UK companies wish to assist and invest in projects to build financial centres, urban railways and Long Thanh international airport for the strong development of Vietnam.

Visiting UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment Lord Green told Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan on June 11.

Green said his visit aims to devise specific programmes to invest in Vietnam and the city in particular. He said he hopes dialogues and exchanges between the city leaders and UK partners on the public-private partnership model will benefit the city’s urban development.

Quan expressed his belief that the visit will help make it easier for potential UK investors to invest in the city in the future.

At present, HCM City is home to 50 UK representative offices with 30 projects worth nearly 600 million USD.

He said bilateral ties are yet to meet their potential, and there remain various fields that need stronger collaboration in the time to come.

While introducing plans for urban railway projects and Thu Thiem new urban area, the host expressed his wish that UK investors will provide official development assistance for urban railway No. 4 and engage in the Thu Thiem new urban area project.

He added that he hopes the city can learn from the UK ’s experience in science research, financial and urban development.-VNA