Ho Chi Minh City 'accelerates' green transformation, entering new development phase after boundary expansion

On the threshold of an unprecedented development phase when expanding administrative boundaries, Ho Chi Minh City identifies green and digital transformation as two strategic pillars to create a sustainable, modern urban area, enhancing global competitiveness.

Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, spoke at the forum - Photo: Organizing Committee

The above statement was emphasized by Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha - Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee - at the Ho Chi Minh City - Hyogo Economic Forum 2025, taking place on August 5 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The event was co-organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) and the Hyogo Provincial Government (Japan), with the theme "Green and digital transformation trends: For sustainable development goals".

The turning point of the boundary and the push for restructuring development

From July 1, Ho Chi Minh City officially merged its administrative boundaries with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces. This is a historic step, expanding the scale of urban space, raising the total population, infrastructure and development resources to a new level.

In that context, the problem is not only to manage a larger urban area, but also to comprehensively restructure the growth model, towards smart, sustainable and highly adaptable growth in the face of global fluctuations.

Speaking at the forum, Mr. Ha affirmed: "Green transformation - digital transformation is no longer a trend, but has become a mandate of the times for large cities like Ho Chi Minh City, especially in the context of climate change and increasing pressure to restructure the global supply chain."

According to Mr. Pham Binh An - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, the city has identified six key areas for priority transformation, including: energy, industry, transportation, urban infrastructure, trade - services and agriculture .

A major orientation is to build expanded Ho Chi Minh City into a national clean energy center, with a strategy to exploit offshore wind power in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, develop solar power and waste-to-energy, and at the same time renovate existing industrial parks into ecological models to reduce emissions.

The "For a Green Can Gio" model is expected to be a model, with the goal of achieving zero net emissions in 5 years. Solutions include developing green transport, expanding renewable energy, building green villages and promoting the reduction of plastic consumption.

Digital transformation: a pillar that goes hand in hand with green development

Green technology products and digital transformation solutions are introduced at the exhibition area on the sidelines of the forum - Photo: Organizing Committee

Along with green transformation, digital transformation is becoming a strategic pillar that goes hand in hand to help Ho Chi Minh City build a smart, sustainable and competitive urban model in the digital age.

According to Mr. Vo Minh Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of people using smartphones in Ho Chi Minh City has reached 96%, the fiber optic network covers the commune level, showing that the digital infrastructure is gradually being completed and synchronized.

Economically, Ho Chi Minh City aims to increase the proportion of the digital economy to 25% of GRDP by 2025, and 40% by 2030.

To realize this goal, Mr. Thanh said that Ho Chi Minh City is developing a high-tech ecosystem, led by the Quang Trung Software Park Chain, with the participation of leading technology corporations such as FPT, Samsung, Intel,...

Highly appreciating the new position of Ho Chi Minh City after the expansion of its boundaries, Mr. Ono Masuo - Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City - commented that Ho Chi Minh City is a strategic destination for many Japanese investors, including Hyogo province.

Notably, the official internationalization of Kobe Airport this year is expected to create conditions for the implementation of charter commercial flights between Kobe and Vietnam, contributing to further promoting human resource exchange, investment cooperation, education and culture between the two localities.

Ho Chi Minh City leaders affirmed that the city especially welcomes the Hyogo prefecture business community to share the vision of sustainable development, connect with the city's innovation ecosystem, and accompany the Ho Chi Minh City government and businesses in strategic cooperation areas, such as high-tech industry, human resource training and smart urban construction,...

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-tang-toc-chuyen-doi-xanh-buoc-vao-giai-doan-phat-trien-moi-sau-mo-rong-dia-gioi-20250805183353965.htm