“Thailand Connect 2026” Expands Cooperation Opportunities in Phu Tho

The year 2026 marks a significant milestone as Viet Nam and the Kingdom of Thailand celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Against the backdrop of increasingly dynamic bilateral cooperation, the selection of Phu Tho Province by the Royal Thai Embassy in Viet Nam as the host of the “Thailand Connect in Phu Tho 2026” Program is not only a great honor but also a recognition of the Land of the Ancestors as a new growth pole and an attractive, secure destination for economic diplomacy and foreign investment.

Bringing the “Three Connects” Strategy to the Local Level

In recent years, Viet Nam–Thailand relations have experienced substantial and meaningful progress. The official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand by General Secretary and State President To Lam, along with the recent visit to Viet Nam by the Prime Minister of Thailand, demonstrated the highest level of political commitment from both countries.

These high-level meetings and diplomatic exchanges have opened up broad avenues for cooperation in trade, investment, logistics, digital transformation, and green growth.

Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong, Thai Ambassador to Viet Nam Urawadee Sriphiromya, and delegates attend a dialogue between the Provincial People’s Committee and the Royal Thai Embassy in Viet Nam in March 2026.

Notably, the agreement between the leaders of the two countries to advance the “Three Connects” Strategy—including supply chain connectivity, connectivity among businesses and localities, and connectivity between sustainable growth strategies—has created a breakthrough platform for future cooperation.

This strategic framework serves as a roadmap for expanding collaboration among localities, with the goal of increasing bilateral trade turnover to USD 25 billion in the near future and USD 50 billion in the years ahead.

In this context, the “Thailand Connect in Phu Tho 2026” Program, initiated and co-organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Viet Nam, represents one of the most vivid examples of translating strategic commitments between the two nations into concrete projects and practical outcomes at the local level.

Phu Tho – An Attractive Destination for Foreign Investment

Speaking at a dialogue between Phu Tho provincial leaders and the Royal Thai Embassy in Viet Nam in mid-March 2026, Ambassador Urawadee Sriphiromya emphasized that Phu Tho’s selection as the venue for this important economic diplomacy event was far from coincidental.

In addition to its profound historical and cultural significance as the ancestral homeland of the Vietnamese people, Phu Tho is entering a new era of dynamic development.

Billboards promoting the “Thailand Connect in Phu Tho 2026” Program are displayed along major streets in Viet Tri Ward.

Following administrative reorganization, Phu Tho now possesses a larger development space, a stronger economic foundation, abundant human resources, and increasingly synchronized infrastructure.

Strategically located at the crossroads connecting the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region with the Red River Delta, the province benefits from an extensive transportation network linking it directly to Ha Noi, Noi Bai International Airport, and Hai Phong Port.

According to the approved master plan, the province is set to develop 57 industrial parks (IPs), of which 28 have already been established, are under construction, or are operational. These industrial parks are well-positioned to provide modern infrastructure and ready-to-use industrial land for future waves of investment in high technology, supporting industries, electronics, semiconductors, and modern logistics services.

The strong presence and continued expansion of Thai investment in Phu Tho further demonstrate the province’s attractiveness. To date, Thai investors have implemented 16 projects in the province with a total investment exceeding USD 400 million, focusing primarily on manufacturing, industrial park infrastructure, and real estate development.

Multi-Million-Dollar Commitments and the AMATA City Phu Tho Milestone

According to the Organizing Committee, the “Thailand Connect in Phu Tho 2026” Program will feature a range of important activities, including the “Thailand Connect in Phu Tho 2026” Conference, the Thai Connect EXPO exhibition with 20 booths showcasing outstanding products from Thailand and Phu Tho Province, business networking events, investment and trade promotion activities, and field visits.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Hieu and the delegation conduct a field visit to the technical infrastructure of Amata Bien Hoa Industrial Park, developed and managed by AMATA Group, the investor of the AMATA City Phu Tho project.

A number of significant investment cooperation documents are expected to be exchanged during the event. These include a Letter of Intent for the expansion of CP Group’s investment project in Phu Tho, with an estimated capital of USD 320 million, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on project expansion from leading retail corporations such as Central Retail Vietnam and MM Mega Market Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The symbolic highlight of this year’s event will be the official launch ceremony of the Doan Hung Industrial Park – AMATA City Phu Tho project, developed by AMATA Group.

Covering nearly 500 hectares and envisioned as a smart eco-industrial park and a leading high-tech manufacturing hub for the region, the project is expected to inject new momentum into the province’s socio-economic development while reflecting the strategic confidence of major Thai multinational corporations in Phu Tho’s investment environment.

Building the Future Through Strategic Trust

This strategic confidence has been earned through Phu Tho’s sustained efforts to improve its investment and business environment, accelerate administrative reforms, and promote comprehensive digital transformation.

With the principle of treating businesses as development partners, the province is committed to providing the most favorable conditions through transparent, stable, and secure mechanisms, enabling investors to operate and expand their businesses with confidence.

The Organizing Committee is completing preparations for the conference and exhibition venues of the “Thailand Connect in Phu Tho 2026” Program.

Under the theme “Thailand and Viet Nam Connectivity: Smart Cities – A Driver of Economic Growth and Sustainable Development,” the 2026 conference in Phu Tho will serve as a high-level professional forum.

Government officials, experts, and business communities from both countries will exchange experiences and propose solutions related to modern urban governance, smart infrastructure, clean energy, and human resource development.

Looking ahead, Phu Tho is prepared and eager to welcome more high-quality investment projects from Thailand in emerging sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, smart cities, green energy, the circular economy, and premium tourism services.

The province is committed to leveraging science and technology, innovation, and the digital economy as new growth drivers while working closely with Thai partners to build sustainable cooperation models for the future.

From the sacred ancestral land of Viet Nam, the ideas and initiatives generated through the “Thailand Connect in Phu Tho 2026” Program are expected to quickly bear fruit, transforming into tangible projects and new symbols of success.

The combination of Phu Tho’s development aspirations and the strategic strengths of Thai partners will further strengthen the Viet Nam–Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and help both sides move confidently into the next half-century of cooperation and prosperity.

Dinh Vu