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Investment Support Fund decree to boost Vietnam’s appeal as high-tech investment destination: lawyers

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The Vietnamese Government recently issued Decree No. 182/2024/ND-CP, which outlines the establishment, management and use of the Investment Support Fund. The decree is expected to bolster the country’s appeal as a destination for high-tech investment, especially after the application of top-up corporate income tax (CIT) under the global anti-base erosion rules from January 1, 2024, write senior partner Anh Dang and associate Chi Nguyen at Vilaf law firm.

Anh Dang, a senior partner at Vilaf law firm. Photo courtesy of the law firm.

Anh Dang, a senior partner at Vilaf law firm. Photo courtesy of the law firm.

Decree No. 182/2024/ND-CP, which offers financial supports to enterprises in high-tech industries, was issued on December 31, 2024 and came into effect from fiscal year 2024. Key highlights on the decree are discussed below.

Overview of Investment Support Fund (ISF)

ISF operates a non-profit national fund, established by the Government and managed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. A portion of its funding originates from top-up CIT revenues under global anti-base erosion rules.

ISF provides cash subsidies in Vietnamese dong to eligible enterprises with qualified investment projects in Vietnam. There are two types of subsidies:

– Annual expense subsidies, which cover actual expenses enterprises incur in a financial year; and

– Initial investment subsidies, which cover initial investment costs enterprises incur for a project.

Enterprises may apply for only one type of subsidy. The amounts of subsidies are determined based on enterprises’ proposal, subject to relevant capped limits and fund availability. These subsidies are not be subject to CIT and may be granted for up to five years, with potential extensions approved by the Prime Minister.

Committing violations (such as subsidy fraud) under Article 4 of Decree 182 may trigger refund obligations and penalties against violating enterprises. The statute of limitations for requiring refunds and penalties from the violating enterprise is five years from the date such enterprise receives the subsidies.

Illustration courtesy of Lockheed Martin.

Illustration courtesy of Lockheed Martin.

Annual expense subsidies

Annual expense subsidies are available to (a) high-tech enterprises; (b) enterprises having projects manufacturing high-tech products; (c) enterprises having projects applying high technologies; and (d) enterprises having R&D center projects.

Subject to the type of project that they have engaged in, these enterprises must meet the following requirements, among others, to be granted with the subsidies:

– For (a) high-tech enterprises having projects, (b) enterprises having projects manufacturing high-tech products or (c) enterprises having projects applying high technologies in the fields of chip industry, semiconductor integrated circuits, and AI database center: The relevant project must have a minimum investment capital of VND6,000 billion ($236.34 million) or a minimum annual revenue of VND10,000 billion ($393.9 million);

– For (a) high-tech enterprises having projects, (b) enterprises having projects manufacturing high-tech products or (c) enterprises having projects applying high technologies involving breakthrough high technologies and high-tech products stipulated under the List issued by the Prime Minister: No investment capital or revenue requirements;

– For (a) high-tech enterprises having projects, (b) enterprises having projects manufacturing high-tech products or (c) enterprises having projects applying high technologies in the field of integrated circuit design: No investment capital or revenue requirements. However, the relevant enterprise must have the commitment to employ at least 300 Vietnamese engineers and/or managers after five years of operation in Vietnam and annually assist Vietnam in training at least 30 high-quality Vietnamese engineers in the field of integrated circuit design;

– For (a) high-tech enterprises having projects, (b) enterprises having projects manufacturing high-tech products or (c) enterprises having projects applying high technologies in other fields: The relevant project must have a minimum investment capital of VND12,000 billion ($472.67 million) or a minimum annual revenue of VND20,000 billion ($787.79 million); and

– For (d) enterprises having R&D center projects:

The relevant project must have a minimum investment capital of VND3,000 billion ($118.17 million), in which at least VND1,000 billion must have been disbursed within three years from the issuance of Investment Policy Approval, Investment Registration Certificate or other equivalent document.

The operation of the R&D center must focus on creating high technologies in the List of high technologies prioritized for development and/or high-tech products in the List of high-tech products encouraged for development issued by the Prime Minister.

These subsidies cover six categories of expenses, including (i) expenses for training and developing human resource being Vietnamese employees; (ii) R&D expenses; (iii) expenses for creating new fixed assets; (iv) expenses for manufacturing high-tech products; (v) expenses for investing on social infrastructure for employees (i.e., social housing for employees to rent, schools, kindergartens, medical facilities, cultural facilities, sports facilities); and (vi) other expenses as determined by the Government. Each category has capped subsidy limit based on actual expenses incurred in the financial year, as demonstrated in the table below:

Initial investment subsidies

Unlike annual expense subsidies, initial investment subsidies are exclusively available to enterprises with R&D center projects in the fields of semiconductor and AI. To be granted with initial investment subsidies, these enterprises must meet the same requirements as applied to them if they wish to receive annual expenses subsidies, among others. Further, the relevant project must have a positive impact on Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem and development of breakthrough new technologies and products.

For each eligible project, the subsidy amount is capped at 50% of its initial investment expenses. Enterprises may propose to receive the subsidies as a one-off payment or an annual payment over multiple years.

Application and disbursement

Enterprises seeking subsidies from ISF for a financial year must submit their applications to the following authority before the 10th of July of the following financial year:

– For enterprises not yet operational and those applying for initial investment subsidies: Ministry of Planning and Investment;

– For enterprises having projects already in operation: Management Board of Economic Zone, Industrial Zone or High-tech Zone (if the relevant project is located within those zones) or provincial Department of Planning and Investment (if the relevant project is located outside those zones).

The applications will be evaluated and assessed by different authorities before submitted to the Government for its final approval of the total amount of subsidies by the 30th of October of the following financial year. Approved subsidies will then be disbursed by the State Treasury after necessary internal procedures are completed.

Recommendation

As applications for ISF subsidies for the 2024 financial year are due in July 2025, enterprises in high-tech industries should begin assessing their eligibility and prepare necessary documentation well ahead of the deadline. It is equally important to stay updated on any new guidance from relevant authorities to ensure their compliance and readiness. By acting early and keeping an eye on updates, businesses can maximize their chances of benefiting from ISF incentives.

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Bac Giang International Logistics Centre launched

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Bac Giang International Logistics Centre was launched on April 22 with an investment of $168 million, and is expected to become a crucial link in the global supply chain.

Bac Giang International Logistics Centre launched
Bac Giang International Logistics Centre launch

Being invested by CNCTech Group, Dolphin Sea Air Services Corporation and Thien An Investment JSC, the logistics centre is located on National Highway 1A, which boasts first-class warehouse supply to meet the growing demand in the northern Vietnamese market.

Its strategic position within the golden economic triangle of Hanoi – Haiphong – Quang Ninh provides convenient connectivity to industrial zones and key logistics centres via national highways No.1A and No.37.

The centre is designed to meet growing demand for logistics infrastructure from businesses in Bac Giang and neighbouring provinces, positioning the area as a new node in northern Vietnam’s logistics network.

The project is a strategic product as a key component of the logistics spearhead in CNCTech Group’s industrial and logistics infrastructure ecosystem. It has been approved by the prime minister as a national level-II logistics centre, covering a planned area of 67 hectares.

At the launch ceremony, Chairman of Bac Giang People’s Committee Nguyen Viet Oanh said, “In recent years, the province’s socioeconomic development has made remarkable strides. Transportation, urban, industrial, and social infrastructure have been synchronously invested in and have yielded high efficiency. However, the province’s logistics service sector has not yet matched its potential, advantages, and socioeconomic development level. The logistics system remains fragmented, transportation costs are high, and trade delivery times are prolonged.”

Recognising this bottleneck, the local authorities have focused on directing the robust development of the logistics system, incorporating it into the provincial plan. This includes developing eight comprehensive logistics centres covering nearly 500ha, three inland container depots, and 33 inland waterway ports.

“Bac Giang, with its strategic location between Hanoi and border provinces, has long been known as a dynamic industrial hub. The remarkable development of the province’s industrial parks has created a solid foundation for the establishment of Bac Giang International Logistics Centre. This centre is not only located on vital transportation routes such as Hanoi-Lang Son Expressway but also directly connects to major border gates, optimising the transport of goods from Bac Giang to the world,” said Oanh.

Bac Giang International Logistics Centre launched
A model of the logistics centre

The project is not merely a warehousing facility, but also a symbol of the integration of modern infrastructure and advanced technology. The centre includes multifunctional warehouse areas, customs-controlled warehouses, non-tariff warehouses, and automated warehouses, meeting the needs of various industries. Notably, it integrates end-to-end logistics solutions, supporting businesses in optimising transportation costs and enhancing production efficiency.

With a long-term vision, the centre aims not only to optimise domestic supply chains but also to become a key connection point in the global logistics network.

Nguyen Van Hung, chairman of the Board of Members of CNC Tech Group, shared, “The establishment of this centre is a strategic step in developing Vietnam’s logistics infrastructure. We are committed to long-term and robust investment in this sector, as logistics is not just infrastructure but an indispensable part of enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses on the international stage.”

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Green engagement rides high in Vietnam

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Vietnam has taken strong action to promote green development among businesses, amid the country facing challenges in finance and technology.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam told the fourth Summit of the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G), organised last week in Hanoi, that Vietnam is focused on strategic breakthroughs to prepare for a national development process that is fast, inclusive, and sustainable.

Green engagement rides high in Vietnam
The summit in Hanoi covered areas from finance and banking to agriculture and technology Photo: Dung Minh

“We will strongly transform political commitments into practical actions, creating motivation for businesses and the whole society to participate in sustainable economic development, in which green institutions are the decisive foundation,” General Secretary Lam stressed at a hall attended by government leaders, UN representatives, diplomats, experts, and entrepreneurs.

General Secretary Lam also stressed that when it comes to green transformation, despite being a developing country with a transitional economy and limited resources, Vietnam has achieved some important results.

Besides making a 2050 net-zero commitment in 2021, Vietnam also endorsed six global initiatives at the time, on forest and land use, methane, clean power transition, sustainable food and agriculture, and more.

“Vietnam is now a leading country in supplying renewable energy in ASEAN, with wind and solar power capacity accounting for two-thirds of ASEAN’s total capacity,” he said.

“Additionally, Vietnam is also a good example of encouraging sustainable agriculture. The initiative to develop one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission specialised rice is a pioneering model that many partners and international organisations are interested in.”

A greener future

Vietnam is an active and responsible member of all multilateral mechanisms and major initiatives on green growth and energy transition such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Just Energy Transition Partnership, and the P4G.

“However, as a developing country with a transitional economy, we also face many challenges in terms of financial resources, technology, personnel, and resilience to the impacts of climate change and geopolitical fluctuations globally,” said General Secretary Lam.

The summit adopted the Hanoi Declaration, strongly affirming commitments to sustainable growth with people at the centre, and a determination to collaborate responsibly in addressing current global challenges. Vietnam is expected to enjoy continued support from the international community in its journey to a green economy including energy transition.

According to the World Bank, to ensure sufficient funding for responding to climate change, mobilising domestic finance is possible, but external support is needed.

Overall, Vietnam’s total incremental financing needs for the resilient and decarbonising pathways could reach $368 billion over 2022–2040, or approximately 6.8 per cent of GDP per year.

The resilient pathway alone will account for about two-thirds of this amount, as substantial financing will be required to protect the country’s assets and infrastructure as well as vulnerable people.

The cost of the decarbonising pathway will mainly arise from the energy sector – investments in renewables and managing the transition away from coal might cost around $64 billion between 2022 and 2040. All the figures are in net present value terms at a discount rate of 6 per cent.

This $368 billion in financing needs will include $184 billion from private investments or about 3.4 per cent of GDP annually, $130 billion or about 2.4 per cent of GDP annually from the state budget; and $54 billion or about 1 per cent of GDP per year from external sources.

Choi Youngsam, South Korean Ambassador to Vietnam, said that within the P4G framework, South Korea and Vietnam have completed or are currently implementing joint projects in areas such as food and agriculture, energy, water, and urban development.

“Looking ahead, both sides are expected to broaden and deepen their partnership under the P4G framework,” he said.

At the P4G Summit held in Seoul in May 2021, the two governments signed the Framework Agreement on Cooperation in Response to Climate Change, laying a solid policy foundation for the implementation of international emissions reduction ventures.

“On this basis, I hope that South Korea will leverage its technological expertise and financial resources to carry out greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in Vietnam, with both countries mutually recognising the results,” Ambassador Youngsam said.

“This would contribute to establishing a win-win model of emissions reduction cooperation. At the same time, I look forward to seeing active engagement from South Korean enterprises possessing green technologies, in close collaboration with the Vietnamese government.”

Encouraging developments

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh said at a policy dialogue on the sidelines of the P4G 2025 that the active participation and strong cooperation from stakeholders – from the public and private sectors to international organisations – can help materialise Vietnam’s aspiration of an efficient and sustainable innovative startup ecosystem.

“Innovation, creative entrepreneurship and collaboration are key to solving environmental problems, while encouraging the development of a circular economy,” he said.

Vietnam currently has over 4,000 innovative startups, including two unicorns valued at over $1 billion, 11 companies valued at over $100 million, more than 1,400 startup support organisations, 202 co-working spaces, 208 investment funds, and 35 business promotion organisations. Among these, it is estimated that around 200–300 companies focus on green transition, covering areas such as renewable energy, environmental technology, sustainable agriculture, and the circular economy.

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosting the fourth P4G Conference is of great significance to Vietnam. It is aimed to boost its role as a good friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of P4G and the international community. Moreover, it is also aimed to reaffirm its commitment to sustainable development, energy transition, and the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Besides that, it is aimed at contributing to raising awareness of international cooperation and encouraging the role and voice of developing countries in the sector of green growth and sustainable development.

Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister

For Vietnam, together with digital transformation, we identify green transition as an objective necessity, a key factor, and a breakthrough driving force to promote rapid growth and sustainable development. This aligns with the strategic goal of becoming a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030, and a developed, high-income country by 2045, while also contributing to the gradual realisation of Vietnam’s commitment at COP26 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

From practical experience with initial positive results, especially in renewable energy, green agricultural development, and participation in multilateral mechanisms and initiatives on green transformation, as the host of the fourth P4G Summit, Vietnam has three suggestions for discussions which pave the way for further cooperation in the coming time.

First is to perfect green mindset, with a focus placed on the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation linked to green growth. This includes recognising that green resources stem from green thinking, green growth is driven by green transition, and green resources arises from the green awareness of people and businesses in nations and regions throughout the world.

Second is to build a responsible green community, in which, the government plays a guiding role, encouraging, and ensuring a stable and favourable institutional environment for green growth. The private sector functions as a core investor into technological development and the dissemination of green standards. The scientific community take the lead in developing green technologies and training green human resources. Meanwhile, citizens continuously enhance their green awareness, truly becoming beneficiaries of the outcomes of green transformation.

Thirdly, it is necessary to promote international cooperation and robust multilateral green cooperation models, particularly public-private partnerships, South-South cooperation, North-South cooperation, and multilateral cooperation frameworks. This is aimed at removing institutional barriers, enhancing access, and speeding up the flow of green capital, green technology, and green governance.

Developed countries should take the lead in fulfilling commitments to provide financial, technological, and institutional reform support. Meanwhile, developing countries would need to leverage their internal strengths and effectively utilise external resources.

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Public-private partnerships a lever for greener innovation

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Public-private partnerships are no longer a supporting mechanism, but a strategic pillar in the global pursuit of the green transition.

The high-level dialogue between government leaders and businesses at the 2025 P4G Vietnam Summit last week, chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, brought together senior officials, global experts, international organisations, and private sector leaders.

They recognised that the climate crisis, digital transformation, and resource depletion are converging in ways that demand not only innovation, but deep and long-term collaboration between the public and private sectors.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed acknowledged Vietnam’s leadership in renewable energy, noting its potential to attract trillions in sustainable investment.

“Emerging economies must accelerate the adoption of new investment models, particularly those that align private capital with green infrastructure priorities. Governments must work with the private sector to expand ambition, strengthen accountability, and deliver real impact,” she said.

From Italy, Prime Minister’s Climate Envoy Francesco Corvaro stressed that public-private partnerships (PPPs) are indispensable in addressing climate finance gaps. Drawing from Italy’s experience, he underscored the importance of public investment as a risk mitigator, enabling private sector participation in clean energy and smart infrastructure projects.

“Public investment can unlock private capital, but local authorities must lead with clear priorities and long-term vision,” Corvaro noted. “You can’t talk about renewables, AI, or digital infrastructure without modern, resilient grids, and that requires strong public-private alignment.” he said

Alejandro Dorado, Spain’s High Commissioner for Circular Economy, argued that the case for stronger PPPs lies at the intersection of two accelerating forces: the environmental-climate crisis and a wave of disruptive technologies.

“In a world where AI, green technologies, and digitalisation are reshaping the global economy, the clock is ticking. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we have less than a decade to prevent irreversible climate disaster. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum has identified biodiversity loss as one of the most severe economic risks,” he said.

Public-private partnerships a lever for greener innovation

Dorado added that while multilateralism is being questioned or weakened in some quarters, the need for cooperation has never been more urgent – both to solve environmental challenges and to harness the transformative potential of innovation.

“No government or business can tackle these crises alone. Public authorities must provide the regulatory frameworks, fiscal incentives, and infrastructure deployment needed at scale to safeguard the common good,” he stressed.

From the business side, Stuart Livesey, country representative of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), provided a frank but optimistic outlook. Livesey stated CIP’s commitment to supporting Vietnam’s transition, but emphasised the need for enabling conditions.

“What we seek are clear, bankable projects underpinned by stable regulatory frameworks, collaborating with strong local partnerships. This is where public-private cooperation becomes not just helpful, but essential,” Livesey noted. “Over the next 10-15 years, the offshore wind sector and green energy consumers will trigger massive demand for new technologies, digital solutions, and skilled labour.”

To meet this demand, CIP is investing not only in infrastructure, but also in capacity building, research and development, and local supply chain development through partnerships with Vietnamese universities.

Still, he acknowledged barriers. “Technological application and innovation in green projects face challenges, from long-term financing constraints and skilled labour shortages to fragmented policy signals. These are not unique to Vietnam, but they require proactive, tailored local solutions,” he said. “Addressing issues such as grid availability, regulatory clarity, and inter-ministerial coordination will be critical.”

Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, stated that the banking sector is ready to facilitate green finance, particularly in sectors aligned with national climate targets.

“We see ourselves as a bridge between global capital and local sustainability goals. The clearer the pipeline of bankable, climate-aligned projects, the faster we can move capital,” he noted. “What’s crucial now is consistency in policy and coordination among stakeholders to ensure these projects reach maturity.”

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