Ho Chi Minh City, 1st July, 2026
Dear valued Members, Friends, and Partners of the GBA,
The first half of 2026 has just concluded, and I am proud to say that Vietnam and our community have demonstrated resilience, innovation, and confidence despite global uncertainties. The German business community remains strongly committed to Vietnam’s future development, while Vietnam has maintained its strong growth momentum, continuing to offer exciting opportunities for investors.
Meanwhile, the GBA team and Board are looking back on a very successful second quarter, and we are now in full swing preparing for several flagship events ahead, including GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam – GBA, our first-ever German Business and Investment Forum, and the GBA Gala Dinner & Business Awards 2026. Our team and partners have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure these milestone events continue to create meaningful value for our community.
I am proud of what we have achieved together and excited about the momentum for German Vietnamese partnerships we are building for the remainder of the year.
Strengthening Strategic Government Engagement
Strengthening dialogue with government stakeholders remains one of GBA’s key strategic priorities for this year. Throughout the second quarter, we continued to reinforce our role as a trusted bridge between the German business community and Vietnamese policymakers through meaningful platforms for collaboration and policy exchange to highlight the impact and needs of our members for local development.
A key highlight was the German–Vietnamese Business Forum 2026: Circular Economy in Manufacturing, co-organized with ITPC, which brought together government leaders and industry experts to explore sustainable industrial transformation and reinforce Germany’s long-term partnership with Vietnam. We were also honored to participate in the conference on Ho Chi Minh City’s 100-Year Vision Master Plan, contributing international business perspectives to discussions on the city’s future development.
Together, these engagements reflect GBA’s continued commitment to supporting constructive public-private dialogue and contributing to Vietnam’s sustainable economic growth. Effective public-private dialogue remains one of the most important ways for business associations to contribute to Vietnam’s economic development. Furthermore, we also deepened our relationships with German stakeholders by officially joining the OAV Asia Pacific Forum and Liebesmahl in Hamburg, advocating for opportunities in Vietnam. (ADD picture!)
Showcasing German–Vietnamese Business Success: German Business & Investment Forum | Gala Dinner & Business Awards 2026
Looking ahead, we are excited to launch a new flagship initiative for 2026: the German Business & Investment Forum, which GBA is proud to host together with our German partner organizations in Vietnam. The forum aims to further highlight the impact of German businesses in Vietnam while building new bridges for collaboration and investment.
Save the date for 13 October 2026, when we will join forces with AHK Vietnam, German Embassy Hanoi, German Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City, GIZ Vietnam, and GTAI to bring together government leaders, business executives, investors, and industry experts from both countries. Together, we will explore opportunities in key areas such as investment, innovation, and talent development.
We also expect to welcome high-ranking officials from Germany, making this a landmark event for the German-Vietnamese business community. Follow our social media channels to stay updated and support us in showcasing the success stories of our community.
Together with the GBA Gala Dinner & Business Awards 2026 on 20 November, these initiatives reflect our shared ambition to celebrate business excellence, deepen strategic partnerships, and further position Germany as a trusted long-term partner in Vietnam’s economic development.
Expanding our presence in Northern and Central Vietnam
Expanding GBA’s presence beyond Ho Chi Minh City remains a key priority for our long-term success as we continue to strengthen our support for members across Vietnam. This quarter, we were pleased to welcome Mr. Florian Weisshuhn, Engineering Director of DRÄXLMAIER Automotive Vietnam, as our new GBA Representative for Central Vietnam, succeeding Mr. David Will, who is leaving Vietnam. Together with Mr. André Pierre Gentzsch, he will further enhance GBA’s engagement and representation in this fast-growing region.
Our regional initiatives also continued to receive strong engagement from members. Da Nang Meets Europe, the TOPRUN Vietnam Factory Excursion in Hai Phong, and the Business Luncheon in Hanoi were all well received, offering valuable opportunities for business exchange, industry insights, and meaningful networking. The positive feedback from participants reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality programmes and expanding GBA’s presence across Northern and Central Vietnam through regular activities and stronger regional engagement.
Elevating Oktoberfest HCMC
Preparations for GBA Oktoberfest 2026 are in full swing, with our dedicated Working Group collaborating closely with partners, sponsors, and suppliers to deliver an even more memorable festival experience. From our exciting new venue and upgraded original German Oktoberfest beer in Ho Chi Minh City to an enhanced event layout and improvements in food & beverage, entertainment, and the overall guest experience, every detail is being carefully planned to further elevate our flagship event.
The enthusiasm for the Oktoberfest from our community has already been remarkable: Friday night in Ho Chi Minh City sold out within the first two weeks, despite the increased capacity. Thank you all for this great commitment to the hard work behind this signature event.
To further improve the visitor experience, we have also launched a brand-new GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam website, featuring a refreshed design, streamlined ticket purchasing, and easier access to event information. We warmly invite our members, partners, and friends to join us in >>> Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Da Nang for another unforgettable celebration of German culture, hospitality, and business networking. We look forward to raising a glass with you at GBA Oktoberfest 2026
Driving Business Excellence Through Meaningful Engagement
- Beyond our flagship initiatives, GBA continues to deliver a great variety of events that support our members through knowledge sharing, networking, and impactful business connections.
From navigating global economic shifts and reinforcing Vietnam’s competitive position (MBM in April) to developing the skilled workforce needed for sustainable growth (MBM in June).These discussions reflect the growing demand from our members for practical guidance in navigating a rapidly changing global business environment.
- Member engagement remained strong throughout the quarter. Our DeutschenTreff networking events in Ho Chi Minh City (May | June) regularly welcomed more than 100 participants, while GBA Family Day once again provided an excellent opportunity for members and their families to connect beyond the workplace.
- Strengthening Cross-Chamber Connections: Highlights included European Night, co-hosted with DBAV, CEEC, and SCCV, as well as DeutschenTreff meets Hanoi Sundowners with AusCham Vietnam, Networking Night with AmCham Vietnam in Hanoi & Networking event with KOCHAM Haiphong. These events allow our members to reach out to new networks, and we will keep collaborating with other associations throughout the year.
- Equally important, our Members for Members (M4M) Workshop has continued to grow, with monthly sessions led by member companies covering timely business topics and practical expertise for all members. These workshops not only encourage knowledge sharing but also create valuable opportunities for members to inspire the GBA community and strengthen collaboration.
As we enter the second half of 2026, I remain optimistic about the opportunities ahead. Vietnam has again proven its strong dynamic position and is setting the right context for our community to accelerate. I am confident that through our collaboration, innovation, and the strength of the community, the GBA will continue to create meaningful value for our members while further strengthening its role as a bridge between Germany and Vietnam.
At the same time, we continue to closely monitor global economic and geopolitical developments and remain committed to supporting our members through timely information, open dialogue, and responsive engagement whenever needed. We are also maintaining close dialogue with German authorities on key issues affecting our business community, including European tax rulings concerning Vietnam, trade barriers, and other pending matters.
These great achievements are the result of dedicated work, mutual trust, and shared commitment. Therefore, I sincerely appreciate our members, my fellow Board colleagues, our regional GBA Representatives, the GBA office team, and our valued partners for your strong engagement, close collaboration, and unwavering support, which continue to be the foundation of our shared success.
Sincerely yours,
Alexander Ziehe
Chairman of the Board
German Business Association (GBA)