At the seminar (Photo: VNA) The event, co-organized by the HCM City Investment and TradePromotion Centre (ITPC) and the Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), was anopportunity for Vietnamese and Belgian enterprises to meet, interact, and formpartnerships in sectors of Belgium’s strength such as smart construction,renewable energy, and a circular economy.
According to Vice Chairman of the municipal People'sCommittee Ngo Minh Chau, the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Belgiumhas transformed from purely humanitarian cooperation to an increasinglyeffective economic partnership over the past five decades. Belgium runs 89 active projects worth nearly 1.1 billion USD in Vietnam, of which 43 valuedat almost 9.5 million USD are located in HCM City.
For the Vietnamese southern metropolis, the European nationis one of its key trade and investment partners. Between 2015 and now, bothsides have implemented numerous practical projects in seaport development,agriculture, health, and social development. Their import-export turnover reachednearly 400 million USD in the first seven months of 2023.
Chau went on to note that the city and Flanders signed a memorandumof understanding in December 2016 on agricultural cooperation. This is an importantfoundation for enhancing their collaboration in high-tech and sustainable farming.The pact has paved the way for joint works in other areas like building sustainableurban areas capable of adapting to climate change.
At the workshop, towards a goal of creating green,nature-friendly, and smart urban areas, foreign experts proposed varioussolutions such as appropriate urban planning based on population density,sustainable construction techniques, flood prevention measures, and more.
Steven Petit, the creative director of the Belgian-based Omgevingcompany specializing in architecture and urban planning, said that in largecities like HCM City, there are numerous challenges posed by climate change. Toadapt, it is necessary to design urban areas with a focus on nature, which mayinclude creating water zones within the city to provide green environments forthe residents./.
VNA
