Ho Chi Minh City Calls for Japanese Investment in International Financial Center and Key Strategic Projects

Ho Chi Minh City is embarking on a new era of development, marked by bold and strategic initiatives. At the Ho Chi Minh City and Hyogo Province Economic Forum 2025, the city’s leadership officially invited Japanese businesses and financial institutions to partner with them and invest in a series of key projects, with the International Financial Center project being a standout priority.

Ho Chi Minh City – A Super-Metropolis with Immense Potential

Following the administrative merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces, Ho Chi Minh City has transformed into an impressive super-metropolis with:

• Area: 6,772.6 km²

• Population: nearly 14 million people

• GRDP in 2024: over $115 billion, accounting for nearly 24.4% of the country’s total GDP

With this new status, Ho Chi Minh City aims to become a regional and international hub for economics, finance, logistics, and high-tech industries. The city boasts one of Southeast Asia’s most comprehensive infrastructure systems, including the Cat Lai and Cai Mep – Thi Vai port complexes, two international airports (Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh), and more than 50 industrial parks, export processing zones, and high-tech parks. This robust foundation is an ideal platform for attracting foreign investors, particularly from Japan.

An Invitation to Invest in Key Projects

During the forum, city leaders presented specific development orientations for each region, along with a list of key projects actively seeking investment from Japan.

• Central Ho Chi Minh City:

  • Focuses on developing fintech, artificial intelligence, innovative startups, high-quality education, and international-standard healthcare services.

  • Highlight: The International Financial Center project. Ho Chi Minh City particularly welcomes the deep involvement of major Japanese financial institutions to jointly build a world-class financial hub.

• Binh Duong Area:

  • Will become a smart industrial and logistics hub for the region.

  • Featured Projects: Logistic Zones 1 and 2 in Tan Uyen City, as well as several large-scale urban development projects.

• Ba Ria – Vung Tau Area:

  • Positioned as a National Maritime Economic Center, focusing on attracting capital for deep-water ports, renewable energy industries, and logistics.

  • Featured Projects: Long Son LNG Power Plant and Vung Tau International Passenger Terminal.

A Strategy for Sustainable Development: Green and Digital Transformation

Ho Chi Minh City identifies green and digital transformation as two breakthrough drivers for sustainable growth. The city is committed to not sacrificing the environment for economic growth, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

A concrete example is the “For a Green Can Gio” program, which aims to turn Can Gio into a model “net-zero” green urban area. Additionally, Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating its digital transformation efforts to become a smart city by 2030, with 45 shared databases and 91 open data sets available to the public.

These strategies not only create an attractive and transparent investment environment but also demonstrate the city’s long-term vision. The partnership of Japanese businesses in these fields will be key to building a modern, sustainable, and prosperous Ho Chi Minh City.

The trust shown by major Japanese corporations like AEON, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hitachi Zosen, MUFG Bank, Mizuho, and Tokyu Corporation over the years is clear evidence of Ho Chi Minh City’s promising investment climate. With special policies and mechanisms from Resolution 98, Ho Chi Minh City is opening its doors to wide-ranging cooperation, inviting Japanese investors to join them in building a shared future.