Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | September 26, 2026 — Her Excellency Mari Kiviniemi, the 41st Prime Minister of Finland, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Speaker and Instructor of the Global Leadership and Governance Institute (GLGI), participated as a distinguished guest speaker and instructor in the Vietnam module of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore’s ASEAN Four-Country Executive Education Program. Professor Yaoqiang Peng, Associate Dean of NTU’s Nanyang Business School, and Mr. Lu Wei, Executive Director of GLGI, also participated in the program.
Held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 24, 25, and 26, the program brought together senior policymakers, academic leaders, industry experts, financial institutions, and business executives to examine Vietnam’s evolving economic landscape and the opportunities and challenges facing Chinese enterprises expanding into Southeast Asia.
Bringing Global Leadership Perspectives to International Business Expansion
On September 26, H.E. Mari Kiviniemi joined the program’s high-level strategic dialogue, contributing perspectives drawn from her experience as Finland’s Prime Minister and OECD Deputy Secretary-General.
Her participation provided an international leadership perspective on navigating global economic uncertainty, understanding policy environments, and developing sustainable strategies for cross-border business expansion.
Drawing upon her extensive experience in government leadership and international economic cooperation, Kiviniemi highlighted the relevance of sound governance, institutional trust, and long-term strategic thinking in an increasingly interconnected yet complex global business environment.
Her engagement reflected GLGI’s commitment to connecting former heads of state and government with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and emerging decision-makers through executive education, international dialogue, and practical leadership learning.
Exploring Vietnam’s Strategic Role in Southeast Asia
The three-day Vietnam module offered participants a comprehensive exploration of the country’s economic transformation, investment environment, and growing position within regional and global supply chains.
The opening sessions, hosted at Foreign Trade University (FTU) on September 24, focused on Vietnam’s macroeconomic policies, the development of Ho Chi Minh City as an international financial center, opportunities under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), industrial localization strategies, and cross-border commercial arbitration.
Distinguished contributors included representatives from NTU’s Nanyang Business School, Foreign Trade University, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, and Vietnam’s financial, legal, and business communities. Among them were Professor Yaoqiang Peng, Associate Dean of Nanyang Business School; Dr. Dao Ngoc Tien, Vice Rector of Foreign Trade University; Khoa Nguyen, representing the Global On-Chain Economy Alliance and Vietnam’s international financial center initiatives; Pham Binh An, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies; Nguyen Ngoc Lam, Managing Partner of The Lam Law LLC; and Yingmei Zeng, Founder of Saigon Social.
On September 25, the program shifted toward practical considerations for international investors, including foreign investment regulations, legal and tax compliance, financial services, and emerging opportunities associated with artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
Speakers and participating organizations included VinaCapital, KPMG Vietnam, Bank of Communications, 2MR Labs, and specialists in cross-border investment and business development. Featured contributors included Michael Kokalari, Chief Economist of VinaCapital; Tran Thi Hai Yen, Director at IPISC, associated with Vietnam’s foreign investment promotion authorities; Fang Kun, Director of the China Desk at KPMG Vietnam; Lin Zetian, a cross-border business services specialist; Li Xuan, Deputy Head of Corporate Banking at Bank of Communications’ Ho Chi Minh City Branch; and Lin Jintao and Yu Cong, Founder and Head of Product Research, respectively, at 2MR Labs.
Strategic Dialogue on Global Growth and Emerging Industries
The final day, September 26, explored strategic growth opportunities across aviation logistics, international supply chains, cross-border capital investment, artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and Vietnam’s mergers and acquisitions market.
Alongside H.E. Mari Kiviniemi, the program featured senior representatives and experts from VietJet Cargo, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), the Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Center, TTC AgriS, BCA Partners, and TOS Digital Agency. These included Wu Di, Managing Director of VietJet Cargo; Francis Yang, incoming Chief Representative of CICC Vietnam; Vo Duc Anh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Center (DISSC); Nguyen Duc Hung Linh, Deputy CEO and Chief Information Officer of TTC AgriS; Binh Pham, Founder of BCA Partners; and Long Bui Vu, Director of Strategic Solutions at TOS Digital Agency.
Together, these perspectives connected global economic trends with Vietnam’s rapidly developing industrial and innovation ecosystems, offering participants a broader understanding of the strategic considerations involved in building sustainable international operations.
The program also incorporated networking opportunities, including an FTU alumni reception and an NTU alumni cocktail reception in Ho Chi Minh City, facilitating connections among business executives, academic leaders, and members of Vietnam’s professional communities.
Connecting Global Leadership with Executive Education
H.E. Mari Kiviniemi’s participation underscores the value of incorporating firsthand experience from former national leaders into international executive education.
As a GLGI Speaker and Instructor, H.E. Mari Kiviniemi brings extensive expertise in public governance, international economic policy, institutional cooperation, and strategic leadership. Her experience offers business leaders valuable perspectives on how political decisions, regulatory frameworks, and global economic developments shape international business opportunities.
Through engagements of this nature, GLGI seeks to bridge global leadership experience with practical business education, helping executives and entrepreneurs strengthen strategic judgment, navigate cross-border complexity, and pursue responsible, sustainable international growth.
About the Global Leadership and Governance Institute (GLGI)
The Global Leadership and Governance Institute (GLGI) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing leadership, governance, international dialogue, and cross-border cooperation. Through its global network of former heads of state and government, senior policymakers, scholars, and industry leaders, GLGI supports executive education, policy research, leadership development, and international strategic engagement.