Int’l confab looks to develop skilled workforce for smart city development
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications and the Francophone University Agency (AUF) organised an international conference on November 4 discussing ways to branch out high-quality labour force for the southern economic hub’s development of smart urban areas.
At the international conference held in HCM City on November 4 to discuss ways to branch out high-quality human resources for smart urban development (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications and the Francophone University Agency (AUF) organised an international conference on November 4 discussing ways to branch out high-quality labour force for the southern economic hub’s smart urban development.
At the event, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan highlighted the socio-economic achievements that the city has carved out over the recent past as well as its goal to transform itself into a modern and smart metropolis by 2030, saying the city is envisaged to become a dynamic hub of finance, commerce, culture, education, and science-technology with deep international integration.
To that end, the city needs a digitally skilled workforce and innovation, the official said, noting HCM City's interest in collaborating with both domestic and international organiastions, especially the AUF, in breakthrough projects in the areas of health care, education, transport, and urban development, among others, so as to create new values for the community.
Director of the department Lam Dinh Thang said that the city has earmarked 1.22% of its budget for digital transformation initiatives, exceeding the national level of 1%, with various policies put in place such as fee waiver and reduction for online public services, along with incentives to attract experts and talents to the sector.
HCM City is aiming for the digital economy to contribute 25% of the gross regional domestic product (GRDP) by 2025 and 40% by 2030, he added, spotlighting several challenges that the city has encountered like a shortage of experts in advanced technologies and the need to enhance digital literacy among civil servants.
Meanwhile, AUF Director-General Slim Khalbous stressed the importance of collaborative efforts by authorities, universities, businesses, and international partners.
International experts recommended the city identify its human resources demand to have rational training programmes, and suggested short-term training for civil servants, residents, and businesses, and long-term training at higher education institutions./.
Ho Chi Minh City is aiming for a digital economy contributing about 25% and 40% to its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) by 2025 and 2030, respectively.
More than 500 businesses from many countries and territories are displaying technologies and solutions for smart urban development at the Smart City Asia 2024 exhibition that opened in Ho Chi Minh City on April 17.
The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the US Consulate General in the city on November 15 held a meeting to promote their cooperation in smart urban development.
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.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
