Autumn Economic Forum: Ho Chi Minh City shapes a green growth and innovation ecosystem

Ho Chi Minh City officially hosts the Autumn Economic Forum 2025 – a large-scale international economic event co-organized by the HCMC People’s Committee, the Vietnam Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR Vietnam), and the World Economic Forum (WEF). Under the theme “Green Transformation in the Digital Era,” this year’s forum provides an opportunity for Vietnam to showcase a comprehensive image of an economy in rapid transition—preserving cultural identity while accelerating integration and innovation.

Preparations thoroughly reviewed to meet international standards

From the evening of November 24, working delegations from the Government and Ho Chi Minh City conducted on-site inspections at GEM Center and Thiskyhall. Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son acknowledged the city’s proactive approach in all aspects of preparation—from content and technical arrangements to reception plans for domestic and international delegates. After viewing the final rehearsal of the opening art performance at GEM Center, the Deputy Prime Minister praised the creativity of the production team, emphasizing that the program “harmoniously blends tradition and modernity,” while reaffirming that “Our culture is rich and distinctive, and it must be modernized to reach the world.”

Beyond the performance, other organizational components—lighting, sound, online connectivity systems, breakout rooms, and high-level dialogue spaces—were all rigorously checked. At Thiskyhall, where the opening ceremony and thematic sessions take place, the Deputy Prime Minister continued to commend the meticulous preparation, noting that each area—from reception and media coordination to the culinary and tea experience space—had been arranged to international standards. The curated tea culture showcase was particularly well-received as an element that conveys the depth of Vietnamese culture to global audiences.

Meanwhile, security forces have established multi-layered international-standard protocols. Screening systems, delegate badge identification, press routing, and guest flow management have all been put into smooth operation. This year’s event is required to be “prepared with absolute thoroughness, leaving no room for error,” given the participation of high-ranking leaders, global experts, and the international business community.

After multiple rounds of evaluation, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that preparations across the board have been completed and are “fully ready to welcome and serve all delegates and guests attending the forum.” The city expects the event to create a positive imprint, expand international partnerships, promote innovation, and unlock new development opportunities for Vietnam in the coming years.

Exhibition space – a reflection of Vietnamese enterprises’ creativity and innovation capacity

Alongside the main conference agenda, the technology and innovation exhibition space is a major highlight of the Autumn Economic Forum 2025. Participating enterprises present solutions that strongly align with sustainable development and advanced technological applications. All units invested carefully in display equipment, interactive models, and automated health-care technologies—an area receiving heightened attention amid comprehensive digital transformation.

Among them, Arobid Technology Corporation introduced its digital exhibition model built on the TradeXpo platform. The most prominent feature was the showcase of Ho Chi Minh City’s green enterprises—winners of the “Green Enterprise” recognition program organized by Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper and HUBA under the direction of the HCMC People’s Committee. With Arobid TradeXpo, the entire exhibition is digitized into an interactive 3D and VR360 environment, allowing enterprises to recreate their booths as if in a physical setting. They can display product catalogs, introduce videos and capability profiles, and connect directly with partners through specialized tools such as AI Matching, Go Live, and Business Pitching.

This model is considered to offer significant advantages: trade activities can occur continuously without being limited by time or location, while enabling enterprises to substantially optimize communication resources. Thanks to long-term digital presence on the platform, many businesses can reduce marketing costs by 50–80%, save resources, and still broaden their reach to international markets and partners.

The presence of advanced technology models, combined with multi-layered display design, provides a seamless experience for both businesses and international delegates, reflecting a dynamic, confident, and globally-ready Vietnam.

A large-scale event that launches a series of regionally significant activities

The Autumn Economic Forum 2025 takes place over three days, featuring a continuous lineup of activities ranging from inspiration sessions and policy dialogues to business networking. November 25 begins with a youth inspiration talk show and the CEO500-TEA CONNECT program with the participation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and more than 500 global CEOs. November 26 focuses on the plenary session, five strategic reports, and in-depth discussions on green transformation, digital economy, global supply chains, and smart megacities. November 27 features field trips to key technology units and the first-ever event in Vietnam connecting global C4IR centers.

The virtual remarks by WEF President Borge Brende in two major sessions and the in-person participation of WEF Managing Director Stephan Mergenthaler throughout the forum underscore Vietnam’s rising prominence on the global economic map.

The event is not only a high-level policy dialogue platform but also a space for businesses to demonstrate their roles in digital transformation, green transition, and building a sustainable trade ecosystem. As a result, the image of a modern, resilient, and globally integrated Ho Chi Minh City is vividly conveyed to the international community.