AusCham Participated the Autumn Economic Forum 2025
HCMC, 26 November - AusCham Vietnam was honoured to join the Autumn Economic Forum 2025, held in Ho Chi Minh City under the theme “Green Transition in the Digital Era”. Co-organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the World Economic Forum (WEF), the event brought together more than 1,500 distinguished delegates from government, business, academia and international organisations.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to working closely with global partners based on the principle of “harmonised interests and shared risks,” emphasising that people and enterprises must remain at the centre of development, that economic growth must never come at the expense of environmental or social wellbeing, and that both green transition and digital transformation must ultimately improve the safety and happiness of the population.
As part of Parallel Session 3: “Smart Governance in the Digital Era”, AusCham President Sam Conroy emphasised that smart governance is far more than the adoption of new digital tools. He highlighted that true transformation requires a shift in mindset, the strengthening of institutional systems and the cultivation of trust between government, citizens and the business community.
Drawing from Australia’s experience, he underscored the importance of designing services around the needs of citizens and businesses, building whole-of-government digital platforms that break down bureaucratic silos and enhancing policy responsiveness through data-driven decision-making. He noted that meaningful digital transformation is most successful when governments collaborate closely with the private sector, educational institutions and civil society to co-develop reforms, strengthen interoperability, build digital capability and engage stakeholders continuously. Reflecting on Australia’s innovation journey, he emphasised the value of empowering cross-functional teams, starting with achievable reforms, maintaining early and open consultation, and focusing on practical outcomes rather than the sheer number of digital tools launched.
Vietnam’s rapid digital advancement formed an important backdrop to the session, with the country’s digital economy reaching A$54.6 billion in 2024 and expanding by 16% year-on-year. Major national initiatives including the commitment to fully digitalise the education sector by 2030 continue to create new opportunities for collaboration with international partners. Australian programmes such as the Edtech to Vietnam Immersion Initiative and the Austrade Go Global Toolkit further demonstrate the shared commitment to strengthening digital trade, cybersecurity cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two countries.
By contributing to this year’s forum, AusCham reaffirmed its role as a trusted bridge connecting Australian expertise with Vietnam’s development priorities. As Vietnam accelerates its green and digital transitions, AusCham remains committed to fostering dialogue, promoting partnership and helping translate strategic intent into practical, on-the-ground outcomes that support a smarter, more sustainable future for both nations.