Politics · Vietnam Bureau
WEF to co-brand Vietnam's 2026 Autumn Economic Forum in Ho Chi Minh City
The World Economic Forum will lend its brand to Vietnam's Autumn Economic Forum next year, elevating the event into a prestigious regional platform. The co-branded gathering will feature 16 thematic sessions addressing artificial intelligence, digital economy transformation, and manufacturing innovation.
LSN Vietnam ·
Vietnam is moving to establish its Autumn Economic Forum as a leading annual gathering in Southeast Asia through a partnership with the World Economic Forum, according to statements from Vietnamese officials. The 2026 edition, scheduled for October 27 in Ho Chi Minh City, will operate across three parallel venues with expanded programming reflecting key economic priorities.
The forum will host 16 thematic sessions organised around three core pillars: artificial intelligence and quantum computing; finance, digital economy, and autonomous systems; and manufacturing, sustainability, and next-generation workforce development. Two sessions will be jointly organised with the WEF, focusing on "Repositioning Vietnam and ASEAN in Global Value Chains" and "From AI Deployment to Future Manufacturing Workforce Readiness."
The co-branding arrangement underscores Vietnam's ambitions to position the Autumn Economic Forum alongside other major regional economic gatherings. Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister has previously identified human resources development and regional cooperation as central to Vietnam's economic strategy, themes that align with the forum's programming.
The expanded format and WEF partnership signal Vietnam's commitment to hosting high-level discussions on pressing economic challenges facing Southeast Asia, from supply chain repositioning to technological workforce adaptation.