Vietnam positions itself as emerging SAF hub at international summit in Da Nang

International

Government ministries and industry leaders gathered in Da Nang to strengthen Vietnam’s role in sustainable aviation fuel development across Asia-Pacific

Vietnam has underlined its ambitions to become a leading player in the sustainable aviation fuel sector during the country’s first international SAF summit in Da Nang.

The ASAFA Innovation & Policy Summit Vietnam 2026, held from 6 to 8 May, brought together representatives from around 70 organisations, including policymakers, airlines, fuel producers, investors and technology companies. The event was organised by Asia SAF Association (ASAFA).

Senior representatives from Vietnam’s Ministries of Industry and Trade, Finance, Construction, Science and Technology, as well as members of the National Assembly’s Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs, participated in the summit.

Strategic agreements signed during the summit

During the event, ASAFA signed two institutional agreements with Vietnamese state bodies aimed at supporting the development of a national SAF ecosystem.

The first memorandum of understanding was signed with the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion under Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. The agreement focuses on SAF capacity building, technical knowledge transfer and policy support.

A second agreement was concluded with the Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Centre, positioning Da Nang as a regional hub for SAF innovation through joint events, expert cooperation and workforce development initiatives.

“Vietnam has the key fundamentals required to build a competitive SAF ecosystem,” said Fabrice Espinosa, Founder and CEO of ASAFA. “The question is not whether SAF will scale. The question is where, and who will lead.”

SAF becoming a strategic focus in Asia-Pacific

Sustainable aviation fuel is considered one of the aviation industry’s central tools for reducing carbon emissions and supporting long-term decarbonisation targets.

According to ASAFA, the organisation has expanded rapidly since its launch in 2024 and now works with 44 member organisations across 17 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The association has been involved in SAF policy discussions, fuel procurement initiatives and regional market development.

ASAFA was also recognised with the EuroCham Sustainability Award 2025 and participated in the COP30 climate conference in Belém.

Additional regional summits planned

The Da Nang summit marks the first of three ASAFA events planned for 2026. Further summits are scheduled to take place in Thailand in June and Malaysia in October.

In addition to the summit series, ASAFA plans to publish new industry reports, establish a Market Structures Committee aimed at harmonising regional SAF standards and launch the first intake of its International SAF Professional Training Academy in September.

The latest initiatives reflect growing momentum across Asia-Pacific to expand sustainable aviation fuel production and strengthen regional cooperation in aviation decarbonisation.