As the demand for investment in infrastructure, energy transformation, digital economy and high technology increases, the capital problem of the economy is not only in scale, but also in the ability to access long-term capital sources at reasonable costs. In that context, expanding connections with international financial markets is considered one of the important directions to supplement resources for growth.
On March 12, 2026, exchanging at the workshop "Effectively mobilizing capital sources, serving the goal of double-digit growth" organized by Lao Dong Newspaper in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Vietnam, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan - Vice Chairman of the Vietnam International Finance Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC) - said that the process of industrialization, infrastructure development, energy transformation and digital transformation all require very large investment capital. The green transformation process alone to move towards net zero emissions by 2050 has required capital of hundreds of billions of USD for decades.
According to Mr. Huan, while the capital demand is increasing, the banking system is still bearing the majority of the capital demand of the economy. This makes the ability to finance large-scale projects with long capital recovery times still limited.
“It is the great dependence on bank credit that is creating a structural bottleneck. When banks have to bear most of the capital needs of the economy, pressure on macroeconomic financial stability increases, and the ability to finance large-scale projects is limited,” Mr. Huan said.
International financial center opens more global capital attraction channel
According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Huan, the formation of an international financial center in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to create a new platform to connect global capital flows with the investment needs of the Vietnamese economy.
Domestic businesses can directly access international investors through issuing shares, international bonds or through modern financial structures," Mr. Huan said.
According to him, when global financial institutions participate more deeply in the market, Vietnamese businesses will have more opportunities to access medium and long-term capital to serve investment, especially for infrastructure, energy and innovation projects.
The formation of an international financial center is also expected to attract investment banks, investment funds and global financial institutions to participate more deeply in the Vietnamese market, thereby contributing to the formation of a deeper financial ecosystem.
International capital support for investment and green transformation
From the perspective of international cooperation, representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said that cooperation programs in Vietnam not only focus on providing preferential capital but also accompany technical support activities and management experience sharing.
According to JICA, effectively utilizing international capital can help Vietnam promote investment in key sectors of the economy, especially infrastructure, energy and sustainable urban development.
In the context of Vietnam accelerating green transformation and economic development towards emission reduction, international capital sources are also assessed as playing an important role in supporting renewable energy projects, sustainable infrastructure and environmental protection initiatives.
These cooperation programs not only supplement financial resources but also contribute to promoting the application of international standards in governance, information disclosure and project management.
Expanding financial resources for growth goals
According to leaders at the conference, to achieve high economic growth targets in the coming period, Vietnam needs to develop its financial system towards diversifying capital channels.
While bank credit still plays an important role in providing capital for the economy, developing the capital market and strengthening connections with international investors will help expand the ability to mobilize resources for long-term projects.
In the context of increasing capital needs for infrastructure, energy and technology, effective connection with international capital flows is expected to open up more room for investment, thereby creating new momentum for economic growth in the coming years.
