Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong (third, right) and George Tanasijevich (third, left) and other officials pose for a photo (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong has told an executive of Las Vegas Sand Corp. that he expects more US firms will run long-term business and investment in his city.
At a meeting on November 25 with George Tanasijevich, Managing Director of Global Development at Las Vegas Sand, Phong highly valued the corporation’s capacity in tourism complex development.
He said HCM City wants to diversify types of tourism, including MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events), so as to fully tap its potential and advantages in tourism which is defined as a key industry in the city.
The US currently ranks 12th among 79 countries and territories investing in the southern metropolis of Vietnam. That position is still modest compared to the potential and aspiration of both sides, he noted.
Appreciating Las Vegas Sand’s proposal to build a tourism complex project in HCM City, the municipal leader pledged the best possible conditions for the group to invest in the city. However, the two sides need more time to look into each other’s requirements which should be in line with local conditions and Vietnam’s policies.
George Tanasijevich said his firm’s project will include hotels, theatres, cinemas and facilities hosting meetings, exhibitions and big events that will attract entrepreneurs and high-end tourists. He hopes it can contribute to the development of local tourism industry.
He said he is impressed with the 5 million foreigners visiting HCM City in 2015, adding that if the project is carried out, the number of foreign arrivals to the city will strongly increase, thus creating more jobs and helping to spur local economic growth.-VNA
VNA
