International Speakers & Legal Experts Converge at the HCMC Business Summit 2025

On 25 September 2025, at Riverside Palace, the Tan Son Nhat Chapter of the Ho Chi Minh City Young Business Association (YBA) successfully organized the legal forum entitled:
“Understanding Trade Agreements and Common Law – The Key to Unlocking Global Growth for Vietnamese Enterprises.”

The event brought together prominent domestic and international speakers, delivering practical legal and commercial insights to the Vietnamese business community. The discussions focused on leveraging the preferential frameworks of trade agreements, gaining a proper understanding of the United Kingdom’s Common Law system, and mitigating legal risks in cross-border cooperation.

Distinguished Speakers Included:

  • Ms. Alexandra Smith, Consul General of the United Kingdom in Ho Chi Minh City – shared opportunities arising from the UKVFTA & CPTPP.

  • Mr. Chris Milliken, Attorney-at-Law, Common Law expert – analyzed the English legal system and provided recommendations for Vietnamese businesses.

  • Mr. Michael Wekeser, Attorney-at-Law, international contracts specialist – highlighted legal pitfalls in contract formation.

  • Mr. Nguyen Trung Nam, Attorney-at-Law, international arbitrator – presented solutions on commercial arbitration.

  • Mr. Bob Fletcher, Deloitte – analyzed challenges in C/O procedures and UK customs clearance.

  • Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Ngoc, KPMG – discussed outbound investment and legal technology applications.

Accompanying the program, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Khoa, Managing Partner of K & Associates LLC (KALF), served as Head of the Organizing Committee. She oversaw the substantive content of the forum, delivering a core message that extended beyond trade and law: the emphasis on the rule of law as the foundation for sustainable, transparent, and secure business practices.

This year’s forum further positioned itself as an important bridge, enabling Vietnamese enterprises to expand into international markets, strengthen competitiveness, and affirm their standing in the global arena.