US firms offer development suggestions to the south

The event was co-hosted by the Foreign Ministry's External Affairs Department and the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung said the event takes place at a time when the country is hard hit by the pandemic, especially in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces.

He thanked US firms for partnering with the Vietnamese Government in the fight against the pandemic and lobbying the US Government to offer vaccines to Vietnam.

The Deputy Minister wished that the Vietnamese-US business community would continue working closely with the Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities and directly engage in developing bilateral economic ties between the two countries.

Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Vietnam Marie Damour said the US is proud of contributing to Vietnam's fight against the pandemic, especially the vaccination campaign, with 20 million vaccine doses, 16 million of them have arrived in Vietnam. The US has also helped Vietnam with nearly 30 million USD in cash.

She described Vietnam as the 10th largest trade partner of the US and an important part in the global supply chain. Therefore, the event afforded both sides a chance to discuss ways to restore production, boost recovery and develop the economy.

Vice Chairman of HCM City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan affirmed the city's determination to continue with administrative reform to improve business climate in the city, quickly complete market economy institutions, create a legal environment of fairness, equality and healthy competition for all economic sectors at home and abroad, and resolutely fight corruption.

Ho Chi Minh City will maintain regular dialogues with domestic and foreign business communities to make timely policy adjustments for the benefits of the city and the business community, he said, adding that the city is ready to take the lead in initiating and piloting new models and mechanisms to foster partnerships with enterprises and southern localities.

During the two sessions of the conference, leaders of southern cities and provinces pledged to offer all possible support to firms, including those from the US, to do long-term business there.

Representatives from AmCham and US enterprises also offered recommendations to help with sustainable economic recovery and development and expressed their confidence in economic growth in Vietnam in general and localities in the southern economic region in particular.