Meeting between Ho Chi Minh City leaders and German business association

The Association was honored to welcome the Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Mr. Le Thanh Liem and the Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City Departments and Agencies to attend the Open Dialogue with more than 90 guest representatives from German member enterprises, organizations and partners of the German Business Association in Vietnam.

The content of the Open Dialogue focuses on the main topic "Update on the economic development situation of Ho Chi Minh City in the period 2016 - 2017, business opportunities and investment cooperation for German companies in Vietnam"

Vice President Le Thanh Liem assessed that the relationship between Vietnam and Germany has been increasingly strengthened and consolidated over the past time. Germany has become Vietnam's most important economic partner in the European Union (EU). Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is striving to become a center of economics, finance, trade, science and technology and regain its leading position in Southeast Asia. Therefore, the City is in great need of investment from foreign enterprises to achieve this goal.

Ms. Le Thi Huynh Mai, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, shared at the event that as of the end of April 2016, German enterprises are currently ranked 17th out of 75 countries investing in Ho Chi Minh City with 114 projects and a total registered capital of more than 200 million USD.

With the aim of improving the investment environment, the main concerns of businesses revolved around the City's solutions to reduce traffic congestion including preventing flooding and air pollution, facing environmental challenges, improving vocational training and developing a highly skilled workforce, and contributing to more effective administrative management. The City's leaders listened to the ideas, suggestions, and constructive recommendations of German businesses in the city and provided specific answers to each issue. Ho Chi Minh City is currently focusing on the action plan for 7 breakthrough programs to be implemented in the 2015 - 2020 term. This can be considered the right direction to continue to develop the city further, becoming a Smart City in the near future.

The Board of Directors of the German Business Association in Vietnam pledges to play a proactive role in further strengthening bilateral relations and trade exchanges between Germany and Vietnam in general, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.

The Thanh