The event will be inaugurated by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, with participation from his key economic ministers and international corporate captains and insight into one of Asia's fastest-growing economies.

The conference, entitled "Vietnam: Modernisation and Regional Integration" and organised by Vietnam's Planning and Investment Ministry, the Viet Nam News and the Asia News Network, will be held at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel.

The Asia News Network is an alliance of 16 leading newspapers in 14 Asian countries. The Nation, which is a founding member, is organising a tour for Thai businessmen to attend the conference, visit industrial parks and observe a new urban centre. Information about the tour can be found at www.asianewsnet.net.

"The event is an Asia News Network initiative with a regional collaboration. We have participants coming from all over Asia. The leaders of Vietnam have given the forum the highest importance, as their economy further integrates into and plays a part in the development of the region," Pana Janviroj, executive director of the Asia News Network in Bangkok, said yesterday.

"Thai businesspeople are aware of opportunities in Vietnam and want to hear first-hand from top leaders of Vietnam," said Pana, who is also president of The Nation.

Senior Vietnamese government figures speaking at the conference include Vo Hong Phuc, minister for planning and investment; Vu Khoan, former deputy prime minister; Hoang Trung Hai, minister for energy; and Nguyen Thien Nhan, minister for education and training.

Other speakers are Prof Zhang Hanya, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Investment Research; Gerard Lettelier from the Holcim Group in Switzerland; Ong Hoon Meng from IBM Asean; Ayumi Konishi from the Asian Development Bank; Shoza Sakata from the Institute of Developing Economies at the Japan External Trade Organisation; Don Lam from Vina Capital; Pierre Schaufelberger from Nestle; and Nasarudin Idris from Petronas in Malaysia.

Speaking on behalf of Thai businesses will be Vikrom Kromadit, chairman of the executive board and CEO of the Amata Group.

Sponsors from Thailand are the Export-Import Bank of Thailand, Siam Commercial Bank, Bangkok Airways and the Thai branch of Sumitomo Bank.

International sponsors are Vina Capital, HSBC, Holcim and Vietnam Airlines.

Topics include the road ahead for the Vietnamese economy, challenges the country is facing in legal and implementation teams, human-resources development, energy, regional integration and sectoral overviews.

More than 400 regional business leaders will be at the conference, billed as this year's biggest business forum in Vietnam. For more information, please e-mail valaya@nationgroup.com.