Vietnamese businesses proactively seek investment opportunities abroad

After a period of stagnation, Vietnamese enterprises' investment capital abroad is showing an upward trend again. According to the General Statistics Office ( Ministry of Finance ), in the first 7 months of 2025, Vietnam had 105 projects newly granted investment certificates abroad with a total capital of 398.9 million USD, 3.2 times higher than the same period last year. There were 20 projects adjusting capital with an increased adjusted capital of 129.6 million USD, 4.5 times higher than the same period last year.

In the first 7 months of 2025, Vietnam's total investment capital abroad, including newly granted capital and adjusted capital, reached 528.5 million USD; 3.5 times higher than the same period last year. Domestic enterprises' investment abroad focuses on a number of key areas such as professional activities, science and technology; processing and manufacturing industry; electricity production and distribution, etc.

According to Dr. Phan Huu Thang, Chairman of the Vietnam Industrial Zone Finance Association (VIPFA), Vietnamese enterprises are proactively seeking business opportunities abroad. Many projects of domestic enterprises implemented in a number of countries have brought about socio-economic efficiency.

At the Business Forum 2025: Breakthrough solutions to support businesses in accessing new markets, Mr. Ngo Sy Hoai, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association, said: to adapt to the new context, a number of businesses in the industry are discussing and researching to promote cooperation and association with US businesses to organize the production of wood products in the US. This production is based on US raw materials, using Vietnamese labor and production equipment.

Dr. Phan Huu Thang highly appreciated the prospects of domestic enterprises investing abroad in the coming period. Considering that this investment capital is essentially from the private economic sector, according to Dr. Phan Huu Thang, Resolution No. 68 is opening up new space for the private economy to develop, including overseas investment activities. In particular, when institutional and policy obstacles are resolved, the flow of investment capital from domestic to foreign countries will be promoted more strongly.

Assessing enterprises investing abroad is gradually becoming a popular trend, bringing many benefits to enterprises in expanding markets, increasing revenue, accessing technology, modern management skills, reducing costs, etc. In the draft policy proposal of the Investment Law (replacement), the Ministry of Finance has made important recommendations.

The Ministry of Finance proposes to remove the procedure for approving foreign investment policies under the authority of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance. Instead, investors register with the State Bank about transferring money abroad. This change, according to the Ministry of Finance, helps foreign investment activities to be managed more effectively. Investors will register with the State Bank after having sufficient documents approving foreign investment with investment licenses, certificates of enterprise establishment/capital contribution contracts, purchase of shares in foreign companies...

Compared to current regulations, investors who want to invest abroad must go through many steps to apply for a license. The proposal of the Ministry of Finance cuts many administrative procedures, contributing to saving time and costs, increasing competition and helping investors access business opportunities abroad more quickly.