HCMC vice chairman Le Thanh Liem (R) shakes hands with Jan Rielaender at a meeting on March 1. (Photo: Thanh Hoa)
Speaking at a meeting with Jan Rielaender, head of Multi-dimensional Country Reviews (MDCR) for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Liem said that the city is the country’s largest training hub, having the lion’s share of students and graduates, who will dedicate themselves to the growth of the city.
Liem said that preferential policies and incentives launched for experts to work at hi-tech industrial parks have significantly contributed to leveraging sustainable development for the city.
When asked about the city’s plan on traffic, water and education services by Jan, Liem said that the city is in the process of lifting all obstacles faced by residents, including flooding, traffic jams and environmental pollution, as well as developing more housing and educational systems to satisfy municipal residents and meet the needs of a population of more than 10 million people.
In the next few years, HCMC authorities will focus on handling problems related to climate change and flooding, Liem said, adding that HCMC’s upcoming plans include addressing traffic jams, as the city is seeing seven million vehicles traveling on its roads and treating waste, with 9,000 tons of waste discharged into the environment each day.
Further, Liem hailed the economic growth of the city reaching 8.3% in the 2016-2018 period. The city attracted some US$7.4 billion in foreign investment capital in 2018.
Additionally, to maintain the city’s upward spiral, HCMC leaders have planned to meet with foreign direct investment firms and enterprise associations in the city more regularly to remove the hindrances.
Also, the city has attached great importance to the private economic sector, which contributes 60% of the city’s gross domestic product, the representative of the municipal government said.
Aimed to create favorable conditions and encourage private enterprises to further their business, a list of key products manufactured in the city for the 2018-2020 period has been announced, Liem added.
Liem expects the multi-dimensional reviews to contribute to supporting Vietnam, in general, and HCMC in fulfilling all targets and completing strategies for the socioeconomic development in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and OECD, on February 26, held an inaugural seminar on the multi-dimensional review of Vietnam in Hanoi City, with an aim to formulate proposals and pinpoint bottlenecks faced by Vietnam to foster the comprehensive and sustainable development of the country.
