Vietnam pushes digital banking and diplomatic outreach in 2026 initiatives

At the opening of the Vietnam Global Innovation Forum 2026, Lưu Trung Thái, Chairman of the Board of MB, said Vietnam faces a "window of opportunity" to boost labour productivity and national competitiveness through science, technology and innovation. He highlighted MB's decade‑long digital transformation, noting the bank’s shift in 2018 to a lean, 24/7 digital model serving nearly 40 million customers and targeting about 20 billion transactions in 2026. Thái called on global scholars, startups and technology firms to collaborate on practical problems in data, AI, automation and the broader digital ecosystem.

Separately, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held its second overseas Honorary Consular Conference, noting the network has grown to 48 honorary consuls across Europe, Asia‑Pacific, Middle East‑Africa and the Americas. Deputy Minister Lê Thị Thu Hằng and Consular Department Director Doãn Hoàng Minh emphasized the role of honorary consuls in protecting citizens, supporting economic diplomacy and attracting investment, especially during crises such as COVID‑19 and geopolitical conflicts.