flexibility. Logistics Investment: Mapletree raised $500m+ for an Emerging Asia logistics strategy, with an initial portfolio including warehouses in Vietnam and a wider focus on Malaysia, Vietnam and India. Agri-Exports Focus: Vietnam’s agricultural exports are shifting from volume to value, with attention on higher-value processing and market access. FDI & Industry Momentum: Reports point to strong manufacturing activity and continued foreign capital interest, including Northern Vietnam drawing most new manufacturing FDI in the first half. Halal Tech Cooperation: UniMAP explored halal technology and certification collaboration with Vietnam, aiming to align standards and industry development.

Rail & Logistics: Vietnam kicked off a major Hanoi rail package with a new passenger hub at Ngoc Hoi and a freight terminal at Thuong Tin, plus an electrified east-city bypass line due by Dec 2028, aiming to tighten passenger and cargo links. Industrial Output: Vietnam’s Index of Industrial Production rose 11.9% y/y in Jan–Aug 2026, led by manufacturing (+12.5%) and a rebound in mining, with strong gains in metals, beverages, motor vehicles, electronics and chemicals. Foreign Investment via M&A: Foreign investors are increasingly buying into existing Vietnamese firms; Indonesia’s registered capital jumped sharply in the first seven months, with most money flowing through capital contributions and share purchases. Corporate Bonds: The domestic corporate bond market faces heavier maturity pressure as high funding costs make refinancing harder, with large upcoming maturities concentrated in real estate and banks. Agri-Tech & Food Exports: Vietnam’s coffee exports are set for a strong year-end finish, while new research warns that lab-trained AI for plant disease detection can fail in real fields—pushing for more robust models. Cybersecurity: Kaspersky reported 250,000 ransomware incidents blocked across APAC in 1H 2026, underscoring rising digital risk for regional businesses. Energy & Safety: Nghi Sơn refinery hit 30 million safe man-hours without a lost-time injury, reinforcing operational reliability.

Vietnam–Japan Local Cooperation: PM Le Minh Hung urged turning Vietnam–Japan strategic commitments into concrete local projects at the 2026 Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum in Hue, with Japanese prefectures and major firms pitching plans across agriculture, hydrogen energy, tourism, semiconductors and workforce development. Diplomacy & Industry Links: Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung met Nara Governor Yamashita Makoto, pushing Nara to support Vietnamese SMEs, technology transfer, and training in areas like digital and green transformation. Vietnam–Russia Partnership: Russia’s ambassador said next week’s state visit by CPV General Secretary To Lam and President To Lam’s delegation will drive substantive, long-term cooperation, citing Vietnam’s role as a manufacturing and logistics hub and Russia’s strengths in energy, industry and transport. Vietnam–Myanmar Deepening Ties: Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing concluded a three-day visit to Vietnam, with both sides reaffirming momentum for more substantive cooperation; Vietnam also highlighted trade and investment potential as Myanmar seeks support in digital infrastructure and cybersecurity. EV Manufacturing Push: VinFast is moving into India’s electric two-wheeler market, seeking exclusive dealers and planning local scooter assembly in Thoothukudi, using imported parts. AI Governance & Skills: Vietnam’s National Assembly President met Vietnam Innovation Network figures in Seoul, highlighting Vietnam’s AI law, digital transformation in lawmaking, and investment in computing, data infrastructure and green data centres. Health Ingredients Expansion: HLB Genex is accelerating its antioxidant enzyme ingredient brand SODyZYM into Asia, with plans to enter Vietnam and Indonesia after repeat orders in Taiwan and Thailand.

Vietnam–RoK Parliamentary Boost: National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man’s Sept 6–9 visit is set to deepen Vietnam–South Korea ties and push cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Smart Agriculture: A new study tests generative AI–assisted image augmentation to improve tomato disease detection when labeled data is scarce, pointing to practical gains for farm diagnostics. Farm Produce Goes Online: Livestream and social commerce are widening market access for Vietnamese growers, with examples from Hanoi and Hung Yen showing fast sell-outs and strong engagement. Heritage Meets Digital Craft: Bat Trang pottery village is blending traditional skills with gas/electric kilns, automation, AI monitoring, and e-commerce to cut defects and reach bigger orders. Cultural & Business Diplomacy: France signals fresh momentum for Vietnam ties via a planned To Lam visit, including business council talks and signed agreements. Governance: Vietnam’s agriculture sector faces leadership shake-up as a deputy minister is dismissed for violations. Regional Industry Pulse: APEC SME discussions in Guangzhou highlight AI and connectivity as growth levers for Asia-Pacific small firms.