On June 19 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in coordination with the Hai Phong City People’s Committee, held a press conference introducing the 3rd meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC III) and related events to be held in Hai Phong.
VCCI Chairman Pham Tan Cong said that the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is the official representative mechanism for the business community within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Through dialogues with APEC ministers and leaders, ABAC ensures that the voice of business is heard. ABAC is an important forum that enables businesses to participate more deeply in regional economic integration. In this way, ABAC contributes to building a sustainable and prosperous Asia-Pacific economic community.” The upcoming ABAC III meeting in Hai Phong is not only a highlight of ABAC’s program of activities this year but also a major opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its proactive, credible and responsible role in APEC. It is also an occasion for Vietnamese businesses to directly approach international partners and ABAC members to connect businesses, promote the investment environment and work together toward a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable APEC region.”
ABAC was established in 1995 to create a bridge between businesses and APEC leaders. Its primary role is to convey the voice, views and aspirations of businesses to high-level APEC forums. ABAC participates in developing and proposing policies on strategic issues related to trade, investment, economic integration, innovation, sustainable development and other global challenges. The Council helps strengthen public–private cooperation and supports the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, while also contributing to the direction of the region’s long-term economic priorities.
In 2025, ABAC Vietnam has actively participated in developing content and proposing initiatives for ABAC’s 5 thematic working groups, including: regional economic integration – promoting free and sustainable trade and investment; sustainable development – including the circular economy, climate change response and green business; digital transformation and AI – narrowing the digital gap between economies; finance and investment – toward inclusive and green finance; and healthcare and biotechnology – enhancing public health capacity and supply chain security.
Providing specific information about ABAC III, VCCI Vice Chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh said that ABAC III is one of the Council’s four official annual meetings, held in rotation in major cities belonging to the 21 APEC member economies. It is not only a venue for high-level policy discussions but also a platform for the business community to discuss and develop practical recommendations for submission to senior APEC leaders during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week at the end of the year. The meeting includes closed sessions of the Council, thematic working groups and working sessions between ABAC delegates and representatives of Vietnamese businesses. The overarching theme of ABAC in 2025 is “Bridging – Business – Going Further”, a message that conveys both connectivity and the aspiration to overcome challenges through cooperation for sustainable development. The meeting’s results will be consolidated into ABAC’s official report for submission to APEC leaders at the ABAC Dialogue with APEC Leaders, to be held in November 2025 in South Korea. This means that the content discussed at the meeting will directly contribute to shaping regional economic and trade policies in the next period.
Vietnam’s hosting of the meeting is not only an important diplomatic event but also brings many practical benefits. First, it is a major opportunity for Vietnam to affirm its active role in regional economic integration while demonstrating its strong commitment to the principles of free trade and inclusive and sustainable development – core values shared by APEC and ABAC. In addition, the meeting is an opportunity to promote Vietnam’s country, people and culture to international friends, thereby enhancing the country’s position, supporting its economic diplomacy strategy, promoting tourism and attracting high-quality investment over the long term.
The ABAC III meeting will take place from July 15 to 18, 2025, at the Pullman Hai Phong Hotel, with approximately 250 international and Vietnamese delegates, including ABAC members who are leaders of groups and leading businesses, trade and investment promotion organizations from 21 APEC economies, assistants and international guests. The 2025 ABAC III meeting in Hai Phong is part of a series of events toward Vietnam assuming the roles of APEC Chair in 2027 and ABAC Chair in 2027. President Luong Cuong is expected to attend and deliver remarks at the opening plenary session of ABAC III on July 16, 2025.
Alongside the meeting, a number of business connection and investment promotion activities will be organized:
* Investment and Trade Promotion Conference (14:00–18:00, July 15, 2025, at the Hai Phong Convention and Performance Center): President Luong Cuong is expected to deliver the keynote guidance, with approximately 700 delegates including leaders of APEC businesses, ambassadors and counselors of APEC economies with representative offices in Hanoi, business associations and international investors, to promote Vietnam’s investment environment, particularly Hai Phong.
* Welcome Dinner hosted by Hai Phong City (evening of July 15, 2025): A cultural and diplomatic highlight that demonstrates hospitality and creates a space for interaction, connecting APEC businesses with the Vietnamese business community, while promoting Hai Phong as an attractive destination for economic, investment, cultural and tourism cooperation.
* Exhibition area displaying Hai Phong’s economic achievements and signature products (July 15–18, 2025 – Pullman Hai Phong Hotel): intended to showcase Hai Phong’s economic achievements to ABAC members and give ABAC delegates the opportunity to directly experience distinctive products from Vietnam’s coastal region.
Source: Hai Phong City Electronic Information Portal