The financial investment in Vietnam has gradually recovered, and many regional and global FDI investors recently announced plans to develop capital volume and expand distribution networks here.
The financial investment in the Vietnam market
According to a representative of HSBC Vietnam, financial investment in Vietnam is one of the essential elements to help this country transform into one of the most open economies in the region and overgrow.
Vietnam is riding a wave of economic success after taking the crown of the fastest-growing economy in Asia in 2022, with a healthy 8% growth. The country has robust net foreign financial investment in Vietnam inflow (USD 13.4bn in 1H2023), with a trade surplus of USD 12.2bn (compared to only USD 1.2bn in 1H2022). In addition, the low inflation rates, averaging 3.3% for the first half of 2023, stabilize the exchange rate market.
With the growth of Vietnam's economy, the flow of financial investment in Vietnam has become more critical. This has been demonstrated in recent years when global brands have decided to set up operations in Vietnam.
In 2023, Asia's multinational corporations are concentrating more resources in Vietnam. “They have been involved in the retail, semiconductor, electronics, mobile components, logistics industries, plastic,.... They are looking for ways to expand or make new financial investments in Vietnam," said the HSBC representative./.
In the context of China-US competition and the disruption of global supply chains, Singapore has become one of the important sources of financial investment in Vietnam. Several Singaporean companies have established themselves in Vietnam and play essential roles in helping the local Government attract foreign financial investments in Vietnam.
Top sources of FDI in Vietnam
Among the FDI companies that have moved to Vietnam, there are at least 11 Taiwanese companies in Apple's supply chain and ongoing talks to ramp up production of Apple tablets and smartphones in Vietnam.
Lego has also just opened a USD 1 billion factory in Binh Duong province. The existing FDI investors in Vietnam, such as Samsung and Intel, have increased and expanded their operations there. The total capital of financial investment in Vietnam inflow has increased by 15 percent since last year by adding 1,570 new projects worth USD 9.9 billion, and comprehensive import and export turnover increased by 5.7 percent to reach USD 58.3 billion.
"Lego has said it expects to commence producing its first bricks out of its first carbon-neutral factory here in Vietnam in 2024," says Mr Khanh Vu, deputy managing director at VinaCapital Fund Management. "The company will support the local community, providing jobs for more than 1400 people. Other firms have initiated or pledged to shift their manufacturing operations to Vietnam, such as Foxconn, Apple, and Pandora”.
The Lego factory has a 44-hectare site in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam.
Do Nhat Hoang, Director of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), given that Japanese and Korean investors tend to slow down in making investment decisions considering the internal problems of the economy and the US encouraging investors to move production chains fr om China to other countries.
Meanwhile, investors from Taiwan (China) are flocking to Vietnam, especially in technology, electricity, electric vehicles and electronics. Chinese firms are also establishing new production facilities outside the country to use the host countries’ advantages fully.
Right after China’s reopening, Chinese investors flocked to Vietnam. In the first six months of this year, China’s FDI registered 1.95 billion USD in Vietnam and ranked first in the number of new projects, accounting for 18% of the total 1,293.
How does Vietnam attract financial institutions to invest?
According to experts, despite a wave of strategic adjustments and a reduction in global investment activities, international investors are still watching for financial investment in Vietnam's chance. This reflects the Government's efforts in promoting cooperation, supporting FDI enterprises, and improving the investment environment; experts added that Our country's participation in many free trade agreements also creates favorable conditions for goods produced in Vietnam, especially when tax rates have become a strength, help maintain the country's competitiveness in the race to attract more flows of financial investment in Vietnam.
"In July, Vietnam received over 2.8 billion USD of FDI, a rise of nearly 9% yearly, raising the total amount in the first seven months of this year to 16.24 billion USD, up 4.5%. Of the total, 11.58 billion USD had been disbursed, a rise of 0.8% over the same period last year", Nguyen Chi Dung - Minister of Planning and Investment, said. He also noted that the inflows of financial investment in Vietnam have gradually recovered. Vietnam will continue to complete mechanisms and policies to give non-tax support and incentives to foreign investors in the context of the global minimum tax rate application, thereby creating competitive advantages to attract more large-scale projects using high technology.
From January 15, 2024, foreign investors from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) members seeking to establish retail outlets will no longer be required to comply with the Economic Need Test (ENT). This will provide an essential competitive advantage for CPTPP member investors operating in Vietnam.
The CPTPP is the first free trade agreement to offer this landmark liberalization to foreign financial investment in Vietnam. It will allow foreign brands to expand their retail presence in Vietnam's fast-growing retail sector, which the Ministry of Industry (MOIT) expects to hit 350 billion USD by 2025. In particular, retail trade will contribute 59 percent of the total domestic product sales. When foreign enterprises invest in Vietnam, they will improve their distribution networks and export networks.
Masan modern grocery stores account for 50% of the Vietnam network
One factor contributing to this growth is the integration of e-commerce into the business model of brick-and-mortar retailers. For instance, Masan Group, one of Vietnam's top three private companies, has expanded its supermarket network by venturing into the online grocery shopping market through its website. This change is anticipated to increase revenue for retailers in Vietnam. At the same time, it also helps to attract more sources of financial investment in Vietnam.
According to the Department of Domestic Market at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, 2007, Vietnam had 140 supermarkets, megamarkets, and 20 shopping centers. It now has 1,100 supermarkets, 240 shopping malls, and 2,000 convenience stores. The market grew from USD 42.5 billion in 2007 to USD 142 billion last year. This means there will be more capital sources of financial investment in Vietnam. As a result, the competitiveness of Việt Nam's retail market and local companies has improved.
Nguyen Thi Phuong, General Director of WinCommerce, talked in a meeting
Currently, WinCommerce has more than 3,400 points of sale nationwide, with millions of loyal customers. WinCommerce plans to open more than 1,000 new points of sale and to increase each point's revenue by 25 percent, Nguyen Thi Phuong, General Director of WinCommerce, shared.
Vietnam's retail industry is forecasted to continue to grow
Vietnam's economy expanded by 3.72% year-on-year in the year's first half. The Government will keep this year's GDP growth target of 6.5% and will strive to achieve an economic expansion of about 9% in the second half of the year, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at a meeting. This will attract more and more capital organizations for financial investment in Vietnam.
Total retail sales of consumer goods and services increased 10.4 percent year on year to almost VND3.53 quadrillion (USD149 billion) in the first seven months of 2023, compared to a rise of 15.7 percent during the same period of 2022, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO).
The Vietnamese economy is projected to sustain growth in 2023, although it continues to encounter several challenges. The retail industry is expected to maintain growth in the remaining months of 2023 as most retail businesses have suitable solutions to increase purchasing power. Competition in the retail market is anticipated to be fiercer with the entry of new retailers and the expansion of the operations of existing domestic and international retailers.
The WinMart/WinMart+ system has implemented trade promotion programs two times a month with discounts of up to 50 percent applied to many categories and also has a non-profit booth for farmers to sell their products.
The role of global supply chain shifts in driving financial investment in Vietnam
The global realignment of supply chains has significantly influenced financial investment dynamics in Vietnam, positioning the country as a pivotal manufacturing hub in Asia. This shift has been driven by several factors, including the need for diversification, cost optimization, and the pursuit of new market opportunities.
Impact on Financial Investment in Vietnam
In the first eight months of 2024, Vietnam attracted approximately $14.15 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), marking an 8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Manufacturing and processing sectors continued to dominate these inflows, securing $20.2 billion, which constitutes 64.4% of the total FDI.
Key Drivers of Investment
The strategic shift of global supply chains has led multinational corporations to relocate or expand their manufacturing operations in Vietnam. This trend is particularly evident in the electronics and semiconductor industries, wh ere companies are seeking to mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on specific regions and to capitalize on Vietnam's competitive advantages, such as its skilled labor force and favorable trade agreements.
Sectoral Developments
The electronics sector has experienced substantial growth, with exports of electronics, computers, and components reaching $21.6 billion in the first four months of 2024, a 34.9% increase over the same period last year. This surge is attributed to the relocation of manufacturing facilities by companies aiming to diversify their supply chains and reduce dependence on traditional manufacturing hubs.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, Vietnam's manufacturing sector is projected to continue its upward trajectory, driven by ongoing global supply chain realignments. The government's commitment to enhancing infrastructure and streamlining administrative processes is expected to further bolster the country's attractiveness as an investment destination.
However, challenges such as geopolitical tensions and the need for continuous skill development remain areas of focus to sustain this growth.
What is the potential for financial investment in Vietnam's retail industry?
While Vietnam's economy is expected to sustain growth in 2023, it continues to confront several challenges. The slowdown in economic growth and the presence of domestic competitors have kept Vietnam's retail potential in the eyes of foreign players seeking a foothold. As a result, competition for retail market share will likely heat up in the coming time.
According to Vu Thi Hau, former chairwoman of the Association of Vietnam Retailers (AVR), the domestic retail market attracts domestic manufacturers and foreign retailers.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade's (MoIT) European-American Market Department has reported that notable international brands like Walmart, Amazon AES from the U.S., Aeon from Japan, and Central Retail from Thailand are set to participate in the Vietnam International Sourcing Expo in Ho Chi Minh City in September.
In Vietnam's retail market, logistics plays a vital role in the production and business activities of many enterprises, citizens, and the entire operation of the economy. Logistics is the connection and cooperation and is an indispensable factor in the production, distribution, and circulation of goods, especially in creating a beneficial business environment to improve the efficiency of production and business activities in all fields.
However, logistics in Vietnam is still at a low level of development, which has yet to fully promote the role of linking economic entities and activities in the national financial system. Therefore, logistics development is urgent for policymakers and enterprises to develop the retail market.
Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang said that Vietnam must reduce its high logistics costs to improve its competitiveness in the new global production hub. So, Vietnam businesses are building a logistic chain for retail transportation demand.
Leaders of Masan, a Vietnamese private conglomerate, have frequently discussed the role of its subsidiary – The Supra, an essential unit in charge of logistics in the group. Masan's logistics division operates seven dry goods distribution centers and nine fresh goods distribution centers for WinMart nationwide.
Supra Company, after many years of preparation, has officially come into operation
Masan's promotion of the role of The Supra is due to the current situation of commodity prices that are very sensitive to purchasing power. Retailers with better prices retain customers, and logistics is a “magic wand”. Supra has become a key driver in WinCommerce's strategy to expand its grocery store network.
The company owns a 50% market share in the modern retail market and is one of only two retailers with a turnover of VND 30,000 billion. It is the only company to maintain new open rates in 2022 successfully.
Supra has digitized 90% of operations at WinCommerce and Phuc Long chains. "The Supra aims to become the best logistics company in Vietnam, serving the retail system and supporting companies outside the industry," said Nguyen Thi Phuong, General Director of The Supra and General Director of WinCommerce.
Foreign enterprises have always appreciated the Vietnamese retail market because of its stable and positive growth. Vietnam’s retail market is witnessing the “landing” of many retail brands worldwide, making the business race increasingly fierce. Thus, with the greater participation of foreign enterprises through financial investment in Vietnam’s activities, Vietnamese enterprises need to implement many solutions to win and keep market share.
The “door to win” is still open to all, including domestic enterprises, if the business and investment strategy is systematic and in the right direction, according to consumers' tastes.
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