
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Master planning has been a weakness for HCMCity for a long time and it could persist, a HCM City official has said.
“The city will continue to remain the nation’s economic hub and its masterplanning must meet two requirements: attract the business community and beacceptable to the people,” Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the municipalPeople’s Committee, told a recent meeting held to review the city’s masterplanning for until 2045.
“The city will draft master plans transparently and with accountability for itsleaders.
“The city takes responsibility for many long-delayed projects like Thanh Da andthe Saigon Safari Park, which have caused public anger. In future, the citywill publicly and transparently invite investors to project auctions.”
Nguyen Thanh Nha, Director of the municipal Planning and Architect Department,said soon master planning would factor in the city’s resources and urbanstructure to ensure infrastructure development, adapt to climate change andprevent flooding.
By 2045, the city hopes to have a highly competitive business environment,proper infrastructure and well-developed urban spaces, ensure climate changehas limited impact and land use is efficient and renovate and develop urbanareas and satellite towns to reduce population pressure.
Stephen Wyatt of John Lang LaSalle said that in the last few years, largecompanies from the US, Middle East and Asia-Pacific have observed Vietnam andare looking for promising markets for office buildings, retail space andindustrial real estate with investments of billions of dollar.
“Vietnam and HCM City can capitalise on this opportunity if authorities canensure transparency, unencumbered lands, compensation for ground clearance, anda proper legal framework.”-VNS/VNA