Singapore(VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 10 met leadingSingaporean and Singapore-based businesses and investment funds, as part of hisongoing official visit to the country.

Receiving Tow HengTan, Deputy Chairman, Non-executive andNon-independent Director Sembcorp Industries, which specialises in providingenergy transition and urban development solutions, Chinh hailed the firm’seffective cooperation with Becamex of Vietnam to develop industrial parks (IPs) tointernational standards in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Governmentleader suggested that Sembcorp continue to expand investment in IPs in morelocalities in Vietnam, while considering the construction of exclusive zonesfor investors in the field of digital economy and high-tech application.

Tow said that hiscompany is working with Vietnamese partners to form the Vietnam-SingaporeIndustrial Park (VSIP) Company to build 10 VSIPs in seven localities ofVietnam. He said that the firm hopes to cooperate closely with Vietnam to launchmore VSIPs in Lang Son and Nghe An provinces and implement offshore powerprojects for exporting to Singapore.
 
PM Chinh pledged that the Vietnamese Government will support and create optimalconditions for Sembcorp to operate in Vietnam.

Following the meeting, he witnessed the exchange of cooperation agreementbetween PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) and SembcorpUtilities in jointly developing offshore wind power projects to export toSingapore.

At a meeting with LeeChong Min, Founder andManaging Partner of CMIA Capital Partners Singapore, and Nina Yang, CEO of SurbanaJurong (SJ), PM Chinh said that leaders of Vietnam and Singapore encourage thestrengthening of cooperation in connecting the two economies on the digitalplatform with high technology investment and transfer, and green growth.

Lee said that in April 2022, the CMIA signed a memorandum of understanding with thePeople's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the People's Committee of the city’sCu Chi district to develop a high-tech agricultural ecological urban area in thecity. The CMIA is proposed to be the investor and the SJ will be themaster planning designer and management unit of the project.

He said the CMIA hopes that Vietnam will promptly approve the adjustment ofplanning and the investment policy of the project, while allowing the CMIA tobe its investor and developer.

The PM welcomed theinitiative of CMIA and SJ to develop the project in Cu Chi district of HCMCity.

He said that theVietnamese Government has directed the building of transportation projectsto connect Cu Chi, HCM City and nearby Binh Duong province to boost the district’sgrowth. He asked for the CMIA’s engagement in and consultation to the building of the project to optimise thepotential and advantages of the district and the region. The Vietnamese sidewill assist investors during the implementation of the project, he vowed.

Meeting Dilhan PillaySandrasegara, CEO of Temasek Holdings which poured over 1 billion USDof direct investment in Vietnam in the 2024-2021 period, and the owner of manymajor companies of Vietnam such as VNG, Scommerce, Golden Gate and Vietcombank,PM Chinh praised Temasek’s cooperation with and support to Vietnamese partners,especially start-ups, over the past nearly 20 years.

He proposed that the firm expand its investment in Vietnam in the fields ofinfrastructure (hard and soft), green transformation, circulareconomy, innovation, chip production, and the building of the innovation centre in HCMCity, while continuing to actively contribute to the sustainable socio-economicdevelopment of Vietnam.

PM Chinh alsosuggested that Temasek, with a large network of international partners andcustomers, will serve as a bridge to bring foreign investors to Vietnam inthe coming time. The Vietnamese government is committed to accompanying with andcreating favourable conditions for the firm to invest and operate businesseffectively and successfully in Vietnam, he said.

During a meeting with Wee Ee Cheong, CEO of United Overseas Bank Search (UOB), one ofthe largest banks in Asia that is operating UOB Vietnam Ltd., PM Chinh saidthat Vietnam prioritises green and sustainable financial development, especially the green bondmarket, in order to support the implementation of Vietnam's National Strategyon Green Growth for the 2021-2030 period. This is an important investment attractionchannel for investors interested in sustainable development, green andrenewable energy projects, he said.

The Vietnamese Government leader asked UOB to introduce and propose potentialinvestors who its are partners and members to invest in Vietnam, while continuingconnecting more Singaporean firms with Vietnam in the coming time.

Lauding UOB's commitments, efforts and engagement in the Vietnamese financialmarket, the PM asked UOB to share experiences with Vietnamese partners and get involved in the building of an international financial centre in HCM City.

The same day, PM Chinhalso received Loh Chin Hua, CEO of Keppel Corporation which has operated 22 projects worth over 3.6 billion USD in Vietnam. He welcomedand encouraged Keppel to expand investment in the fields of green economy,circular economy, renewable energy, green infrastructure, informationtechnology, smart city, health care, and education in Vietnam. The leader suggested thatthe firm invest in strategic infrastructure development in Vietnam, especiallysocial housing, housing for workers, and infrastructure of industrial parks.

PM Chinh pledged that Vietnam willaccompany with and provide optimal conditions for the firm to operate inVietnam./.