Ho Chi Minh City - Nghe An: Promoting strengths, comprehensive cooperation

(Baonghean) - The cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City - a major economic and social center, and Nghe An province - the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh is not only a socio-economic cooperation but also a special cooperation, of great significance, demonstrating the affection and responsibility of the Party Committee, government and people of the city named after Uncle Ho for his hometown.

After more than 10 years, since the announcement No. 01/TB-NA-HCM dated August 20, 2003 on the Socio-Economic Development Cooperation Program between Ho Chi Minh City and Nghe An Province, the two localities have implemented and achieved many practical results, contributing to socio-economic development, tightening the cooperative relationship, creating premises and opening up many new cooperation prospects. Through the Cooperation Program, the leaders of the two localities have regularly monitored, met, exchanged, coordinated in directing, resolving difficulties and obstacles during the implementation of the program, creating motivation and confidence for businesses and investors of Ho Chi Minh City to invest in Nghe An Province. The traditional, special relationship between the two localities has been strengthened, contributing to arousing the enthusiasm of organizations and businesses to overcome the difficulties of geographical distance to carry out investment projects in production, business and support social activities in Nghe An.

Promoting the strengths of each locality, over the past 10 years, organizations and enterprises from Ho Chi Minh City have increasingly come to learn, survey and invest in Nghe An; creating an important investment capital flow for the socio-economic development of Nghe An province. There have been 45 investment, production and business projects with a total registered investment capital of VND 15,351 billion; of which 41 projects have been put into operation and are being implemented with a total investment capital of VND 13,627 billion. The projects have paid more than VND 1,800 billion to the budget, creating regular jobs for more than 5,000 workers. Some large and effectively operating projects include: Saigon - Song Lam Brewery; Cua Lo Golf Course - Resort Hotel Complex; Sabeco Packaging Factory; Bai Lu Eco-tourism Area; Vinh Tan New Urban Area; Thanh An Saigon Hospital...

Beer production line of Saigon - Song Lam Brewery. Photo: Phan Toan

In addition, the social security support activities from the city named after Uncle Ho to Nghe An province have demonstrated the deep affection, care and responsibility of the City Party Committee, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and agencies, units and individuals of Ho Chi Minh City for Nghe An province. Over the past 10 years, the amount of money and goods that Ho Chi Minh City has supported and sponsored for social security for Nghe An province is more than 39 billion VND through many flood relief activities, giving gifts to poor children, disabled children, free medical examination and treatment and building schools and medical stations in extremely difficult areas...

Remember, at the meeting with investors earlier this year, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong emphasized: "There were investors from Ho Chi Minh City who came to us, then they left, but now also from Ho Chi Minh City, the same investor has returned and expressed his determination to invest in Nghe An". That shows that there was a time when we were not wholeheartedly devoted to you, but now with innovations in thinking, working methods, and determination for a united and developed Nghe An, we have changed your thinking and you have returned.

Promoting the good traditional relationship and the achievements over the past 10 years, in the period of 2014-2020, the leaders of the two localities will promote and promote the effectiveness, further tighten the long-term cooperative relationship on the principle of considering comprehensive economic and social development cooperation as a long-term strategic task to promote the advantages of the two localities, meeting the trend of integration and development. The two localities will promote cooperation in all fields, integrating related contents to deploy and successfully implement Resolution No. 16-NQ/TU dated August 10, 2012 of the Politburo on the direction and tasks of developing Ho Chi Minh City to 2020 and Resolution No. 26-NQ/TU of the Politburo on the direction and tasks of developing Nghe An province to 2020; focusing on some main contents as follows:

Regarding investment: The two sides continue to pay attention to and create conditions for the implementation of programs and projects that have been and are being jointly implemented by sectors, organizations and enterprises of the two localities in the past time. The two sides cooperate and share experiences in improving the investment and business environment, mobilizing and promoting investment to attract resources for investment in socio-economic infrastructure projects. Ho Chi Minh City coordinates and helps Nghe An province promote investment, introducing to Ho Chi Minh City investors the potential, investment opportunities and list of projects calling for investment in Nghe An province.

In the field of trade: The two localities organize, mobilize and create conditions for businesses in the two localities' strong industries to participate in fairs and exhibitions organized by the two localities. At the same time, link up e-commerce trading floors to create conditions for investors and businesses to access information about the potential and key products of the two localities.

Regarding tourism development: The two sides actively promote and publicize the potential, strengths and tourism images of each locality on mass media and electronic information portals of each side. Ho Chi Minh City will direct member units to cooperate in building programs, connecting and diversifying tours to visit scenic spots, historical and cultural relics of Nghe An and neighboring areas.

The two sides also agreed to promote cooperation in education, training and healthcare. Strengthen cooperation between universities and colleges in the two sides, especially in joint undergraduate and postgraduate training. Ho Chi Minh City supports Nghe An province in transferring techniques in surgery and high-tech treatment.

The two sides cooperate and exchange experiences in hunger eradication, poverty reduction and social security. Ho Chi Minh City is interested in supporting Nghe An province in the field of social security, especially in some difficult areas, remote areas, focusing on the following programs: Building suspension bridges, eliminating illegal ferry piers, building and upgrading medical facilities in disadvantaged communes, helping poor communes, supporting the poor, and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters. In addition, the two sides also strengthen cooperation in the fields of science and technology, information technology and radio and television.

Nguyen Huu Mao

(Director of Investment Promotion and TVPT Center)