Singapore (VNA) – Promoting investmentattraction, particularly in clean energy and sustainable development, is apriority of Vietnam in the time to come, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed whilereceiving executives of some leading Singaporean groups on February 25 as part of his ongoingState-level visit to the nation.

Among those hosted by the President was leaders of the energyand urban development group Sembcorp Industries, which has implemented 10Vietnam-Singapore industrial park (VSIP) projects worth 15.4 billion USD inseven localities in Vietnam.

Lauding its investment in the VSIP projects that have attractedinvestors and generated many jobs, Phuc hoped that Sembcorp will build similar IPs in Quang Tri and Quang Nam in central Vietnam and further invest in its projects in Quang Ngai andNghe An.

He asked the group to channel more capital intosectors with high proportion of science-technology and innovation, particularlyregarding green and sustainable development. Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for Sembcorp to reap success in investment, Phuc stressed.

Lauding Vietnam’s strong and comprehensive growth,especially in business climate improvement, and commitment to climate changeadaptation, Sembcorp pledged to accompany the country in this field, particularly thedevelopment of renewable energy and sustainable industrial parks.

Receiving Loh Chin Hua, CEO of the Keppel Corporation – whichdelivers solutions for sustainable urbanisation, the Vietnamese Presidentpraised the group’s effective investment in Vietnam over the past time,including its cooperation with a number of Vietnamese partners like Sovico. Keppelis now operating more than 20 projects worth over 3 billion USD in Vietnam.

He proposed the corporation invest in large scale andinnovative projects in renewable and clean energy,infrastructure and smart cities.

Agreeing with the proposal, the Singaporean CEO informed thatthe group is implementing a number of real estate projects in Vietnam and isaiming for a model, smart and green city.

Phuc also met with Nina Yang, CEO of the Surbana Jurong CityGlobal group and Lee Chong Min, the Founder and Managing Partner of CMIACapital Partners Singapore. The two enterprises are making a 1.2 billion USDinvestment in a 1,000-ha multifunctional project in Ho Chi Minh City over thenext decade. The project will build a high-tech agro-food-ecological urban areawith a scale of 100,000 population.

The President asked the businesses to work with theauthorities in Vietnam and HCM City for support during their implementation ofthe project.

Hosting Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) LimMing Yan, the State leader welcomed the SBF’s work to link Vietnamese andSingaporean firms, contributing to  increasing the two countries’ trade to 8.5billion USD last year.

Vietnam encourages Singaporean businesses to invest ininfrastructure, energy, manufacturing, high-quality agriculture, IT, smartcities, financial services, and banking, he said.

Emphasising that investment promotion is a priority ofVietnam in the coming time, the President suggested that the SBF continue to bea bridge to promote Singaporean investment in Vietnam, contributing to push thebilateral relations to new heights./.