Ho Chi Minh City to host 2026 Business Partner City Roundtable

The BPC 2026 Roundtable, co-organized by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and the Business Partner City Council of Osaka, Japan, is slated for October 23 at the Becamex New City Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Under the theme “Innovation and Sustainable Development: Promoting Growth and International Cooperation among BPC Cities,” the conference expects to gather leaders of Ho Chi Minh City, officials from Osaka, Melbourne, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and Hamburg, alongside international trade promotion organizations, business associations, enterprises, and experts.

This marks the 35th BPC Roundtable and the third time Ho Chi Minh City has played host, following 2002 and 2016. The conference aims to build on the outcomes of the 2025 gathering in Osaka, particularly the Joint Declaration on Carbon Reduction and Sustainable Development, turning commitments into concrete cooperation programs.

According to the tentative agenda, discussions will concentrate on three primary topics: supporting innovative startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); developing sustainable industries and reducing carbon emissions associated with transit-oriented development (TOD); and driving concrete actions from inter-city commitments.

During the session on innovation, Ho Chi Minh City plans to outline its framework for supporting businesses through idea generation, incubation, technology testing, product commercialization, and market expansion. The city will also propose strengthening links among investors, incubation centers, and business cooperation opportunities within the BPC network.

On sustainable development, delegates will exchange experience in green and circular industrial transition, renewable energy adoption, and assistance for enterprises to meet emission reduction standards. Urban development connected with public transport, particularly urban railway lines, will also be discussed.

Another key focus involves reviewing the implementation of the BPC 2025 Joint Declaration and sharing challenges in green transition, financing access, and technology, thereby identifying areas for practical cooperation among local authorities, trade promotion organizations, and the business community.

Within the framework of the conference, Ho Chi Minh City plans to hold bilateral working sessions with representatives from Melbourne, Manila, Osaka, and the Australian Industry Group. Delegates will also visit the 2026 Export Products Fair at the WTC Expo and participate in business networking activities.

The BPC network was initiated by the Osaka City Government in 1988 to step up economic cooperation and assist enterprises in international market expansion. Ho Chi Minh City joined the network in May 1997.

By hosting BPC 2026, the southern metropolis expects to expand ties with partner cities, strengthen trade, investment, and innovation connectivity, helping boost corporate competitiveness and green, sustainable growth.

US technology, energy firms explore investment opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City welcomes investors, including those from the US, and will create favourable conditions for them to expand their investment, contributing to deepening Vietnam–US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duoc has said.