Global Economic Realignment Ushers Businesses into a New Era of Adaptation
On the afternoon of January 21, 2026, the Spring M&A Forum under the theme “Co-Creating Vietnam’s M&A Market” was held in Hanoi, bringing together leading economists, representatives from investment funds, financial institutions, and the domestic and international business community. The event took place against the backdrop of profound global economic adjustments, as Vietnam prepares for key transitions ahead of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Addressing the forum, Dr. Nguyen Duc Kien – former Head of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Group – observed that the multilateral globalization model that had dominated the global economy for decades is gradually giving way to a new landscape. In its place is a growing emphasis on bilateral and regional cooperation, where national interests, economic security, and strategic supply chains are increasingly prioritized.
According to Dr. Kien, this shift is not only reshaping global trade and investment flows, but also creating a prolonged period of uncertainty in policy formulation and corporate strategy. Traditional economic powerhouses such as the United States and the European Union are being forced to adapt to the rapid rise of emerging economies, including the expanded BRICS+ bloc, resulting in a more fragmented global economic balance.
Recent geopolitical developments, Dr. Kien noted, demonstrate that policy reversals are occurring more rapidly and are far less predictable than in the past. In such an environment, economic governance can no longer rely on linear forecasting models, but must transition toward multi-layered, flexible risk management frameworks capable of continuous adaptation.
For Vietnamese enterprises, this evolving landscape presents both mounting pressure and significant opportunity. Challenges stem from intensified competition, rising capital costs, stricter requirements for digital transformation, and increasingly rigorous governance standards. At the same time, opportunities are opening up for businesses that can restructure swiftly, scale effectively, and leverage capital and technology through mergers and acquisitions.
In this context, Dr. Kien stressed, M&A has moved beyond being a purely financial transaction to become a strategic lever – one that allows companies to shorten growth cycles, optimize resources, and rapidly integrate into newly emerging value chains.
M&A as a Driver of Corporate Restructuring and the Foundation of a Professional Market
Providing further insight into domestic developments, Dr. Kien cited data showing that in 2025 alone, Vietnam recorded more than 155,000 newly established enterprises and over 102,000 businesses resuming operations – figures that underscore the resilience and dynamism of the private sector.
However, the same period also saw more than 114,000 businesses temporarily suspending operations for restructuring, and nearly 36,000 exiting the market altogether. According to Dr. Kien, these figures reflect a phase of intensive economic “natural selection,” in which cost pressures, shrinking markets, and limited management capacity are forcing many companies to pursue fundamental restructuring solutions.
Against this backdrop, the M&A market has emerged as a critical platform for reallocating resources more efficiently. M&A transactions not only facilitate the transfer of assets and technology, but also help standardize governance practices, enhance competitiveness, and reduce the waste of social resources.
Notably, at the forum, Dr. Kien announced that competent authorities have officially approved the establishment of the Vietnam M&A Association. This milestone marks the culmination of more than three years of persistent efforts by the business community and investors.
In his assessment, the formation of the Vietnam M&A Association goes beyond the creation of a professional body. It lays the groundwork for a more transparent, standardized, and professional M&A market. The association is expected to serve as a vital connector among enterprises, contribute to policy consultation, develop transaction standards, share post-merger management expertise, and ultimately strengthen investor confidence, both domestically and internationally.
Dr. Kien emphasized that a healthy and well-functioning M&A market not only enables businesses to scale up, but also generates positive spillover effects across the broader business ecosystem – spanning finance, legal services, auditing, and innovation. It is also a key factor in attracting long-term investment capital, rather than short-term, speculative inflows.
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Kien expressed confidence that 2026 will be a pivotal year, marking Vietnam’s M&A market transition toward a more structured and sophisticated stage of development. In an era of persistent global uncertainty, enterprises that proactively restructure, strengthen partnerships, and enhance governance through M&A will enjoy sustainable competitive advantages over the long term.
In this light, the Spring M&A Forum 2026 represents more than a professional gathering. It signals Vietnam’s proactive efforts to shape a strategic investment environment, where mergers and acquisitions serve as a core driver of high-quality growth in the country’s next phase of development.
