Meeting between Ho Chi Minh City leaders and the German business association.

The Association was honored to welcome Mr. Le Thanh Liem, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, along with leaders from various departments and agencies of Ho Chi Minh City, to the Open Dialogue with over 90 invited representatives from German member businesses, organizations, and partners of the German Business Association in Vietnam.

The Open Dialogue focused on the main theme: “Updates on the economic development of Ho Chi Minh City in the period 2016-2017, business opportunities and investment cooperation for German companies in Vietnam.”

Vice Chairman Le Thanh Liem assessed that the relationship between Vietnam and Germany has been increasingly strengthened and consolidated over 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 for economy, finance, trade, science and technology, and to regain its leading position in Southeast Asia. Therefore, the city urgently needs investment from foreign businesses 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 businesses ranked 17th out of 75 countries investing in Ho Chi Minh City, with 114 projects and a total registered capital of over 200 million US dollars.

With the goal of improving the investment environment, the main concerns of businesses revolve around the City's solutions to reduce traffic congestion, including preventing flooding and air pollution, addressing environmental challenges, improving vocational training and developing a highly skilled workforce, and contributing to more efficient administrative management. City leaders listened to the constructive ideas, suggestions, and recommendations of German businesses in the city and provided specific answers to each issue. Ho Chi Minh City is currently focusing on an action plan for seven breakthrough programs to be implemented during the 2015-2020 term. This can be seen as the right direction to further develop the city and become a smart city in the near future.

The leadership of the German Business Association in Vietnam is committed to playing an active role in further strengthening bilateral relations and trade between Germany and Vietnam in general, and with Ho Chi Minh City in particular.

The Thanh