Business

Vietnam promoting impact investment for sustainable future

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in collaboration with the Global Affairs Canada (GAC), held the Vietnam Impact Investment Forum 2024 under the theme “Driving impact investment for a sustainable future” in Hanoi on October 24.

Impact investment involves investing in projects aimed at generating positive social or environmental effects. (Photo: VNA)
Impact investment involves investing in projects aimed at generating positive social or environmental effects. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in collaboration with the Global Affairs Canada (GAC), held the Vietnam Impact Investment Forum 2024 under the theme “Driving impact investment for a sustainable future” in Hanoi on October 24.

Impact investment is a concept that has started to gain traction in Vietnam. It involves investing in projects aimed at generating positive social or environmental effects. This innovative approach seeks to enhance the contributions of the private sector to sustainable development.

Director of the VCCI’s Enterprise Development Institute Luong Minh Huan said that in line with global trends, Vietnam has a vibrant and rapidly growing impact investing ecosystem. According to a report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, there are approximately 22,000 social impact enterprises in the country, with this number continuously increasing each year. Of these, 89% are classified as micro- or small-sized enterprises, and 72% have annual revenues below 5 billion VND (196,600 USD).

These businesses are primarily concentrated in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, food processing, skills training and non-agricultural livelihoods, and business consulting and handicrafts.

With this rapidly developing impact investing ecosystem, Vietnam has an opportunity to become a leading impact investment hub in Southeast Asia, Huan stated, pointing to several challenges related to the legal framework and capital access.

Therefore, this forum created a platform for investors, businesses, and policymakers to build collaborative relationships, share ideas, and develop strategies to support enterprises that generate social impact, with focus on assisting vulnerable communities, particularly women, by helping social impact enterprises access investment capital, he added.

Shawn Steil, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam, emphasised his country's commitment to promoting impact investment in Vietnam. The Canadian development cooperation programme is helping attract private capital to support sustainable and inclusive development in Vietnam, and partnering with organisations such as the Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and the VCCI.

Canada is committed to supporting Vietnam's transition into an impact investing hub in Southeast Asia, promoting the country's progress toward achieving comprehensive development goals, the diplomat asserted./.

VNA
#Vietnam Impact Investment Forum #impact investment #VCCI #Global Affairs Canada #Vietnam #VietnamPlus #Vietnam News Agency
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Southeast region anticipating fresh wave of investment

The southeast region is held in high regard by foreign investors thanks to its geographic location, natural conditions, and abundant human resources. In recent years, localities in the region have made significant efforts to enhance administrative reform, improve the business and investment environment, and focus on developing a skilled workforce to meet the needs of businesses, so as to attract a new wave of investment.

See more

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc chairs a meeting with representatives of US business associations and companies operating in Vietnam on July 17, 2026. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

Standing Deputy PM meets with US business community

Chairing a meeting with representatives of US business associations and companies operating in Vietnam, Tuc praised the US business community for its substantive contributions to Vietnam's socio-economic development as well as the two countries’ relations.

Workers assembles electronic components on the production line at the Bao Sen Co., Ltd. in Bac Ninh province. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam's economy needs to shift from quantity to quality: ADB experts

Shantanu Chakraborty, ADB Country Director for Vietnam, noted that while achieving strong growth in a single year is encouraging, maintaining both the pace and quality of growth over many years will be essential if Vietnam is to achieve its goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045.

The Long Son Petrochemical Complex, an investment project of Thailand's SCG Group, is located in Long Son commune, Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam reshapes FDI strategy with focus on technology, innovation

Politburo Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW, issued on June 8, 2026, recognises the foreign-invested sector as an important component of the national economy, signalling a major shift in the country's investment attraction strategy. Rather than prioritising labour-intensive projects, Vietnam is now seeking high-quality investments capable of driving technological progress, innovation, sustainable development and stronger participation in global value chains.

International tourists love shopping for souvenirs at Hanoi's Old Quarter night market (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi aims to raise tourists' night-time spending to 30%

Hanoi will establish and operate flagship night-time economy zones supported by preferential policies, including heritage and cultural districts in Hoan Kiem, Cua Nam, Ba Dinh, Son Tay and Soc Son; modern entertainment hubs in Tay Ho-West Lake West, My Dinh and Dong Anh; creative economy zones linked to cultural industries such as theatres, cinemas and museums; and cultural tourism and resort destinations in suburban craft villages including Bat Trang, Ba Vi and Huong Son.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam and Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Phouthavanh Nanthavong visit the Vietnamese pavilion at VIETLAO EXPO 2026 (Photo: VNA)

VIETLAO EXPO 2026 helps boost Vietnam-Laos strategic cohesion

The Vietnam-Laos Trade Fair 2026 (VIETLAO EXPO 2026) opened on July 16 in Vientiane, serving as a key platform for businesses from both countries to showcase products, seek partnerships, transfer technologies and expand investment cooperation.

The Vietnam-EFTA FTA is one of the longest-negotiated trade agreements in Vietnam's history. (Illustrative Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-EFTA deal set to further boost bilateral trade growth

The Vietnam-EFTA FTA is one of the longest-negotiated trade agreements in Vietnam's history, reflecting its broad scope of commitments covering trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property, government procurement, environmental protection, sustainable development, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and other areas of cooperation.

Passengers and visitors check in at Terminal 1 of Noi Bai International Airport. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route among world’s busiest

According to IATA’s ranking of global air passenger markets, the US remained the world’s largest market in 2025, with 890.1 million passengers, up 1.6% from 2024. China, the world’s second-largest market, recorded stronger growth of 4.8%, reaching 776.1 million passengers. China is widely forecast to overtake the US and become the world’s largest air passenger market in the 2030s.

An overview of the working session between the Kazakh delegation and the Can Tho City People's Committee on July 16. (Photo: VNA)

Kazakhstan explores agricultural by-product recycling project in Can Tho city

The proposed project would use rice husks as its primary feedstock, with an estimated one million tonnes processed annually using advanced technology developed in Kazakhstan. At present, the top priority is to secure a stable supply of raw materials from rice-producing provinces across the Mekong Delta.

Consumers buy fruit at a supermarket in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

US highlights potential in Vietnam’s fruit market

The US was Vietnam's second-largest supplier of agricultural products, with export turnover reaching 4.7 billion USD in 2025, a remarkable increase from less than 3.5 billion USD in 2024, Fruitnet said, citing a new report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung (thitd, left) attends the opening ceremony of Grand Halal Bangkok 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese firms seek global Halal opportunities at Bangkok exhibition

Ambassador Pham Viet Hung described Grand Halal Bangkok 2026 as an important opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to connect not only with Thailand's Halal industry but also with Halal food producers worldwide, while learning from experience of Thailand and international partners.

Marnufacturing garments for export at Hung Yen Jute and Garment Joint Stock Company. (Photo: VNA)

GDP expands 8.18%, with new growth drivers taking shape

According to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, GDP expanded by 8.39% in the second quarter, up from 8.14% a year earlier. Growth for the first six months reached 8.18%, exceeding the 7.63% recorded in the same period of 2025. The performance reflected broad-based contributions from both the supply and demand sides of the economy.