HCM City (VNA) – Promoting coo✃peration in green transition and digital transformation for sustainable development was the main topic o💎f the 7th Ho Chi Minh City–Hyogo Economic Forum in Ho Chi Minh City on August 5.

The event was jointly organised by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of HCM City (ITPC) and the authorities of Japan’s Hyogo prefecture. Addressing the forum, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha noted that the two localities established cooperative ties in 2007, becoming a model of effective, sustainable local-level collaboration. This partnership, he said, has positively contributed to the Vietnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Ha stressed that HCM City considers digital and green transformation a strategic priority and key driver for fast and sustainable economic growth. The city aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Since July 1, the expanded HCM City has seen significant increases in area, population, and development potential. The city envisions itself as a major regional and global hub for economy, finance, services, logistics, high-tech industry, and marine tourism. Green and digital transformation, alongside innovation, will be central to this vision. In this new development phase, Ha said, HCM City–Hyogo cooperation is poised to expand in areas such as the digital economy, green economy, circular economy, knowledge economy, renewable energy, and industrial upgrading. Hyogo Vice Governor Hattori Yohei highlighted that the forum, rotating between the two localities since 2017, has helped deepen bilateral ties. Human resource development, he said, remains a key focus. Hyogo is currently building a certification system for companies employing foreign workers, aiming to foster a safe and inclusive work environment. Vietnamese workers, he noted, have the opportunity to work in Hyogo and, upon returning, can continue contributing to Hyogo-affiliated businesses operating in Vietnam, creating a "virtuous cycle" of cooperation. Hattori added that Hyogo enterprises are increasingly adopting advanced technologies in response to demographic challenges. With complementary strengths, HCM City and Hyogo are well-positioned to enhance cooperation in economy, security, and people-to-people exchange. Ono Masuo, Japan's Consul General in HCM City, described the forum as a crucial platform for promoting two-way economic exchange by facilitating information sharing and networking between governments and enterprises. He noted that HCM City has become Vietnam’s largest economic hub and a top investment destination for Japanese businesses, including those from Hyogo. Japan, he said, values Vietnam’s increasingly high-quality human resources. He also pointed to the launch of international operations at Kobe Airport this year, which paves the way for commercial flights between Kobe and Vietnam - expected to further strengthen economic and personnel ties. Pham Binh An, Vice President of the HCM City Institute for Development Studies, reiterated the city’s commitment to transitioning toward a green, circular, and digital economy that aligns economic growth with environmental protection. Priority areas for green transformation include energy, industry, transport, urban infrastructure, trade, services, and agriculture. The city will also convert existing industrial parks into eco- and circular-based zones, promote high-tech manufacturing to reduce energy use, expand mass transit, build green structures, and invest in advanced environmental treatment projects. An affirmed that with strong industrial, construction, and technological capabilities, Hyogo and Japanese firms more broadly have ample opportunities to invest and deepen practical cooperation, contributing to a more effective Vietnam–Japan partnership./.