Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City seeks expanded Japanese high‑tech investment amid accelerating growth

Ho Chi Minh City officials met with JETRO chief Okabe Mitsutoshi to deepen Japan‑Vietnam ties and attract more high‑tech investment in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, digital and clean‑energy sectors. Chairman Nguyen Van Duoc highlighted a memorandum of cooperation signed in March and recent initiatives such as the Supporting Industry Show 2026, which linked Vietnamese and Japanese firms and reinforced supply‑chain integration. JETRO reported over 1,700 meetings with Japanese companies in the first half of 2026, indicating growing interest in the city’s post‑merger investment environment.

The investment push comes as Vietnam’s broader economy gains momentum. Singapore‑based United Overseas Bank raised its 2026 GDP growth forecast for Vietnam to 8.5%, citing strong manufacturing, foreign direct investment and domestic demand. The Asian Development Bank reaffirmed Vietnam as the fastest‑growing economy in Southeast Asia, maintaining growth projections of 7.2% for 2026 and 7.0% for 2027. Additional developments include the launch of a digital investment‑promotion platform in Ho Chi Minh City, a new smart‑green port award for Long An, and falling fuel prices, all contributing to a more attractive business climate.