Page 24 - VET352

BIZ GUEST

grams that promote social and economic
development and focus on female and youth
participation across financial education, life
skills, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

% Milestones that Matter: What are
some of the key milestones that define
Standard Chartered’s success story in
Vietnam, be they specific projects, part-
nerships, or moments of impact?
Supporting ESG and accelerating Net
Zero are key pillars in our strategy. We are
proud to be the leader in this endeavor,
driving the sustainability agenda and lead-
ing the way in sustainable development
for our clients and the broader economy.
Standard Chartered is a fervent supporter
of and aligned with the Vietnamese Gov-
ernment’s ambitions to be net-zero by 2050.
We have been a proud partner of the Viet-
namese Government since COP26, when
Vietnam made its commitment to net-zero
emissions. Standard Chartered Bank has
PHOTOS: STANDARD CHARTERED VIETNAM brought together the investor community
co-hosted exclusive sessions for our clients
and participated in relevant sessions that

to engage with leaders in the Vietnamese
delegation. Additionally, the bank, together
with all-encompassing stakeholder groups
from the government to the private sector,
different verticals of work under the Just
CELEBR ATING 120 YEARS IN VIETNAM has contributed thought leadership to the
Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to
deliver on the collective ambitions to reach
WHAT HAS BEEN AND net-zero emissions by 2050.
Overall, Standard Chartered has a 120-
year history in Vietnam. Our core compe-
WHAT WILL COME tence is to leverage and utilize our significant
network to deliver FDI to Vietnam and to
facilitate Vietnamese clients who want to
Ms. Michele Wee, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam, tells VET expand into global markets. We are proud
about the bank’s achievements in Vietnam over the last century and to be the only bank that has networks in
the ten ASEAN markets, and this is very
more and what the future may hold. helpful for our clients.

% Can you give us some examples of
the many projects Standard Chartered
LOOKING BACK: Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Lim- has been implementing for the com-
EVOLUTION AND MILESTONES ited, which was an important milestone in munity in Vietnam?
Standard Chartered’s development in the We currently support these initiatives
% Setting the Stage: Standard Chartered country. The bank currently has four and plan to continue and expand organically
has had a remarkable 120-year presence branches - two in Hanoi and two in Ho Chi and where there will be impact. We believe
in Vietnam. Can you paint a picture of Minh City - and is headquartered in Hanoi. that social and economic inclusion leads
the bank’s initial foray into the Viet- We bring our international expertise to more prosperous and sustainable com-
namese market and the vision that and experience in Asia, Africa, and the munities. Futuremakers by Standard Char-
guided its early operations? Middle East to Vietnam, building a broad tered is our global initiative to tackle
Standard Chartered’s history in Viet- business and leveraging our franchise to inequality and promote greater economic
nam can be traced back to 1904, when we help develop Vietnam’s financial services inclusion, and in Vietnam we are running
opened our first branch in Saigon (now sector and help our clients develop their various projects to empower the next gen-
Ho Chi Minh City). We believe in Vietnam’s businesses as markets evolve. eration to learn, earn, and grow.
long-term prospects, and have been fully Standard Chartered provides a full suite Investing in girls and young women
committed to the Vietnamese market and of banking products and services for cor- brings greater prosperity and diversity to
our clients and customers since returning porates, financial institutions, and small the markets in which we operate. Life skills
to the country in 1990. and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and delivered alongside other interventions
On August 1, 2009, we commenced the individuals. We also play an active role in that support social networks, relationship
operations of our locally-incorporated entity, building communities through many pro- building, and economic opportunities help

38 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC TIMES | MARCH 2024 en.vneconomy.vn