Vietnam has proven to be the most resilient cub economy in Southeast Asia in 2020. It has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic to become the only country in the region predicted to clock positive GDP growth this year.
The pandemic-induced lockdown in Vietnam was quickly lifted in April, which enabled domestic activities, including travel, to resume. Throughout the year, not only local investors, but global private equity firms such as Affirma Capital, KKR, and Temasek, have also been active in the country.
One of the only two markets in Southeast Asia with double-digit digital economy growth in 2020 (16 per cent compared to Indonesia’s 11 per cent growth), Vietnam’s internet sector is predicted to maintain its top expansion rate to reach $52 billion by 2025, according to a recent report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company.
Fund managers who participated in DealStreetAsia’s Investor Sentiment Survey are most bullish on Vietnam in 2020 and 2021, as more than 30 per cent of them see Vietnam as the most attractive market post-COVID-19.
In addition to its fast recovery from COVID-19, what else has triggered investor interest in Vietnam? Join us in two dedicated panels on the Vietnam market at our flagship Asia PE-VC Summit 2020 on November 24 and 25 and hear from both local experts and regional investors.
Vietnam: SE Asia’s most resilient and compelling story
Vietnam has transformed from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the most dynamic emerging countries in East Asia, according to the World Bank. Vietnam stands out thanks to its strong macro fundamentals. In this panel, we will explore the primary reasons why investors are flocking to this market and what will sustain their interest.
Andy Ho, managing director and CIO at VinaCapital; Chris Freund, partner at Mekong Capital; and Niraan De Silva, managing director and executive board member of Vietnam’s newest unicorn, VNLIFE, will share their stories of ‘Why Vietnam’ in a discussion moderated by Ngoc Nguyen, senior writer, private equity & venture capital at DealStreetAsia.
Vietnam: What makes it tick?
The closing panel on November 25, also moderated by Ngoc Nguyen, will delve into the compelling tech and venture capital scene in the country.
Diverse perspectives about this market will be shared by Do Ventures’ co-founder and partner Le Hoang Uyen Vy; BDA Capital Partners’ managing partner Bert Kwan; and Hang Do, COO of Temasek-backed Scommerce.
The opportunity in frontier markets
Vietnam’s transformation is also expected to repeat across frontier markets in the region that have recently attracted a lot of interest.
Countries like Myanmar with continued economic liberalisation, the Philippines, which is poised to become the fastest-growing digital economy by 2025, or Bangladesh with the emergence of the next generation of entrepreneurs, are yielding a lot of new opportunities for private investors.
Which are the sectors and markets that are ripe for the private equity play in terms of deal flow, regulatory and exit environment, and ease to do business in these markets?
Thura Ko from Myanmar-based YGA Capital Limited, Navis Capital Partners’ David Ireland, and Honorio Poblador IV of Philippine Navegar Fund will shed light on these questions during ‘The opportunity in frontier markets’ panel moderated by Deepshikha Monga, editor, DealStreetAsia.
To join the Asia PE-VC Summit 2020, register here.
