Hanoi, March 29 -- Vietnam is stepping up efforts to secure a sovereign credit rating upgrade and deepen access to global capital, with HSBC expected to play a key advisory role in the process.

At a recent meeting with an HSBC delegation led by Group CEO Georges Elhedery, Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang highlighted the importance of an early credit upgrade to reinforce macroeconomic stability, reduce borrowing costs and strengthen investor confidence, while calling for continued technical support from the bank.

Thang described HSBC as a long-standing strategic partner that has supported Vietnam at critical junctures, notably as a lead advisor in sovereign bond issuances on international markets in 2005, 2010 and 2014.

Vietnam is now ...