Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Luong Nguyen Minh Triet has signed a decision to establish an advisory council for the development of the Vietnam International Financial Center. The council brings together experts, bank leaders, and domestic and international business representatives to advise on the center's development strategy.

The 17-member council is chaired by Tran Dinh Thien, a member of the Prime Minister's policy advisory council and former director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics. Richard Dean McClellan, former Vietnam country director of the Tony Blair Institute, serves as vice chairman.

The 15 other members include leaders from the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Finance, and representatives from major corporations such as FPT, CMC, BKAV, and SSI. International experts from Switzerland, Germany, Singapore, and the UAE are also participating.

The advisory council is tasked with researching, advising, and proposing strategies and development plans to the Da Nang People's Committee chairman and the preparatory committee for the management and operation of the Vietnam International Financial Center in Da Nang. This includes advising on management models, organizational structures, operational mechanisms, preferential policies regarding finance, land funds, support services, legal frameworks, training programs, and high-quality human resource development. They will also advise on mechanisms to attract international experts and overseas Vietnamese intellectuals, and contribute to legal documents, planning, and adjustments related to the center.

The 22-story building at Software Park No. 2, with a total area of over 27,000 m², is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. It will immediately meet the operational needs of the international financial center, including attracting investment funds, remittances, and piloting new models such as digital assets and digital currencies. Photo: Nguyen Dong

The 22-story building at Software Park No. 2, with a total area of over 27,000 m², is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. It will immediately meet the operational needs of the international financial center, including attracting investment funds, remittances, and piloting new models such as digital assets and digital currencies. Photo: Nguyen Dong

The council will also be invited to important meetings regarding the center's implementation, proactively coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to gather information and documents, and carry out other tasks as directed by the Da Nang People's Committee chairman.

On the morning of 22/8, at a meeting of the Steering Committee for the Construction and Development of the Da Nang Financial Center (Steering Committee 47), Da Nang Party Secretary Nguyen Van Quang requested that the city People's Committee soon coordinate with the Ministry of Finance (specifically, the Foreign Investment Agency) to draft a decree and research and contribute ideas for the government's prompt issuance of a decree on the financial center.

Quang emphasized the importance of defining the management model for the financial center and directed continued research into the models of GIFT City, India, and Astana, Kazakhstan. Regarding infrastructure, he urged accelerating the progress of the 22-story building at Da Nang Software Park No. 2, with a usable area of 27,000 m², to ensure its operation by the end of 2025.

Previously, at the conference announcing the Steering Committee and Action Plan for the Vietnam International Financial Center on 2/8, Nguyen Van Quang stated that Da Nang has implemented several key tasks and solutions to prepare for the center's operation. The city has proactively planned and allocated strategic land in a favorable location within the developing urban area, 5-10 km from the international airport. This land is legally clear and ready to attract strategic investors. Currently, a 22-story building at Software Park No. 2, with a total area of over 27,000 m², is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

Da Nang has issued a policy for developing high-quality human resources for the international financial center, supplementing the People's Council Resolution of 6/2025. The city is implementing five training programs: two focused programs (bilingual bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees with international certificates) and three short-term training programs ranging from basic 2–3-day courses to 5–7-day courses taught by foreign experts and 1–2-month specialized training programs abroad.

The prime location at the intersection of Vo Nguyen Giap and Vo Van Kiet streets is planned as the core of the financial center. Photo: Nguyen Dong

The prime location at the intersection of Vo Nguyen Giap and Vo Van Kiet streets is planned as the core of the financial center. Photo: Nguyen Dong

To date, over 300 officials have received direct and online training; 10 young officials (including two associate professors and two Doctors) have participated in courses with foreign professors; and in 8/2025, a group of trainees will study in Singapore. The city is also working with Vietnamese intellectual organizations in the UK, Ireland, Europe, and international partners to attract high-quality personnel, including foreign experts to fill management, operational, and dispute resolution positions at the center.

From 2025 to 2027, Da Nang will focus on attracting infrastructure investment and developing the financial ecosystem at a 6.17-hectare coastal site, meeting international standards. Concurrently, the city is promoting information technology infrastructure and innovation with major projects in data centers, 5G networks, and ground satellite infrastructure, along with semiconductor and artificial intelligence projects involving international corporations.

In the long term, the Da Nang Party Secretary said the city is implementing a project to establish a national dynamic urban area in Da Nang Bay, covering nearly 1,500 hectares. This aims to create an international-standard urban space developed according to green, smart, ecological, and sustainable criteria. Approximately 282 hectares are planned for developing and providing commercial and digital financial services, connecting with the Da Nang High-Tech Park and Free Trade Zone.

Nguyen Dong