HCMC wants more UK investment
HCMC wants more UK investment
Strengthening ties between the United Kingdom and HCMC, the city’s vice chairman, Le Thanh Liem, met with Conor Burns, Minister of State with the UK’s Department of International Trade, who was on a business trip to Vietnam, discussing opportunities to further enhance British investment in HCMC.
The HCMC government is committed to helping foreign firms, including those from the UK, conduct long-term business in the city, a municipal leader said on Thursday, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
The municipal leader expressed pleasure over the positive development of ties between the city and the United Kingdom and recognized the active contributions of British investors in Vietnam’s southern metropolis.
He said that the city government will host a roundtable meeting next month, giving British firms the chance to discuss their problems with local leaders and potentially remove obstacles hindering their investment and business operations in the city.
Having pointed out some urban development challenges, Liem thanked the United Kingdom for its support in the execution of a smart urban project and pledged to assist in executing its components.
He added that the city stands ready to promote educational cooperation with the United Kingdom. The two sides will work together to hold a local exhibition on educational equipment and technologies early next year.
Meanwhile, Burns confirmed the British Government’s resolution to improve trade ties with Vietnam in general and with its localities, including HCMC, helping deepen the relationship between the two countries.
British investors were convinced of the city’s development potential, he noted, expressing his impression of its robust growth.
Having worked with British investors in HCMC, he said there remained many cooperation opportunities in the fields of finance, banking, renewable energy and green energy.
Furthermore, these investors hope to boost collaboration with HCMC in people-to-people exchanges, education and smart urban development.
The United Kingdom is currently one of HCMC’s largest trading partners with bilateral trade amounting to US$761 million in 2018. It also ranks 11th among 106 countries and territories that have set up shop in Vietnam, with 147 projects worth more than US$600 million.
The municipal government and the British Consulate General in HCMC are cooperating on a project to develop an integrated ticket system for the city’s public transport network.
