Hong Kong, China, October 20–21, 2026 – Deputy Governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) attended the 33rd APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting (FMM 2026) and delivered remarks at Session 4, entitled “Access to Finance and Opportunity for All”. He shared Vietnam’s experience and policy orientations for promoting financial inclusion in tandem with digital transformation and consumer protection.
Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan and SBV Deputy Governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh attend the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Hong Kong, China.
Speaking on behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, Deputy Governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh affirmed that Vietnam regards financial inclusion as a national priority. Vietnam’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy for the 2026–2030 Period focuses on improving the legal framework and advancing digital finance; expanding access to financial services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and disadvantaged groups; developing payment infrastructure and strengthening data connectivity; and enhancing financial literacy and consumer protection.
According to the Deputy Governor, digital transformation is becoming a key driver of financial inclusion in Vietnam. Currently, 88.96% of adults in Vietnam have bank accounts, the value of cashless payments is equivalent to approximately 28 times GDP, and lending to SMEs accounts for around 20% of total outstanding credit.
SBV Deputy Governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh delivers remarks at the session on “Access to Finance and Opportunity for All”.
Deputy Governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh emphasized that expanding access to financial services must go hand in hand with ensuring safety and service quality. The success of financial inclusion should not be measured solely by the number of accounts opened. More importantly, it depends on whether individuals and businesses can effectively access and use financial services that are affordable, safe, and reliable.
Vietnam expressed its desire to strengthen cooperation with APEC economies in developing digital finance, supporting SMEs, enhancing cross-border payment connectivity, and strengthening consumer protection.
An overview of the session held within the framework of the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Hong Kong, China.
In preparation for hosting APEC in 2027, Vietnam will build on the outcomes of the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting while developing priorities for the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process (FMP) in 2027. Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance, as the lead agency for the FMP, will coordinate with the SBV to organize a series of major meetings in 2027, including the APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting, the APEC Senior Finance Officials’ Meeting, and the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting.
Vietnam’s priorities for the 2027 FMP will focus on strengthening capital markets; promoting data-driven finance for SMEs; diversifying financial resources for development investment; and enhancing the capabilities of young professionals in the financial sector. Through these efforts, Vietnam aims to make practical contributions to regional financial cooperation while further strengthening its role and standing within APEC.