Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s SOVICO Group has becomea strategic partnership of the United Nations (UN) after the two sides signed aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Hanoi on September 23.

The signatories were UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam KamalMalhotra and Chairwoman and CEO of SOVICO Group Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao.

This partnership between SOVICO Group and the UN marks the first strategiccooperation of a Vietnamese corporation with the UN in support of theSustainable Development Goals.

Noting that both parties share common interests in promotingyouth engagement, green growth and the protection and promotion of natural andcultural heritage in Vietnam, the MoU establishes a long-term framework foraction, and calls on the parties to work together to broaden this partnershipwith other like-minded Vietnamese businesses.

As the first step, SOVICO Group will collaborate with UNESCO, UNIDO andUN-Habitat to support Hanoi’s development as a UNESCO Creative City through thepreservation and restoration of cultural heritage, revitalisation of craftvillages and support for creative hubs to nurture the young creative talent ofHanoi. Guided by the values of sustainability and respect for local culture,this partnership envisions the development of Hanoi as a “Creative Capital”whose development builds on its creative past and the energy of its youth.

Speaking to the gathering of interested government ministries,city officials and international partners, Thao stressed that Thispartnership with the United Nations to support Hanoi’s cultural heritage anddevelopment demonstrates the continued commitment of SOVICO, with Vietjet,HDBank, Phu Long, the jointventure of Bac An Khanh and its affiliates to support the long-term developmentof Vietnam by supporting youth leadership to make a meaningful contribution tosocial, cultural and economic development in the country.

“We also expect our cooperation with the United Nations through UNESCOtechnical assistance will help establish a SOVICO Fund for Vietnam’s Heritage& Innovation to support even more initiatives and solutions for culturaland green city development, artistic and design activities, as well as creativehubs to nurture creative talents, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation,”she said.

Kamal Malhotra shared:"With this new partnership, SOVICOGroup are demonstrating their commitment to sustainable development in Vietnam  and to the principles and values of the UnitedNations. We salute them for being pioneers among Vietnamese corporations, andwelcome them as partners. We hope that SOVICO’s example will inspire otherVietnamese private sector companies to take the necessary actions that will realisea sustainable future for Vietnam."

The event was attended by senior government representatives anddevelopment partners who signaled their strong support to this innovativepublic-private partnership and their hope for new initiatives that unite the privatesector, development partners and government to support sustainable developmentand help Vietnam realise its objectives in the Decade of Action for the SDGs./.