[Advocacy] Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Celebration of Lunar New Year with Foreign Representative Agencies

On 25th January, EuroCham Executive Board members, Mr. Jean Jacques Bouflet, Mr. Guy Balza and Mr. Thue Quist Thomasen together with the Chairs of our Business Associations attended the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee meeting with foreign organisations to celebrate Lunar New Year 2019, discuss key socio-economic developments in 2018 and look ahead to 2019.

             
Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong welcomed guests from consulates, agencies, international business associations and NGOs. He provided an update on the City’s achievements in 2018 and promised that HCMC will to continue to play a leading role in Vietnam’s economic development and international integration. External affairs activities continue, combining investment & trade promotion, market expansion, promotion of investment and tourism, cultural and social exchange and cooperation in order to enhance the City’s image among international partners.
   
        
With a population of over 10 million people, the City has contributed nearly 22% of GDP and 28% of the total national budget revenue. In order to promote economic growth and develop in a fast and sustainable manner, the City has set up 7 breakthrough programs and, in 2017, added the HCMC construction project to become a Smart urban area, building the East of the City to become an Innovative urban area. This is considered a nucleus to lead and boost the economy in the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Building on the remarkable results of 2017, in 2018 the City has also organised an International Conference and forums on Innovative City. With these results, HCMC will complete the plan for Innovative District (District 2, District 9 and Thu Duc District on the basis of digital economic development and knowledge economy), forming the core of the 4th Industrial Revolution in the City and the region through 2018.
  
Eurocham Executive Board members, Representatives from Business Associations (CCIFV, GBA, ICham) and Partners (BBGV)

Sharing the strategy and goals for 2019, Mr. Phong expressed his gratitude for the support of foreign general consulates, non-governmental organisations, and business communities to the City’s development. Mr. Phong affirmed that it will deepen friendship cooperation with localities worldwide toward practical outcomes as well as boosting the quality of international integration.

Regarding the implementation of the Smart City Masterplan for 2017-2020 with vision to 2025, in January 2019 the City will put into operation phase 1 of the Shared Database and the Smart City Operation Centre. At the same time, HCMC will also announce the establishment of the socio-economic simulation and forecasting division (Phase 1). The City will also implement Resolution 54 and begin 2019 with new opportunities and positive impacts brought by the CPTPP.
For the external relations, the city will deepen the friendship and cooperation with its partners in a practical manner, promoting integration and contributing effectively to the development of Ho Chi Minh City