HCM City needs 37 billion USD for breakthrough programmes
HCM City will need massive investment from the private sector if it is to meet its goals for transportation, flood control and other areas over the next three years.
Buildings along Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City. Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) –Ho Chi Minh City will need massive investment from the private sector if it isto meet its goals for transportation, flood control and other areas over thenext three years, municipal authorities said at a meeting held on August 24.
To implement its sevenmajor programmes for the 2016-20 period, the city needs around 850 trillion VND(37.7 billion USD). The city’s budget, however, could only cover 20 percent ofthe total investment capital necessary, said Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman ofthe municipal People’s Committee, adding that it meant the city must count onthe private sector to step in.
The seven programmes wereapproved at the city’s 10th Party Congress. They include human resource qualityimprovement; administrative reform; a more competitive business climate;traffic calming; climate change response; pollution reduction; and urbanrefurbishment and development. Sixty per cent of the capital will be mobilisedfor transport infrastructure, environment and flooding issues, Phong said.
Phong said the city willwork to entice potential investors. Strategies will include administrativeprocedure reform to facilitate investors to access opportunities.
Deputy Director General ofthe Commercial Joint Stock Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank)Pham Manh Thang said Vietcombank has registered to take part in 61 projectsrelated to the seven programmes. The projects’ total investment capital is over100 trillion VND (4.4 billion USD). The projects focus on education (23projects), roads and bridges (16 projects), hospitals (7 projects) and urbandevelopment (9 projects).
With State resources understrain, applying the model of public-private partnerships (PPP) is a growingtrend to develop public infrastructure and services, according to Thang.
The city should also focuson projects that will be attractive to investors and commercial banks, he said.Greater transparency and publicity in PPP investment would help, too.
Participants at the meetingwitnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding to provide credits foreight PPP projects with a total investment capital estimated at 26 trillion VND(1.15 billion USD).
They include projects tobuild North-South axis road, Nguyen Tat Thanh road and Tan Phu hospital.-VNA
The first river-bus transport service was launched technically in Ho Chi Minh City on August 21, looking to ease traffic congestion on roads and meet travel demands of local people.
The Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA) said the country lacks a set of standards for the development of solar power, which is abundant and untapped.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has proposed major incentives including prolonged income tax exemptions for businesses and individuals working in special economic zones in three provinces.
According to targets adopted at the fifth Party Congress of the Management Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA) on June 22, the zones aim for average capital attraction of 8–10 million USD per hectare, with a 70% disbursement rate of registered capital achieved on schedule.
This year’s event attracted more than 350 entries from cities and provinces across the country, reflecting growing interest in and commitment to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The new Government decree also simplifies loan procedures while expanding credit incentives to include organic and circular agriculture, allowing them to access preferential terms similar to those of high-tech and value-chain based agricultural production.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
Buildings along Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City. Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) 
