Investments

Ho Chi Minh City Hosts Autumn Economic Forum 2025: “Green Transformation in the Digital Age”

On the morning of November 14th, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee held a press conference to announce the 2025 Autumn Economic Forum, themed "Green Transformation in the Digital Age."

Administrator

14 November, 2025

Autumn Economic Forum 2025 press conference on November 14, 2025.

Under the direction of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the Autumn Economic Forum 2025 will officially take place with a series of key activities over three days, from November 25 to 27, in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

The forum is organized under the guidance of the HCMC People’s Committee, with the HCMC Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (HCMC C4IR) taking the lead, in collaboration with city agencies, the World Economic Forum (WEF), and central ministries and sectors.

The forum aims to serve as a high-level policy dialogue platform between the Vietnamese Government, HCMC, international organizations, the business community, and academia. It seeks to foster public-private partnerships, green and digital transformation, and sustainable development, driving the shift toward a smart and resilient economy.

Through diverse and multidimensional activities, the forum underscores HCMC’s pioneering role in international integration, smart economic development, and innovation. It aims to position the city as a leading financial, technological, and innovation hub in Southeast Asia.

As Vietnam enters a new growth cycle, traditional drivers such as low-cost labor and foreign direct investment (FDI) are reaching their limits. This necessitates new economic drivers to sustain competitiveness and enhance growth quality. Under the theme “Green Transition in the Digital Age,” the Autumn Economic Forum 2025 highlights two essential drivers for the modern economy: digital transformation and green transition. This theme underscores Vietnam’s strategic direction in the new era—balancing rapid growth with sustainable development, leveraging digital technology while prioritizing environmental protection and human-centric progress.

According to the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), Vietnam is undergoing a “strategic shift toward a greener, more sustainable, and resilient economy,” with a “golden opportunity to become a regional hub for green production and innovation.” Meanwhile, Vietnam’s digital economy is thriving, accounting for 18.3% of GDP in 2024 and targeting 20.5% by 2025, equivalent to $52 billion. With 79.8 million internet users (78.8% of the population) and 127 million mobile connections, Vietnam is among Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital economies.

However, environmental and energy challenges are increasingly urgent. Vietnam has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, requiring over $2.4 trillion in investment. National energy demand is projected to grow by 12-13% annually until 2025, necessitating a rapid shift to renewable energy, green production, and energy efficiency. The World Bank warns that without timely action, economic growth could decline by 0.33 percentage points annually from 2025 to 2050.

In response, the Government issued the Green Taxonomy Framework under Decision No. 21/2025/QĐ-TTg on July 4, 2025, identifying 45 eligible green investment sectors. This marks a significant shift from “green in direction” to “green in action.”

Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, emphasized that HCMC, with its expanded development space, must demonstrate its capacity to transform in line with its role as a national megacity. The city must not only adopt global trends but also pioneer new development standards for Vietnam—rooted in a knowledge-based economy, advanced science and technology, and sustainable, Net Zero-aligned principles.

This year’s forum must go beyond discussing the dual transformation, showcasing its practical implementation across sectors where Vietnam can gain a competitive edge—from smart manufacturing and low-carbon logistics to digital urban services and open innovation. The city must provide evidence through data, analytical tools, international expertise, and concrete programs.

Thus, the forum should move beyond experience-sharing to designing models, proposing mechanisms, and creating scalable components—serving as a “development blueprint” rather than mere recommendations. Collaborations announced between HCMC, the World Economic Forum, and domestic and international businesses will underscore the collective commitment of the government, researchers, and enterprises to this transformative journey.

Detailed Program of Autumn Economic Forum 2025:

November 25: Inspiring and Connecting Global Businesses

– Opening with the “Intelligent Generation NOW” talkshow for youth inspiration,

– Followed by the CEO500 – TEA CONNECT program in the afternoon, themed “Ho Chi Minh City: Toward a Global Digital Megacity.”

November 26: Main Forum: From Vision to Action

– Morning plenary session with opening remarks by the Vietnamese Prime Minister, HCMC leaders, and a virtual message from Mr. Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum.

– Three parallel sessions: