The press conference about the 19th Asian Corporate Conference in HCM City on April 22.

Speaking at the conference before the 19^th Asian Corporate Conference on April 22-24 in HCM City, Ronnie C. Chan, Vice Chairman of Asia Society said that the event would be an opportunity for foreign investors to further understand the investment environment and policies of Vietnam.

Around 1,100 delegates from Asian countries and the US will also discuss common challenges of Asia in economic crisis and the change of power of the US. Compared to the first conference, held in Vietnam six years ago, Ronnie C. Chan said that international investors’ interest in Vietnam is much bigger.

According to Chan, Vietnam was a newly emerging economy in 2003 but now the country is an attractive destination for international investors. “No country in Asia where Asia Society has returned to organize two conferences within only six year, except for Vietnam,” Chan stressed.

Foreign investors are very keen on Vietnam’s future policies, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Cao Viet Sinh, adding that recent forums attracted high numbers of businessmen.

Chan said that in a recent workshop on Vietnam’s investment environment in Hong Kong, all big businessmen in this territory attended, apart from the biggest one. It turned out that he sought to have a meeting with Vietnamese officials before.

Facing difficulties caused by economic meltdown, but according to Chan, if Vietnam has good policies to overcome the crisis, it will be “hotter” in the eyes of foreign investors.

Saying that crisis including threats and opportunities, Chan believed that Vietnam will take opportunities to make breakthroughs.

The Chairwoman of Asia Society said that Vietnam can play a new role in the new world order. This may be a new chance for Vietnam to rise and develop in a different way.

Chan realized the change of Vietnam through the story of his German friend, who bought a private aircraft to fly often to Vietnam to do business. And the upcoming conference, according to Vishakha N. Desai, will be the chance to see how will Vietnam change.

Christine Brendle from the Wall Street Journal believed that the story about Vietnam’s spectacular growth will be published on many print, online newspapers and one mobile devices, not only on the Wall Street Journal.

The 19^th Asian Corporate Conference, ”Redefining Asia’s Challenges
and the New Role for Vietnam”, will be held by Asia Society, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Wall Street Journal in HCM City from 22-24.

There will be eight discussion sessions with the participation of Vietnamese leaders, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan, the US, scholars and businessmen.

Topics for discussion will include: impacts of the sudden changes due to the economic crisis and the power-shifts of countries, and how Asian countries will adapt; consequences of the US’ economic regression; and an assessment of the impacts of the reaction to the new US administration on Asia.

For Vietnam, participants will try to answer the following questions: what is a suitable remedy for its export-based economy? If the country further integrates into the world economy, what will be its policies? How is the country developing and what does Vietnam need to do to pursue its selected direction?

After this current crisis, will Vietnam become a Thailand or an Indonesia after the financial crisis 1997? What models of development should Vietnam learn from? What economic policies should the country pursue to achieve its ambitions and goals of development?

Hoang Phuong – Ca Hao