Participants at the meeting pose for a group photo. Photo sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hồ Chí Minh City Võ Văn Hoan hosted a reception on June 24 for Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia Nicholas Moore who was accompanied by a delegation of Australian businesses in a visit to the city.

Hoan highlighted that the Việt Nam-Australia friendship and cooperation have been thriving, especially with the upgrade of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March, opening up a cooperation framework for businesses and people of the two sides in various fields.

The two sides discussed specific steps to take in the coming time to expand each other’s market access opportunities, aiming to realise initiatives that benefit both sides. This aligns with Australia's national strategy "Investment: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040" to promote bilateral trade and investment between Australia and Southeast Asian countries.

Hoan affirmed that HCM City has the potential to effectively implement all the 10 strategic economic objectives for Southeast Asia by 2040 set by the Australian Government and the eight areas of enhanced cooperation between the two countries. They also match the city's dynamic changes, including green growth and digital transformation, which are global development trends, he added.

Expressing his impression at the dynamism and development of HCM City, Moore said that Australian businesses highly value the potential of the city and are interested in cooperation with the city.

During this visit, besides focusing on cooperation in digital economy development and startup support, the Australian delegation will establish priority groups in different investment areas such as fintech, high-tech agriculture, cybersecurity, and education in Việt Nam. It will assist local businesses to find the most effective cooperation opportunities, aiming to realise initiatives that not only bring prosperity to both sides but also contribute to regional stability and prosperity.

As scheduled, on June 25, the Australian Consulate General in HCM City will hold an information session for Vietnamese localities and businesses interested in developing bilateral trade and investment with Australia. The session will be co-chair by Moore and Louise Adams, Australian Business Champion to Việt Nam. VNS