Canadian firms express interest in Vietnam’s smart city development
A business delegation organised by the World Trade Centre Toronto, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, and their partners, is virtually exploring smart city development trends in Vietnam from March 22 to 26.
Delegates attend the online workshop to explore smart city development trends in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
Ottawa (VNA) - A business delegation organisedby the World Trade Centre Toronto, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam,and their partners, is virtually exploring smart city development trends inVietnam from March 22 to 26.
Experts said this is an opportunity for Canadian firmsoperating in the sector to form relations with Vietnamese partners, focusing onsolutions to optimise traffic divergence, reduce energy consumption, and promoteautomation in waste management.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency inOttawa, Elizabeth McIninch, Director of the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council,expressed a belief that Vietnam and Canada will become excellent partners insmart city building now and in the future.
She noted that apart from their 47 years of diplomaticrelations, bilateral cooperation projects in science-technology,trade-investment, agriculture, and infrastructure, and Vietnam’s position as Canada’slargest trade partner in ASEAN, the two countries should also pay attention to thenew global context, as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is easing trade barriers.
Both Vietnam and Canada are now acceleratinginvestments in smart city technologies and projects, with building e-governmentto develop sustainable cities becoming the cornerstone of government planningand industrial activities. Vietnam is currently rated by Canadian analysts asone of the most powerful markets in the world for smart city building.
McIninch unveiled that the council has planned to workwith the Organisation of Women in International Trade - Toronto (OWIT-Toronto) andthe Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC) to organise an onlinefact-finding tour of the Vietnamese market for a business delegation inautumn./.
The Japanese government will set up a fund worth 250 billion JPY (some 2.4 billion USD) to support Japanese companies' "smart-city" projects and to help further decarbonisation measures in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations, reported the Nikkei Asia.
Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh suggested Samsung provide the city with technical support in developing smart city and smart transport and promoting digital transformation.
The southern province of Binh Duong has made itself onto the list of 21 localities worldwide having outstanding smart city development strategies (Smart21) this year, which was unveiled on February 25 by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF).
The festival marks a significant milestone in promoting the brand, value, and legacy of traditional fish sauce - a product deeply rooted in the island’s identity and history spanning over 200 years.
According to Mastercard data, Vietnam has recorded a remarkable 92% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in contactless transaction volume from Q4 2022 to Q4 2024.
Tuan expressed his confidence that LH, with its expertise and experience, would swiftly implement the urban area project, contributing to a modern urban landscape for the province.
With its strategic location, abundant workforce, and modern infrastructure, Vietnam holds significant potential to become a leading centre for power and electronics production in the region and the world.
The renewable energy workforce training and development centre, invested by Germany's GEO Group, is expected to be a cornerstone in shaping Binh Dinh as a renewable energy and innovation hub in central Vietnam, meeting the growing demand for skilled technical personnel in offshore wind, solar farms, and green hydrogen projects.
A notable trend is the shift toward satellite regions. With land scarcity and soaring prices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, investors are eyeing provinces like Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong, which are benefiting from improved technical infrastructure and transport connectivity.
To further strengthen private-sector innovation, Bac Ninh plans to accelerate administrative reforms, build a digital, service-oriented government, and develop an integrated innovation ecosystem that connects businesses with domestic and international institutions, universities, and experts.
The participation of H&M, one of the world's largest fashion corporations, in Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City in early September is considered a special highlight, opening up many cooperation opportunities for Vietnamese businesses in the fashion, textiles and sustainable supply chains.
This latest order builds on a previous agreement signed at the Singapore Airshow last year for 40 engines, bringing the total number of Trent 7000 engines ordered by the airline to 80.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien acknowledged that despite concerted efforts by ministries and local authorities in combating fake and substandard goods, the situation remains highly complicated, attributing the persistent challenges to high profits luring numerous participants, increasingly sophisticated violations, limited resources within enforcement agencies.
The group also placed among the Top 5 energy companies in Southeast Asia and secured the top spot among the largest Vietnamese enterprises featured on the list.
The zone will cover 1,881 ha, comprising functional areas for production, logistics, trade and services, digital technology industry, information technology, and innovation.
Dung underlined several key objectives, including a comprehensive review of the legal framework governing SOEs, and called for updates that reflect international standards and support modern, transparent governance.
While the US market has become more difficult to access due to new tax policies, Australia could play the role of a trade cushion, helping to reduce shocks and maintain export momentum for Vietnam's shrimp industry.
Vietnam Cycle Expo 2025 will coincide with the Vietnam Sport Show 2025, an international exhibition on sports and outdoor entertainment, expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors in the three-day event.
Delegates attend the online workshop to explore smart city development trends in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) 
