Vietnam Access links investors The international Vietnam Access Day 2014 investment conference due to take place on March 18 at the InterContinental Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, will offer opportunities for leading Vietnamese companies and portfolio investors around the world to exchange ideas and foster links. Local companies will join with portfolio investors for Vietnam Access Day The two-day event co-organised by Viet Capital Bank and Viet Capital Securities Co. (VCSC) will help Vietnamese companies capitalise on the opportunity to raise awareness with global investors, which could provide them with a leading edge to attract future capital, said To Hai, VCSC general director. For investors, “we hope that through Vietnam Access Day, they will be provided with a complete panorama of the Vietnamese economy, as well as detailed information about the areas in which they are interested,” Hai added. Investors will also go on site visits to Dat Xanh Group’s housing projects, Vinamilk’s factories and the Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment Company’s Thu Duc water plant. Business leaders and think-tanks will converge to give presentations and host panel-led debates Nguyen Xuan Thanh, director of the Fulbright Economics Teaching Programme, is slated to give an analysis of Vietnam’s economy, whereas Baker & McKenzie principal Frederick Burke will explain what the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) means to Vietnam and Vo Thanh Hung from the Finance Ministry will summarise the government’s budget priorities for this year. Henry B. Nguyen, McDonald’s Vietnam executive director, will talk about McDonald’s first foray into Vietnam and eagerness to open hundreds of franchising restaurants in the years to come. Regarding consumer trends, Ralf Matthaes, managing director of Taylor Nelson Sofres Market Research, will discuss Vietnamese consumer habits. Hot topics include the real estate market presented by CBRE Vietnam managing director Marc Townsend and efforts to enhance market liquidity by deputy general director of the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange Le Hai Tra. Four panels will discuss issues of micro-economics, consumer trends, risks to the banking system, and derivatives and new products for the stock market. The event would gather together 200 investors and 38 leading firms, including a majority of Vietnam’s largest businesses. Hai said: “We hope to help make Vietnam become a favorite destination among international investors. As the leading provider of financial services in the market, we believe that our outstanding capability and experience will enable us to act as a bridge to new investment opportunities.” Vietnam Access Day was held for the first time in 2012 with over 300 attendees, including 210 local and global investors, 60 representatives from Vietnam’s leading companies and 34 guest speakers, making it the largest event of its kind about Vietnam. By Duc Luan, VIR