Ho Chi Minh City and Indonesia strengthen cooperation in priority areas

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai receives Mr. Arsjad Rasjid, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

Expressing his pleasure to receive Mr. Arsjad Rasjid, Chairman Mai congratulated Indonesia on being the chair of ASEAN in 2023 and wished that relations between Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, and Indonesia would develop better. At the local level, the city will create conditions to promote business cooperation, especially promoting cooperation between small and medium enterprises and start-ups.

He added that there are similarities between Ho Chi Minh City and Indonesia and room to develop start-ups and prioritize digital transformation. The city is also building a financial center to have a legal framework to operate. He affirmed that the city always prioritizes and strengthens trade investment cooperation between the city and Indonesia, and wants the two sides to promote stronger trade investment cooperation in the coming time.

“As a hub connecting with regions such as the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands, the city can participate and share on food security issues. Currently, the city is also aiming to be a regional health care center serving people's needs and being ready to deal with major epidemics. The city is committed to being responsible and concretizing progress in Indonesia’s five priority areas, and promoting more fruitful cooperation with Indonesia to contribute to the ASEAN community," said Mr. Mai.

Returning to Ho Chi Minh City after 10 years, Mr. Arsjad Rasjid highly appreciated the development of Ho Chi Minh City. In 2023, a special year when Indonesia is the chair of ASEAN, he expressed his hope that the long-standing relationship between the two countries will develop more and more, especially with the city named after President Ho Chi Minh. When Indonesia is the chair of ASEAN, the two countries will strengthen connectivity, especially developing trade and investment between the two countries, and  enhance economic cooperation between Vietnam and ASEAN. He expressed his hope that the two countries' relations would be closer and further promoted, including Ho Chi Minh City and Indonesia.

On this occasion, he informed about Indonesia's 5 priority areas, including digital transformation, sustainable development, economic recovery, food security and industrialization and commercialization of investment. In addition, he also suggested that the two sides strengthen people-to-people exchanges and participate in business connection conferences. He expressed his hope that the relationship between the two countries, including Ho Chi Minh City and Indonesia, would be further strengthened./.