Vietnam - SCB appointed as sovereign credit ratings advisor for Vietnam

Standard Chartered Bank has been appointed the sovereign credit ratings advisor to the Vietnamese government, working directly with the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

A mandate letter was signed today by Nguyen Thanh Do, general director of Debt Management & External Financial Department and Louis Taylor, general director of Standard Chartered Bank.

Vietnam currently maintains credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s (a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies), Moody’s, and Fitch Ratings.

Vietnam’s sovereign credit rating is an important indicator for international investors and a tool used to determine the country’s borrowing cost in the international capital markets. Through improved economic management, the government is seeking to improve its rating to attract greater foreign investment into the country. In addition, Vietnamese corporations and banks are increasingly accessing the international markets to finance their expansion plans. For these borrowers, the sovereign rating is of critical importance as it sets a benchmark for their own ratings, impacting their financing cost in overseas markets.

Standard Chartered Bank was selected by the MoF because of its capabilities in advising on credit ratings, as well as its strategic focus and long-term commitment to Vietnam’s development. The bank’s significant onshore presence enables it to provide experienced local insights to the rating agencies and to the broader investor community on behalf of the Vietnamese government.

Taylor said: “This agreement represents another landmark cooperation between the Vietnamese government and Standard Chartered Bank, in which we will assist the government in its strategic initiative to engage actively the rating agencies and, through them, the broader investor community. We hope that this partnership will boost Vietnam’s sustainable development prospects. We see it as another example in Vietnam of Standard Chartered fulfilling our brand promise, to be Here for good.”

Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group. It has operated for over 150 years in some of the world's most dynamic markets and earns more than 90 per cent of its profits in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

In Vietnam, Standard Chartered’s history can be traced back to 1904 when the bank opened its first branch in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). Following the official approval from the State Bank of Vietnam, effective August 1, 2009, Standard Chartered commenced operations in its locally incorporated entity – Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Limited.

Standard Chartered Vietnam now has three branches and employs nearly 700 staff. The bank provides a full suite of wholesale banking products and services to corporate and financial institutions. It also has consumer banking to serve individuals and small and medium enterprises.

Song Ngoc | vir.com.vn

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