Vietnam urges Danish firms to expand investment and technology ties

Vietnam wants Danish companies to increase investment and bring more technology and higher-value operations to the country, General Secretary and President Lam told a meeting with Danish businesses. He identified opportunities in logistics, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

Lam said Vietnam would review and improve laws covering areas including investment, land, planning, energy and infrastructure to give businesses greater predictability. He pledged to eliminate unnecessary administrative steps, expand delegated decision-making and move procedures online, shortening the time needed to prepare and carry out projects.

For logistics, he encouraged investment in transshipment ports serving international trade, logistics centres, smart warehouses and freight services using air and rail. He also urged international operators to locate regional distribution and supply-chain management hubs in Vietnam.

Energy cooperation should cover wind, solar, storage, stable and flexible power sources, and measures to improve efficiency, Lam said. Rather than focus solely on individual projects, he called for an energy ecosystem encompassing equipment production, technical services, research, training and increased involvement by Vietnamese businesses.

In manufacturing, he asked international companies to add design, research, product development and other higher-value activities alongside processing and assembly, while developing Vietnamese supplier networks. Separately, he urged closer ties between companies, researchers and training institutions to help Vietnamese businesses strengthen management and satisfy green and environmental, social and governance criteria.

Lam directed Vietnamese agencies to allocate follow-up responsibility for feasible proposals from the meeting, give promising projects a clear path forward and refer legitimate concerns to authorities able to review and resolve them.