Within the framework of the Autumn Economic Forum 2025 held on November 25, Ho Chi Minh City organized the CEO 500 - TEA CONNECT event. Here, delegates and leaders had a dialogue on the strategy: "Ho Chi Minh City - towards an international megacity in the digital age".
CEO 500 - TEA CONNECT is the predecessor of CEO 100 - TEA CONNECT, established in 2023. This is an event to meet businesses through tea, held for the first time within the framework of the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum, chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh .
Ho Chi Minh City is repositioning itself as a "dynamic metropolis"
In this morning's dialogue session, there were more than 20 presentations from international organizations and global corporations such as Foxconn, Qualcomm, Siemens, Amazon, and many typical Vietnamese enterprises.
The discussion focused on practical issues that businesses are interested in in the context of Ho Chi Minh City repositioning its role as a "dynamic megacity", including: Cooperation in digital transformation - green transformation, the need for new digital infrastructure and strategic infrastructure, international financial center and attracting high-quality capital flows, building an innovation ecosystem, developing highly qualified human resources especially in AI and digital technology , as well as exploiting the potential of public-private partnership (PPP) in strategic projects.
According to a report from the Department of Finance, from July 1, Ho Chi Minh City entered a new development phase with many breakthrough opportunities. The expansion of administrative boundaries and the merger with two important industrial and seaport centers of the country, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, has created a historic turning point.
This political determination has created Ho Chi Minh City - a "super city" with an unprecedented scale and stature in the history of urban development in Vietnam: an area of over 6,773 km2, a population of 14 million people and an estimated GRDP of 3.03 million billion VND, accounting for 23.5% of the country's GDP.
More than 500 young intellectuals and global leaders attended the opening talk show of the 2025 Autumn Economic Forum (Photo: Organizing Committee).
Within the framework of the program, a series of cooperation activities between City agencies and enterprises and organizations were announced. Including: Memorandum of Understanding between the High-Tech Park Management Board and TTI to develop domestic supply chains; Memorandum of Understanding between the High-Tech Park Management Board and SynoSys on cooperation in training microchip design; Memorandum of Understanding between the High-Tech Park Management Board and FPT Semiconductor on cooperation in training chip testing packages and participating in the supply chain of FDI enterprises....
In the field of low-altitude economy, the High-Tech Park Management Board and the Low-altitude Economic Alliance signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation. At the same time, HCMC C4IR, Vietnam Aerospace Institute, SaigonTel Group, Accelink Group (USA) on promoting cooperation in the field of low-altitude space technology also signed a cooperation agreement.
Notably, the program also witnessed the participation of the world's leading corporations and institutions, demonstrating the special attraction of the Autumn Economic Forum 2025 as well as the increasing position of Ho Chi Minh City in the global economic and technological cooperation network.
World billionaires invest in Ho Chi Minh City
From the United States, billionaire Bruno Wu's Sun Seven Stars Group aims to develop digital financial platforms, digital assets, media - education and CBDC, hoping to connect with Ho Chi Minh City in financial - technology center models and innovation ecosystems.
The George HW Bush Foundation of Neil Bush focuses on public diplomacy, education and policy engagement, and seeks to promote exchange programs, scholarships, young leadership forums and expand connections between policymakers and US businesses.
Delegates' discussion on the sidelines of the event on the morning of November 25 (Photo: Organizing Committee).
Asian corporations offer a wide range of cooperation and are inclined towards technology and industry. Sunwah (China) of Mr. Jonathan Choi continues to seek projects in real estate, education, healthcare, technology and logistics associated with smart urban development.
Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII) is interested in electronics supply chain, smart factories, EV components and semiconductors.
Huawei focuses on digital infrastructure, 5G, AI, data centers and digital government, expecting to accompany the city in smart transportation and digital energy projects.
European and Singaporean businesses also showed a long-term vision. Schneider Electric wants to cooperate in developing smart grids, energy-efficient buildings and factories, and energy management systems for data centers and industrial parks.
Siemens ASEAN, led by Dr. Pham Thai Lai, is looking for opportunities in urban transport, railways, logistics and industrial digital solutions. Hitachi (Japan) is interested in water and wastewater treatment, urban infrastructure and public transport, expressing its desire to participate in sustainable urban upgrading projects.
Hikvision offers AIoT solutions, smart surveillance, safe cities, and offers real-time image management platforms. Nokia aims to cooperate in 5G infrastructure, next-generation networks, and industrial IoT - logistics to enhance Ho Chi Minh City's connectivity.
In general, corporations expect Ho Chi Minh City to be a destination for new-generation technology-industry-infrastructure investment, where they can pilot new models, form R&D centers, expand supply chains and contribute to Vietnam's "green growth in the digital age" strategy.
The Autumn Economic Forum 2025 is an international dialogue event hosted by Ho Chi Minh City, taking place from November 25 to 27. With the theme "Green transformation in the digital age", the Forum brings together government leaders, ministers of countries, leaders of international organizations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF), experts and business leaders.
On November 25, the Forum opened with an inspirational talkshow for young people and the CEO500 - TEA CONNECT program, connecting government leaders, WEF leaders and more than 500 global CEOs. The same evening, an official reception was held, hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.
November 26 is the focus of the forum, with a plenary session and five strategic reports on green transformation, smart economy, megacity governance, manufacturing and global supply chains.
The afternoon will see a dialogue between leaders of ministries, sectors and international experts, followed by a direct exchange between the Prime Minister and WEF Managing Director Stephan Mergenthaler.
November 27 focuses on field activities at CMC Data Center and Galaxy Innovation Hub, seminars with Vietnamese experts abroad, as well as a program connecting Vietnamese and Chinese businesses.
The same evening took place the Global C4IR Networking Night - held for the first time in Vietnam with the participation of 15 C4IR centers around the world.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/loat-doanh-nghiep-hang-dau-tu-my-trung-quoc-tim-co-hoi-dau-tu-vao-tphcm-20251125162916547.htm
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