CIG Co-hosts Asia Regional Forum on the Chandler Good Government Index 2025 in Viet Nam

HA NOI (Viet Nam), 15 December 2025 – The Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG), in partnership with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) and the Academy of Public Administration and Governance (APAG), convened policymakers and practitioners from across the region for an Asia Regional Knowledge Sharing Forum on the 2025 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI).

The forum provided a platform to reflect on governance trends in Asia Pacific and to examine how sustained investment in government capability shapes long-term performance and outcomes for citizens. Discussions drew on findings from the CGGI 2025, now in its fifth edition, which measures government capabilities and outcomes across 120 countries.

The forum opened and closed with keynote remarks by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Vice President of HCMA and Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council. He underscored the importance of strengthening government capability and institutional resilience amid increasing global uncertainty and rapid change, noting the role of public administration reform and long-term planning in supporting national development goals.

Welcome remarks were delivered by Mr. Lam Yi Young, CIG’s Board Member and former Deputy Secretary (Industry) at Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. He highlighted the value of data, evidence-based assessment, and regional knowledge sharing platforms and tools such as the CGGI in supporting peer learning and driving high performance government across Asia and beyond.

Presenting the CGGI 2025 findings, Mr Dinesh Naidu, Director (Knowledge) at CIG, emphasised a clear message emerging from the data: sustained investment in capability matters. He noted that while strong institutions, effective coordination, and long-term planning take time to build, they make a measurable difference to outcomes that matter to citizens.

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Viet Nam’s experience featured prominently in the discussion. Since 2021, Viet Nam has been one of the fastest improvers in the Index, with notable gains in the Leadership and Foresight and Financial Stewardship pillars.

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The forum included a panel discussion bringing together perspectives from government, business, international organisations, and former public service leaders. Vietnamese panellists included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Dr. Bui Phuong Dinh, Vice President of APAG, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice Executive Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and Mr Nguyen Tu Long, Deputy Director General of the Department of Civil Servants and Public Employees at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Their contributions focused on Viet Nam’s reform journey, including administrative restructuring, public sector modernisation, and the importance of building state capability for the long term.

International perspectives were shared by Mr. Rodney Scott, former Chief Policy Advisor at the Public Service Commission of New Zealand, Ms. Sabina A. Stein, Assistant Resident Representative and Head of the Governance and Participation Unit at UNDP Viet Nam, and Mr. Lam Yi Young. The discussion highlighted themes such as fiscal discipline, collaboration between government and the private sector to enable vibrant economies, and the use of data to strengthen feedback loops between citizens and policy decisions. The panel was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Mai, Dean of the Faculty of Human Resource Management at APAG.

CIG is grateful to HCMA and APAG for co-hosting the forum, and to all panellists and participants for a thoughtful and substantive exchange. Appreciation is also extended to participants who joined online from across the region.

The Asia Regional Knowledge Sharing Forum forms part of CIG’s broader efforts to support peer learning and dialogue on government capability, drawing on the CGGI as a practical tool for governments to understand their strengths, identify areas for improvement, and inform meaningful conversations on enhancing government effectiveness.

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About the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG)

The Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG) is a non-profit organisation that works with governments worldwide to build a strong and efficient public sector. We are a team of seasoned government practitioners grounded in real-world experience, focusing on the critical ‘how’ of governance in our partnerships with governments to strengthen institutions and systems, equip leaders, and share knowledge. Drawing on proven practices from Singapore and around the world, we tailor our solutions to each country’s unique needs – because context matters in governance. We are not affiliated with any national government or political party, and we do not represent any partisan or commercial interests. 

For more news and information, visit https://www.chandlerinstitute.org or follow CIG on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @ChandlerINST

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For media clarifications, please contact:

Chandler Institute of Governance
Email: communications@chandlerinstitute.org