On April 15, in Hai Phong, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation organized the Forum "Northern Industrial Investment Trends - Opportunities and Challenges" within the framework of the 2026 International Exhibition on Industry - Manufacturing taking place from April 15-17.
According to the report, in recent years, manufacturing industry has continued to play a pillar role in the Vietnamese economy, both in terms of growth, exports and investment attraction. In 2025, the entire industry contributed about 31.6% of GDP, of which the processing and manufacturing sector alone accounted for 24.4% of GDP, affirming the central role of manufacturing in the national economic structure. The recovery momentum is clearly shown through the industrial production index (IIP). In 2025, IIP increased by about 10.1% compared to the previous year; in which the processing and manufacturing sector increased by 11.1%, showing a strong expansion trend of high value-added manufacturing sectors.
From the electronics manufacturing belt around Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong to the seaport logistics network and inter-regional supporting industries, the North is entering a new investment attraction cycle with larger scale, higher standards and fiercer competitive pressure. The "Northern Industrial Investment Trends - Opportunities and Challenges 2026" forum is organized as a dialogue space to identify trends, remove bottlenecks and expand growth potential for the entire region.
The event takes place within the framework of the VIMF 2026 International Exhibition, bringing expectations for a frank dialogue between management agencies and the business community to decode the "bottlenecks" that are hindering the flow of high-quality FDI capital into the North.
At the Forum, VCCI Vice President Hoang Quang Phong commented: "Up to now, after nearly 40 years of attracting FDI investment and industrial development, localities in the Northern region all have industrial parks and the occupancy rate is still a top priority rather than policy priorities on environmental and social criteria. Therefore, industrial development using traditional industrial park models is no longer suitable in the new context such as digital transformation, 4.0 technology application, sustainable consumption and workers' health becoming a precious asset of society".
Mr. Hoang Quang Phong also frankly acknowledged that the Northern region is facing many difficulties in implementing the goal of rapid and sustainable development; especially in the development of industrial investment. The lack of linkages in the industrial development strategy and investment attraction is an urgent issue that needs to be resolved.
The forum took place with two discussion sessions. The first session had the theme of breakthrough opportunities to attract high-quality FDI, experts focused on solving the problem of institutions, infrastructure and human resources. The second session went deeper into the topic "Digital transformation to smart and sustainable production: practical models and lessons for businesses".
Mr. Seck Yee Chung, Vice President of the Singapore Business Association in Vietnam, said: Singapore is the country with the largest FDI investor at the present time in the North in the fields of manufacturing, real estate, industry and infrastructure. In the current context of geopolitical instability, fluctuating tariffs, trade wars, changing oil prices... the most important thing for investors is to consider whether a specific location, a country, brings political, social and economic stability.
The "Northern Industrial Investment Trends 2026" forum is not only a space to look back at achievements, but more importantly, it is a place to identify remaining institutional challenges. From optimizing import and export procedures to creating a transparent legal environment for supporting industries, all are aimed at the ultimate goal: turning the North into a modern, sustainable industrial ecosystem with high resilience to global economic fluctuations. With the participation of functional agencies and hundreds of FDI and domestic enterprises, the event is expected to create a new breath of life for the investment environment, opening up a new growth chapter for Northern industry in the coming period.
