Ho Chi Minh City, 20 November 2024 – Bolstered by the launch of the SDG Investor Map for Viet Nam, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Centre for Impact Investing Practices (CIIP), and in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS), recently hosted the SDG Venture Scaler Forum in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing various players together to discuss opportunities for investment in the SDGs.

The Forum organized in Ho Chi Minh City, brought together over 80 attendees, including investors, enterprises, academics, ecosystem supporters, foundations, and government representatives, to explore investment opportunities in three key areas: Climate Action, Healthcare, and Education. The discussions focused on addressing policy and market challenges, exploring viable financing models, and proposing actionable recommendations to advance SDG-focused investments. Participants spoke about SDG-aligned business models and strategies for impact-driven investments, while networking and building collaborations to advance sustainable finance initiatives.

The Forum was opened by Dr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, Director of HIDS, remarked on the potential to advance impact-driven actions in Viet Nam: “It is a golden opportunity for us to come together, shape ideas, and share experiences in implementing groundbreaking initiatives. Through this, we witness each other’s determination and discover new opportunities for collaboration to promote the sustainable development of the business community in Ho Chi Minh City.”

The next speaker, Do Le Thu Ngoc, Assistant Resident Representative and Head of Inclusive Growth Unit, UNDP in Viet Nam, echoed his sentiments: “We believe that, through the joint efforts of businesses, government partners, and international organizations, for example, through the SDG Venture Scaler, Viet Nam can not only achieve Sustainable Development Goals but also affirm its pioneering role in the ASEAN region.”

Sharon Koh, Director, Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP), Temasek Trust, remarked on the long-term benefits of impact investments for people and planet: “The recent surveys by the Global Impact Investing Network, or GIIN, estimate that the size of the impact investing market is US$1.571 trillion. That’s US$1.571 trillion allocated toward the solutions we need to tackle our collective challenges and reach the Sustainable Development Goals. From building housing for cost-burdened families to making our air and water cleaner, impact investors don’t just seek financial returns; they create a more equitable and sustainable world for our children and grandchildren.”

The valuable discussions and insights gained from the Forum will help shape the SDG Venture Scaler program itself. Running from December 2024 throughout 2025, the Scaler will select 30 impact-driven enterprises providing solutions to the thematic areas above, in Viet Nam, Indonesia and the Philippines. These participants will receive tailored investment matchmaking opportunities, introductions and access to a network of investors, mentors and experts, and advisory on Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) to articulate their social and environmental impact.

Applications for the SDG Venture Scaler programme are open through this link: https://impactventurehub.org/sdg-venture-scaler/