Vietnam Launches International Maritime Financial Ecosystem

The Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC) has launched the International Maritime Financial Ecosystem (IMFE). This initiative, done in collaboration with Gemadept Corporation and other stakeholders, aims to capture a larger share of maritime financial activities currently managed offshore. The forum, attended by over 100 delegates, showcased strategic reports and introduced maritime financial products framework.

IMFE's creation aligns with the growth of Vietnam's port infrastructure. Ho Chi Minh City's port system handled over 24 million TEUs in 2025, becoming a global hub with substantial trade value. Despite this, the financial value retained domestically is merely 4-5%, leaving around USD 6-8 billion untapped. Developing a maritime financial ecosystem could increase domestic retention.

The IMFE initiative, guided by Gemadept Corporation, aims to integrate Vietnamese ports with financial services. This effort should enhance Vietnam's role as a regional maritime hub by connecting various financial and logistics stakeholders and enabling local enterprises to access necessary financial tools domestically.