The VIETSTAR Training & Consulting JSC (VIETSTAR), a leading training and consulting organization in Vietnam, and the Singapore Management University (SMU) have signed an MoU on establishing a strategic cooperation partnership in Management Capability Enhancement and Digital Transformation.

The partnership aims to hone the management and leadership capabilities of leaders and managers at Vietnamese enterprises, positioning them to succeed in the region and beyond.

Held on February 25 in Singapore, the signing ceremony for the MoU signals the commitment of both partners to focus on improving the management capabilities of Vietnam’s leaders and managers, share best practices in corporate governance and digital transformation, and promote cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore through the co-organizing of the Vietnam-Singapore Board Forum (VSBF). The signing took place in the presence of State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and senior leaders from Vietnam and Singapore.

“We sign this partnership MoU with a desire to enhance the management capabilities of Vietnamese managers and leaders in the international arena and to build a bridge for corporate leaders from the two countries to share management experience, which is a cornerstone in maintaining growth, creating value, and tightening the good relationship between the two countries,” said Ms. Pham Thi Thu Hang, CEO of VIETSTAR.

“We have long-lasting partnerships with major universities around the world and more than a decade of experience in consulting and training in large corporations and enterprises in Vietnam,” she emphasized. “We believe that the partnership signing with SMU, Asia’s leading university and known for its difference in teaching methods and techniques, will contribute to supporting Vietnamese enterprises in management capabilities, digital transformation, and sustainable development.”

Singapore is one of three major investors in Vietnam. Trade turnover between the two countries has increased significantly, with the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) in particular symbolizing the economic cooperation. Data from the Ministry of Planning and Investment reveals that Singapore was among 106 countries and territories investing in Vietnam in 2021, and led with $10.7 billion, accounting for 34.4 per cent of all FDI in the country.

The two partners will focus on launching Corporate Governance and Digital Transformation executive programs for Vietnam’s energy industry leaders and co-organize the VSBF. The focus will be on global strategies relating to sustainable development, including a deep dive into Vietnam’s policies for cooperation with the region and the world, and will incorporate sustainability into the core strategies and operations of enterprises.

SMU Provost, Professor Timothy Clark, said it is pleased to partner with VIETSTAR in building holistic and multidisciplinary programs for senior executives and leaders in Vietnam. “We are confident that program participants will appreciate the distinctive benefits in SMU’s practice-driven approach to teaching, industry links, and the facilitation of networking opportunities,” he added. “With our faculty experience and track record in delivering an engaging curriculum, senior executives will be equipped with new knowledge to tackle unforeseen challenges in a fluid and ever-changing world.”