Nguyen Nam Nhan, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, emphasised that as the country undergoes significant transformation, sports play an increasingly important role in socio-economic development and improving people's quality of life.

The workshop focused on key topics with the goal of building a sustainable sports development strategy and maximising the potential of technologies in the field of physical education and sports, especially artificial intelligence, in order to ensure that the local  sports industry keeps up with the international level.

At the workshop, insiders pointed out a number of challenges faced in terms of finance, infrastructure, and management mechanisms for the development of the southern city’s sports industry.

Dr. Vu Thai Hong, director of the Institute of Sports Science and Technology, said that the total revenue from sport-related economic activities in Vietnam in 2020 reached about VND2.4 trillion. From 2018 to 2023, the Vietnamese sport market recorded a compound annual growth rate of 19.5%. In 2024, the sports commodity market grew by 2.9%.

To further promote the sports economy, he suggested that Ho Chi Minh City fine-tune the legal framework, attract investment under the public-private partnership model, promote digital transformation, and apply science and technology in sports management and coaching activities.

At the same time, he said, the organisation of international sports events and the development of sports tourism will help the city to enhance its position in the region and turn it into the leading sports hub in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Sports development strategy approved

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has signed a decision approving the sports development strategy until 2030 with a vision to 2050, with an aim to promote the sector in a sustainable and professional direction.