HANOI, 31st March, 2022 (WAM) -- A forum to promote foreign investment into Vietnam themed "A new era of digital transformation and green transition" took place in London on Wednesday as part of the Vietnam Days in the UK 2022, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

During the event, participants were updated on Vietnam's economic situation as well as investment and trade opportunities brought by the UK - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which officially took effect from May 2021.

They discussed the potential for investment in digital technology, fin-tech, renewable energy, and green transition in Vietnam as well as opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to access financial sources from the UK for green development projects.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh said in the next 5-10 years, Vietnam will become a country with rapidly digital transformation. He affirmed that along with the boom in online payments involved by Fintech firms in recent times, Vietnam is confident towards the goal of substantive digital transformation in the near future.

According to the World Bank (WB), Vietnam boasts the highest installed capacity of solar power in Southeast Asia, generating 16,500MW at the end of 2020. It also was among the world's top 10 for largest installed solar power capacity in the year.

Ben Backwell, CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council, agreed that the potential for cooperation in wind power development between Vietnam and the UK remains huge, especially when Vietnam has set ambitious goals of carbon neutralisation.

The UK has strength and experience in offshore wind energy development and it can transfer technology to Vietnam in this field, he said, adding that the two countries can cooperate in managing power network.

According to Dominic Scriven, Chairman of Dragon Capital Investment Fund, Vietnam is a name that is attracting attention of foreign investors thank to its success in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, increasing competitiveness, political stability and open investment policy.

Sharing this view, Ian Gibbons, CEO of the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC), said that the Vietnamese Government has implemented the right foreign investment attraction policy with creating an open and transparent business and investment environment.

UK firms investing in Vietnam have received support from the two governments to establish or expand operations in Vietnam in all fields from education and health care to IT services, he said.

The bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and the UK hit US$6.6 billion in 2021, up 17.2 percent year-on-year and nearly doubled that reported in 2010. The UK's direct investment in Vietnam in 2021 increased by 157 percent compared to 2020.

Dominic James, Director of Bilateral Trade Relations for Asia-Pacific of the UK Department for International Trade (DIT), said the UK considers Vietnam an important partner in promoting trade liberalisation in the region, and DIT is working with partners in both countries to help businesses fully tap opportunities and benefits brought by UKVFTA.

According to Dragon Capital, Vietnam's GDP is expected to grow by 7 percent in 2022, and 7.5 percent in 2025.