Diplomatic corps supports HCMC’s smart city plan

Specific policies will facilitate HCMC’s development breakthrough

Watershed

HCMC’s 2017-2020 plan to become a smart city is designed to achieve rapid, sustainable economic growth for the city and give residents a key role in development. Building a socioeconomic development strategy research center, forming a joint administration center, establishment of information security centers, and development of shared databases and an open data base ecosystem are the plan’s main targets.

At the same time, the city will also build an innovative urban area, connecting District 2, District 9 and Thu Duc District. These will play a key role in implementing the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) in the city in particular, and the Southern Key Economic Zone in general, and spur economic development based on knowledge-based economic sectors.

National Assembly Resolution 54 refers to policies specifically designed for HCMC in the fields of land management, investment management, financial and state budget management, authorization mechanisms and state employee incomes. The resolution is expected to ease many management bottlenecks and create favorable conditions for HCMC to take the initiative in policy decisions for socioeconomic development. This is the first time Vietnam has offered specific policies for a city to facilitate its sustainable growth and contribute to Vietnam’s economic development.

HCMC People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong said that through the diplomatic delegations based in the city, HCMC wishes to receive development support from international partners. The city also wants consulates to assist it in smart city development, Phong said.

Consulates supporting HCMC development

Leow Siu Lin, Singapore’s Consul General, said HCMC is the most dynamic city in Vietnam, and the strategy of sustainable economic development and smart city orientation is the right direction. This is especially true given the city’s importance for foreign investors, including those from Singapore, she said. Consular groups, including Singapore’s, will do their utmost to contribute to the city’s development and its implementation of Resolution 54, she added.

Answering Thai Consul General Ureerat Ratanaprukse’s question about the time it will take to implement Resolution 54, HCMC People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong said the specific policies will be piloted for five years until 2022, and the implementation results will be reported to the national assembly.

Consuls general in HCMC say they are interested in cooperation and investment activities serving the city’s smart city development plan, including environmental, water drainage, waste treatment and infrastructure projects to be undertaken soon in accordance with Resolution 54.