Vietnam and Singapore Partner on AI and Green Growth at Bilateral Forum
Source: Vietnam Investment Review
The 2026 Vietnam-Singapore Business Forum concluded in Hanoi with a joint push on AI adoption, carbon market development, and investment capital. Featuring Singapore Ambassador Rajpal Singh and former Temasek Chairman Lim Boon Heng, the forum identified AI as a strategic priority for bilateral cooperation.
The 2026 Vietnam-Singapore Business Forum (VSBF), held June 26–27 in Hanoi, brought together policymakers, business leaders, and experts to chart a shared course on artificial intelligence, green growth, and sustainable finance. Singapore Ambassador to Vietnam Rajpal Singh identified AI and digital technology as one of three priority areas for bilateral cooperation alongside economic resilience and green growth.
Ambassador Singh highlighted Singapore’s first-ever ASEAN supply chain resilience joint statement with Vietnam, covering open trade, energy flows, and supply chain continuity. On green growth, the two countries have signed an implementation agreement on carbon credits and are working to make the market more accessible. Vietnam has set a target for its digital economy to reach 20% of GDP by 2030, with AI adoption as a core pillar. The forum also discussed upgrading VSIP industrial parks into smarter, more sustainable "VSIP 2.0" industrial ecosystems.
Former Singapore Cabinet Minister and Temasek Holdings Chairman Lim Boon Heng proposed three priorities: harmonising regulatory standards for ESG reporting and cross-border carbon credits, transforming VSBF into a platform for next-generation ASEAN business leaders, and investing in talent. "Without this talent, we will not succeed," he said, noting that Vietnam’s young workforce combined with Singapore’s technology strengths create powerful human capital for the enterprises of the future.
Why it matters for Singapore: The forum underscores Singapore’s strategy of deepening bilateral AI and green technology partnerships within ASEAN, complementing the city-state’s broader push into digital economy agreements. As Singapore invests billions into its National AI Council and frontier technology initiatives, structured cooperation with fast-growing neighbours like Vietnam — with its young population, abundant renewable energy, and ambitious digital targets — creates a two-way pipeline for AI innovation, carbon markets, and industrial modernisation across the region.