HCM City seeks to build stronger links with Canada and Finland
VOV.VN - Vo Van Hoan, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade of the province of Ontario in Canada Vic Fedeli discussed ways to propel bilateral ties forward in the near future during a reception held on October 11 in the southern metropolis.
The municipal leader applauded the Canadian delegation’s visit, which takes place at a time when both countries are witnessing positive developments in mutual ties, especially in terms of trade and investment.
He said that Ontario could co-operate alongside Ho Chi Minh City in wood production and processing, pharmaceuticals, and vaccine production.
Ho Chi Minh City is keen to acquire experience or direct investment from Ontario firms in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, he said.
Fedeli, for his part, said the visit demonstrates the Ontario administration's interest in Ho Chi Minh City and highlights the positive developments of ties between the two countries.
He noted that the community of Vietnamese Canadians, which stands at just over 150,000 in Ontario and over 275,000 in Canada, serves as a friendship bridge and a driving force in stepping up bilateral co-operation.
Sharing local strengths and potential, he outlined that Ontario is keen on partnering with Ho Chi Minh City in vaccine research and production, water treatment, green energy development, and trade.
Ontario remains ready to deepen the government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people relationship between the two localities, he stated.
The same day saw Hoan also receive visiting Deputy Mayor of Tampere city of Finland Ilkka Sasi, saying that the southern city is aiming to build a smart city and become a regional innovation and creativity hub, with a specific focus on digital economy and green growth.
Hailing Finland’s education potential and strengths, Hoan was appreciative of the positive results of education ties between the city and the European country through various joint projects among schools. He expressed his confidence that these links could spread in the future.
In terms of information technology (IT), he briefed the guest on the Quang Trung Software Park and the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, which are attracting hundreds of leading technology companies globally. He stressed that along with favourable policies for foreign investors, these conditions provide a great opportunity for Finnish firms seeking to invest in IT, chip production, and artificial intelligence.
Sasi said his visit is designed to further expand education and vocational training co-operation programmes, as well as seeking opportunities to ramp up investment in AI and smart urban development.
Introducing Tampere, the third largest city of Finland with a population of 400,000 people, Sasi said Tampere is also focusing on developing IT. He believes that collaboration efforts between Ho Chi Minh City and Tampere in this field will benefit both sides in their respective development journeys.
On the back of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the two countries, as well as Tampere and Ho Chi Minh City, are well-positioned to further intensify their trade and investment links in the time ahead.
