(Chinhphu.vn) – On December 11th, in Ho Chi Minh City, the 2025 Industrial Park Forum officially opened with the theme “Promoting Industrial Park Investment in the New Era”. This is an annual event for leaders of industrial parks, state management agencies, international organizations, industry associations, investors, experts, scientists, and the domestic and foreign investment promotion community.
The event took place in the context of the country having just completed the merger of 34 provinces and cities, opening up new development opportunities and creating momentum for the next phase of industrial growth, elevating Vietnam's industrial position on the global map.
A place where innovative thinking converges and shapes the future of Vietnam's industry.
The forum will focus on discussing solutions to improve the quality of investment attraction, promote self-reliant production and industrial self-sufficiency, and optimize Vietnam's industrial land resources through high-value, smart, and sustainable projects.
The event was attended by Mr. Nguyen Dong Trung – Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs); Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu – Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade; Mr. Truong Van Phong – Deputy Head of the Management Board of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Pham Viet Phuong – Deputy Head in charge of the Management Board of Industrial Parks and Economic Zones of Dong Nai province; Mr. Duong The Thanh – Deputy Head of the Management Board of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Can Tho; Mr. Dam Minh Le – Deputy Head of the Management Board of Dung Quat Economic Zone and Industrial Parks of Quang Ngai… and brought together more than 100 leaders and investors of industrial parks, export processing zones, economic zones… nationwide; 200 leaders of businesses and international organizations that are accompanying the development in the industrial park ecosystem of Vietnam and the world.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Dao Xuan Duc – Chairman of the Industrial Park Forum 2025 – IPFORUM 2025, stated that the Forum was established with the mission of creating a space for exchange, sharing, and connection between industrial parks and the manufacturing community, aiming to promote sustainable values, foster cooperation, develop technology, enhance management capacity, and work together towards common prosperity. With a long-term vision, IPFORUM aspires to become a hub for advanced knowledge, innovative thinking, and the desire to create a future for Vietnam's industrial sector, aligned with global trends and goals.
According to Mr. Dao Xuan Duc, the core value of IPFORUM is the spirit of solidarity and working together to create an industrial ecosystem for people, for national development, and for the happiness of humanity. At this forum, all gaps, differences, and competition are opened up from a positive perspective, all aiming towards the common goal of economic development, national prosperity, and a progressive and humane society.
Mr. Dao Xuan Duc believes that, after more than three decades, Vietnam's industrialization and modernization have achieved very commendable results. And now, as the whole world is undergoing a strong transformation, Vietnam has just merged provinces and cities to create new development spaces and opportunities for Vietnamese industrial zones to enter a more profound era of development, linked to global standards and values.
Therefore, with the theme of this Forum being "Promoting Industrial Park Investment in the New Era," Mr. Dao Xuan Duc informed that IPFORUM will also be comprehensively reformed, not just a regular annual meeting, but a series of ongoing exchange, discussion, and sharing activities updated in the "Developing Smart and Sustainable Industrial Parks" section of the Government Electronic Newspaper. At the same time, from 2026, IPFORUM will be held monthly at the modern studio of VTV9, Vietnam Television Center in Ho Chi Minh City, and will be filmed and broadcast at 9:00 AM on the second Sunday of each month, expected to start from April 9, 2026. In 2026, the Organizing Committee hopes that IPFORUM will be organized on a larger global scale, attracting the participation of advanced industrial parks and manufacturing enterprises from all over the world to converge with Vietnam.
A new value system needs to be defined within the industrial park development ecosystem in Vietnam.
In her opening remarks at the Forum, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Khanh – General Director of the Vietnam Industrial Park Information Portal – stated that the 2025 Industrial Park Forum, organized by the Vietnam Industrial Park Information Portal under the patronage of the IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, will include two plenary sessions with key topics such as: “From Economic Diplomacy to Investment Contracts: National Will – Enterprise Action in Sustainable Industrial Park Development”; Prospects for Vietnam's Industrial Parks in 2026 with a vision to 2030, a new map, new space, new driving forces after mergers; “Developing Industrial Parks for People: Competing with Human Values, Action from Chemical Management and Gender Equality”; New Value System: Accelerating the Double Transformation of Industries to Attract High-Value Investments; Knowledge Diplomacy – Leading the Transformation Strategy – Investing in New Generation Industrial Parks. The 2025 Industrial Park Forum will include a panel discussion on the theme: "New Value Systems to Promote Investment in Industrial Parks in the New Era".
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Khanh stated that, in the context of rapid changes, it is necessary to define new value systems within the industrial park development ecosystem in Vietnam.
“"So how will industrial parks and businesses within the production ecosystem act to attract investment and fill industrial parks and export processing zones with high-quality investment projects, advanced technology, and adhering to global standards?" asked Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Khanh.
Recommendations for the sustainable development of Vietnamese industrial zones.
In the context of deep integration and Vietnam's expanding diplomatic and strategic cooperation relations with many countries around the world, economic diplomacy plays a crucial role in expanding capital flows and enhancing Vietnam's position on the industrial investment map. Mr. Nguyen Dong Trung – Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) shared insights on the direction of economic diplomacy in Vietnam's new era, messages and recommendations for business leaders in industrial parks to work alongside the Government, as well as some planned important diplomatic activities in 2026.
Regarding development orientation for 2026, Mr. Nguyen Dong Trung stated that it is necessary to continue maintaining momentum and further strengthen relations with key partners (China, the US, South Korea, India, etc.), important partners (Bulgaria, Germany, the UK, Portugal, Italy, etc.), and expand relations with potential partners (Egypt, Turkey, Kuwait, South Africa, Mexico, etc.). He emphasized the need for more decisive action, the development of specific plans, and the establishment of mechanisms for exchanging information with partners on accelerating the implementation of high-level agreements and commitments.
In addition, we will continue to promote and create breakthroughs in the growth drivers of trade, investment, labor, and tourism. In terms of investment, the focus is on resolving outstanding issues and attracting key strategic investment projects. Efforts will be intensified to attract FDI in 11 strategic technology sectors; and domestic enterprises will be encouraged to participate more deeply in global value chains and production and supply chains.
Simultaneously, we must promote new growth drivers, with science and technology diplomacy, semiconductor diplomacy, and digital economy diplomacy as the focus and breakthroughs of modern economic diplomacy. We must actively attract resources to achieve breakthroughs in science and technology. We must identify the strengths of each partner to promote priority areas for each partner in a suitable manner. We must maximize the potential of cooperation frameworks with key partners to create momentum and lead the formation of high-tech supply chains in Vietnam. We must promote the participation of Vietnamese businesses in high-tech supply chains and strengthen Vietnam's presence in international forums on technology governance.
Enhance the provision of information to localities and businesses on new governance rules, standards, and economic trends. Promote dialogue and policy consultation on economic and development issues; focus on long-term research on strategic issues.
Mr. Nguyen Dong Trung offered three recommendations for industrial parks and businesses to further improve their investment attraction and business cooperation efforts in the future. First and foremost is the "Partnership" mindset.
“"Tell us what you need; the more specific and detailed you are, the easier it will be for us to support and accompany you. For example, when the government expands its foreign relations (upgrading to a comprehensive strategic partnership…), businesses need to quickly take advantage of this opportunity to expand cooperation," Mr. Trung suggested.
Secondly The approach is "professional," standardized according to the global language (ESG). According to Mr. Nguyen Dong Trung, Implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards is not an expense, but an investment in a passport to the global market.
Thirdly, it's about strengthening partnerships. Because in this new, larger geographical space, businesses need to abandon fragmented business thinking. They should collaborate to form strong domestic supply chains capable of becoming Tier 1 partners for multinational corporations.
Presenting statistics on Vietnam's industrial parks, Mr. Pham Van Nam – Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Industrial Park Information Portal – stated that statistics from the Vietnam Industrial Park Information Portal show that the number of industrial parks currently operating in Vietnam is over 320, with an occupancy rate of over 791 TP3T.
Mr. Pham Van Nam offered insights and recommendations for industrial parks in Vietnam, emphasizing the need for cooperation and integration among industrial parks in building regional investment brands. Industrial parks will gradually transform from a "infrastructure provider" model to a "value chain connectivity center"—a place where FDI and domestic businesses develop together, share technology and markets, and elevate Vietnam's role in the global industrial ecosystem. It is necessary to accelerate the upgrading of smart, sustainable, and integrated industrial parks, incorporating renewable energy, digital infrastructure, Logistics 4.0, and closely linking them with smart cities and multimodal transport to create an attractive living and working environment that attracts talent and innovation. Vocational education should be reformed to align with business needs, prioritizing digital skills and automation. This is accompanied by a national media campaign honoring manufacturing workers, engineers, and skilled craftsmen, aiming to change social perceptions, inspire pride, and foster entrepreneurial aspirations in the industrial manufacturing sector.
Diep Anh
Here are some more photos from the event:
