Business merger and acquisition (M&A) was one of the most important investment attraction channels.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong made this statement at the opening ceremony of the M&A Vietnam Forum 2011, in HCM City on June 9.

The forum attracted hundreds of domestic and foreign experts, including representatives from the Competition Management Department, KPMG, Pepsico, Deutsche Bank, Bloomberg, Duane Morris LLP and Vigroup.

Editor in Chief of the Dau tu (Investment) newspaper, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the forum’s organising board, said the forum serves as a bridge to connect partnerships at home and abroad and increase M&A investment activities.

Statistics released at the forum show in 2010, Vietnam had 345 M&A deals with a gross transaction value up to 1.7 billion USD. The figure represented a record year-on-year increase of 65 percent in terms of value.

Finance and banking, securities, real estate, retail sales, telecommunication and industry sectors are forecast to witness more M&A activity.

Participants analysed elements that had impacts on M&A activities over the past year and future orientations, as well as discussed M&A possibilities.