9:05:19 AM | 7/29/2025
More than 200 ABAC members and assistants, including leaders of leading businesses and multinational corporations from 21 APEC member economies, attended the Third Meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC III) 2025 held in Hai Phong City. The meeting was co-hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Sovico Group, and Saigon Invest Group (members of ABAC Vietnam) in coordination with Hai Phong City.
Hai Phong City leaders present investment certificates to business representatives
Established in 1996, ABAC is the official policy advisory body that represents the business community in making recommendations to the leaders of APEC economies. ABAC meetings are held four times a year, rotating among major cities of the member economies.
This meeting was a key session to finalize ABAC’s letters to APEC Ministers responsible for Economy, SMEs, Health, and Digital Transformation, and to complete the policy recommendation report from the business community to be submitted to APEC Economic Leaders at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Korea in October 2025.
The overarching theme of ABAC 2025 - “Bridge.Business.Beyond” - illustrates both a message of connectivity and an expression of aspiration for cooperation in addressing challenges for joint sustainable development.
The opening ceremony and working sessions of the Third ABAC Meeting this year centered on strategic topics: Trade and investment, sustainable finance, digital transformation, green development, innovation, food security and health.
The outcomes of the meeting will be compiled into ABAC’s official report for submission to APEC Leaders at the ABAC Dialogue with APEC Leaders, scheduled to take place later this year in Korea. The discussions at the meeting will directly contribute to shaping the region’s economic and trade policies in the coming time.
The Third ABAC Meeting in Hai Phong was not only a highlight of this year’s ABAC agenda but also a major opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its active role, prestige, and responsibility within APEC. It also offered Vietnamese enterprises the chance to engage directly with international partners and ABAC members to foster business connections, promote the investment environment, and work together toward a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable APEC region.
As part of the Third ABAC Meeting, the APEC business community engaged in various interactive activities with Hai Phong City. Notably, ABAC delegates conducted field visits to Trang Due, Deep C, and Nam Dinh Vu industrial zones, as well as Lach Huyen International Port, and gained firsthand insights into Hai Phong’s modern manufacturing and logistics infrastructure. In addition, they visited exhibition booths showcasing the city’s planning, economic potential, and culture.
The Third ABAC Meeting took place as Vietnam was actively preparing for its chairmanship of APEC 2027. The successful organization of the Third ABAC Meeting demonstrated Vietnam’s strong commitment to supporting the business community, boosting multilateral cooperation, and making a positive contribution to regional integration.
By Anh Mai, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
