The event provided a platform for Vietnam to showcase its semiconductor potential and reaffirm its commitment to developing high-tech industries and strengthening international cooperation.

By creating a large number of jobs and promoting a green economy, the initiative is important in establishing Vietnam as a global hub for the circular textile sector.

Market size, growth potential, low labor costs, and stable political and social conditions continue to be Vietnam’s selling points in attracting foreign investors.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into HCM City has risen sharply - in terms of registered capital and the number of investment licences – over the first two months of 2014, according to the HCM City Department of Planning and Investment.

Vietnam’s economy has turned the corner and is on a bright path to full economic recovery as evidenced by its high GDP growth rate of more than 5% last year.

Industry insiders forecast that FDI flow of Vietnam will increase this year despite the country`s foreign direct investment capital in the first two months of the year declined more than 60 per cent to US$1.54 billion against the same period last year.

Vietnam attracted US$1.539 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) between January 1 and February 20, down 62.5% from the same period last year.

Military-run telecom group Viettel recently announced that telephone exports comprised at least 90% of its total sales in 2013.

Japanese enterprises are satisfied with Viet Nam’s investment environment, expecting that they are able to achieve higher growth rate as well as profit.

High-level executives from 33 leading US companies, who are sanguine on prospects for doing business in Vietnam, attended the annual US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) in Hanoi on February 24.

A Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) survey shows 70% of Japanese firms investing in Vietnam plan to expand their operations to capitalize on investment preferences.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises in Vietnam are afforded too much preferential treatment, disadvantaging local businesses, economist Pham Chi Lan has argued in a recent media interview.

The Republic of Korea’s Samsung group has drawn up a very ambitious expansion plan to revamp its operations in Vietnam and take full advantage of the country’s sound investment climate and highly-skilled human resources.

HCM City is committed to creating a favourable investment climate for foreign companies, including those from Europe, to do long-term and efficient business in the locality.

The northern mountain province of Hoa Binh on February 20 granted an investment license to HNT Electronics of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to manufacture built-in cameras for mobile phones.

In 2014, Ho Chi Minh City hopes to attract US$ 550 million of investment to industrial parks (IPs) and export processing zones (EPZs).

The southern province of Binh Duong has so far this year licensed 39 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects capitalized at US$715 million.

Several Vietnamese state-owned companies operating in oil and gas, electricity, minerals and telecom have suffered losses investing in foreign countries.

The State and business community should solidly work hand in hand to elevate the competiveness of Vietnamese goods in the international market, in light of signing the TPP.

Foreign companies have continued pouring investment into Vietnam to take advantage of the expected opportunities presented by the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP), said a local economist.

More than 600 domestic and foreign businesses have gathered at a February 15 meeting in Nghe An Province presided over by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Construction of the Tan Nam-Mon Chay Bridge, linking border areas between Vietnam and Cambodia, is expected to be completed in April 2014.

Vietnamese enterprises have invested US$4.4 billion in foreign countries and territories in 2013, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.