CEF 2026: Creating valuable 'touchpoints' between SMEs and major resources
On August 27, the Hanoi Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (HANOISME), in coordination with relevant organisations, is hosting the 2nd Capital Economic Forum (CEF 2026).
Latest
 |
| The Second Capital Economic Forum selects the theme “Connecting SMEs - Promoting M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions), Investment and Cooperation, Enhancing Localisation and Participating in the Global Value Chain”. (Photo: Gia Thanh) |
Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, Nguyen Xuan Luu, attended the second CEF.
Following the success of the first CEF 2026, the second CEF 2026 chooses the theme “Connecting SMEs - Promoting M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions), Investment and Cooperation, Enhancing Localisation and Participating in the Global Value Chain”, with the message “Connecting Resources - Investment Cooperation - Supplier Development - Reaching International Heights”.
In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Mac Quoc Anh, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Party Secretary, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of HANOISME, stated that the forum is organised in the context of the capital's business community striving to contribute to Hanoi's high and sustainable growth goals.
The forum aligns with the spirit of Plan No. 303/KH-UBND dated August 4, 2026, of the Hanoi City People's Committee on implementing the emulation movement to decisively achieve sustainable growth goals.
A networking space for SMEs
For the business community, the double-digit growth target is not just a macroeconomic indicator but also requires a shift in mindset, productivity enhancement, social resource mobilisation, expansion of cooperation space, and the elevation of the position of the capital's enterprises in both domestic and international value chains.
Prof. Dr. Mac Quoc Anh believes that the challenges faced by many SMEs today are not just about accessing capital. Enterprises also face limitations in finding strategic partners, accessing technology, improving management standards, expanding markets, distribution systems, and participating in large supply chains.
 |
| Prof. Dr. Mac Quoc Anh, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Party Secretary, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of HANOISME, speaking at the forum. (Photo: Gia Thanh) |
If developed individually, enterprises will struggle to achieve breakthroughs in scale and competitiveness. Conversely, accessing the right partners, resources, and opportunities can shorten the development process for businesses.
"Therefore, the second CEF is not just aimed at information exchange but is organised as a networking space between SMEs and corporations, banks, securities companies, investment funds, M&A experts, trade promotion organisations, and technology partners.
Here, parties can directly discuss projects, capital needs, transfers, investment cooperation, supplier development, and market expansion on a transparent, professional, and mutually beneficial basis," emphasised the Vice Chairman and General Secretary of HANOISME.
According to Mac Quoc Anh, the effectiveness of the forum should be demonstrated through specific results after the event, from follow-up meetings, consultations, contracts, memorandums of understanding, and newly formed linkages.
Tools for restructuring and business growth
From HANOISME's operational experience, Mac Quoc Anh believes there are three priorities for the SME sector.
First is the capital and financial structure. Accordingly, businesses need to gradually move beyond relying mainly on short-term credit to access additional medium- and long-term capital, equity, M&A, investment cooperation, and financial solutions suited to each development stage.
Second is localisation and supplier development. To participate more deeply in the value chain, businesses must meet multiple requirements across quality, cost, delivery time, traceability, digital transformation, green transition, and transparent management.
Third is market and integration. Businesses need to continue standardising products, enhancing export capabilities, building brands, and proactively seeking strategic partners both regionally and globally.
 |
| Product promotion on the sidelines of the Second Capital Economic Forum. (Photo: Gia Thanh) |
Besides these three issues, HANOISME believes that M&A should be viewed as a tool for restructuring and business growth.
"For SMEs, M&A does not mean losing the business. If well prepared, this activity can serve to supplement capital, access technology, expand markets, improve management, and increase business value.
To leverage this channel, businesses need to clearly understand their value, while standardising issues related to legal, financial, data, intellectual property, and strategy before entering into cooperation or fundraising," emphasised Mac Quoc Anh.
In the coming time, according to Prof. Dr. Mac Quoc Anh, HANOISME will continue to act as a bridge between businesses and the government, credit institutions, investors, large corporations, research institutes, universities, and business support organisations.
The association plans to collaborate with specialised partners to implement targeted networking activities, support businesses in reviewing their needs, standardise profiles, provide financial, legal, and management advice, and seek suitable partners and monitor results after the forum.
Mac Quoc Anh expressed confidence that the second CEF will create additional valuable “touchpoints” between policy and market, between SMEs and major resources, between localisation needs and supplier capabilities, thereby contributing to realising the growth aspirations of businesses and the sustainable development goals of the capital.
| At the second CEF, the Organising Committee officially launched the Capital Economic Forum website at cefhanoi.vn. The website not only provides information about the program, speakers, and past events but also aims to become a regular digital platform for the business community. Through this platform, businesses can update and register their B2B needs (business-to-business connections), seek investment opportunities, M&A, capital, suppliers, partners, markets, and related support programs. The Organising Committee plans to have the needs received on the platform categorised, connected, and monitored after the forum. Thus, CEF is oriented not just as a periodic event but as a gradually becoming a regular resource-connection ecosystem for the capital's businesses, with results that can be tracked and measured. |
