HCM CITY — The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in HCM City (C4IR), a collaboration between the municipal People’s Committee and the World Economic Forum, on November 27 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ant International to strengthen public–private partnerships and support the city’s long-term sustainable development.

Announced at the HCM City Autumn Economic Forum 2025, the partnership aims to accelerate Việt Nam’s digital economy, spur innovation and position the city as a regional fintech and international financial hub.

Under the agreement, C4IR and Ant International will jointly promote Industry 4.0 initiatives, enhance the city’s global competitiveness, and expand opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The cooperation focuses on advancing the payments infrastructure, regulatory innovation and talent development to support Việt Nam’s rapidly growing fintech ecosystem.

The municipal People’s Committee Chairman Nguyễn Văn Được said the partnership is expected to propel the city’s financial-centre ambitions, strengthen digital transformation efforts, develop high-quality human resources and elevate Việt Nam’s standing in the global financial system.

He praised Ant International’s leadership in digital payments, fintech and technology platforms, noting its active contribution to national digitalisation.

“We play together and win together,” he said, highlighting the spirit of shared success.

Under the MoU, Ant International will work with local partners to roll out innovation initiatives and build technological capacity for fintech growth.

Its suite of tech solutions, including Alipay+, Antom, Bettr and WorldFirst, will help improve the regional and global competitiveness of Vietnamese SMEs.

The partners will also offer comprehensive training programmes to narrow the skills gap and advise start-ups in areas such as digital finance, cross-border payments, compliance and fintech operations, supporting Việt Nam’s goal of building an innovation-driven and inclusive smart economy.

Ant International’s activities in Việt Nam continue to expand, with all parties committed to close coordination and regular progress reviews aligned with HCM City’s financial-centre development roadmap.

Yang Peng, CEO of Ant International, said Việt Nam is one of the world’s most dynamic digital economies, driven by progressive policies, a vibrant start-up ecosystem and fast-growing local talent.

“We are delighted to partner with C4IR to advance the Fourth Industrial Revolution in HCM City and Việt Nam. We are committed to expanding public–private cooperation by combining policy innovation with technological expertise to drive inclusive growth,” he said.

During a meeting with the Prime Minister and senior officials on the sidelines of the forum, Yang reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to the country.

“HCM City has a unique opportunity to become one of the world’s leading international financial centres.”

Ant International will continue expanding its presence and investment in Việt Nam, making the country one of our key regional hubs to access global markets, he added. — VNS