FTSE Russell chief: Vietnam raises the bar for markets poised for upgrade

On the afternoon of April 15, 2026, the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (UBCKNN) hosted a meeting with a FTSE Russell delegation at its headquarters to discuss follow-up steps after Vietnam’s stock market was confirmed to upgrade to a secondary emerging market tier in the March 2026 assessment.

The delegation was led by Gerald Toledano, Global Director responsible for Equity Products, Solutions and Alternative Products. The meeting came after Vietnam received FTSE Russell’s mid-term assessment for March 2026, which indicated positive progress toward the upgrade. The development was seen as an important acknowledgment of reform efforts by regulators and market participants, alongside coordinated involvement from domestic and foreign investment groups.

Participants and meeting focus

On the Vietnamese side, the meeting was attended by Vice Chairman Bùi Hoàng Hải, representatives from UBCKNN units, leaders of the stock exchanges, and the Vietnam Securities Depository (VSDC). From FTSE Russell, Wanming Du, Head of Policy APAC, and other experts participated.

UBCKNN updates on reforms and foreign participation

UBCKNN Chair Vu Thi Chan Phuong thanked FTSE Russell for its positive assessments and highlighted Vietnam’s ongoing policy reforms, strengthened regulatory framework, and improvements in market operations. She also updated on recent measures implemented to facilitate foreign participation in Vietnam’s stock market.

Regarding the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement between FTSE Russell and the Vietnam Securities Depository (VNX), the Chair said UBCKNN valued the initial results, particularly in information exchange, sharing international experience, and developing and operating market indices. UBCKNN reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting both sides to maximize the effectiveness of cooperation.

FTSE Russell noted that Vietnam’s globally standardized index system, with broad coverage, can help foreign investors access the market through index-tracking funds and passive products. The company said this improves market accessibility and supports the attraction of foreign capital.

Operational measures and market infrastructure

On specific topics, both sides discussed operational measures aimed at maximizing foreign investor participation. These included streamlining the legal framework to reduce investment requirements, simplifying administrative procedures, and progressing toward building Vietnam’s securities settlement and clearing system under a central counterparty (CCP) arrangement.

Agreed next steps

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to deepen cooperation, including accelerating research and implementation of new products in line with international practices. The goal is to diversify market offerings and attract more capital from both domestic and international investors.

FTSE All-World Index context

The FTSE All-World Index is described as one of the world’s most widely used benchmarks for global equities. It covers about 4,200 large- and mid-cap stocks across developed and emerging markets in more than 45 countries. As part of the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (FTSE GEIS), the index represents roughly 90–95% of the total investable global market capitalization, providing broad and transparent coverage of the global equity market within a single framework.