Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm speaks at the working session with the municipal Party Committee's Standing Board on Wednesday. VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm has urged HCM City to strengthen its forecasting capacity and develop response scenarios for 2027 to achieve double-digit growth, while remaining committed to long-term goals in productivity, technology, personnel and quality of life.

He made the call at a working session with the municipal Party Committee’s Standing Board on Wednesday to review the implementation of the 14th National Party Congress Resolution and the Politburo’s strategic resolutions, the city’s socio-economic performance and its 2026 growth target, as well as other challenges.

Lê Quốc Phong, member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee, reported that the city’s economy continued to accelerate, with gross regional domestic product growing 9.06 per cent in the first nine months of 2026 and 9.86 per cent in the third quarter. The city is targeting growth of 12.3 per cent in the fourth quarter and 10.2 per cent for the full year.

The city has continued to expand social housing, create jobs and roll out vocational training, unemployment insurance and preferential credit policies to support livelihoods. It has also stepped up efforts to tackle chronic traffic congestion, flooding and environmental pollution, maintain public order and work towards eliminating drug-related crime.

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm noted that rapid and far-reaching global changes, including developments beyond forecasts, were affecting the city through declining orders and investment flows and rising business costs. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence, automation and new environmental standards were reshaping the foundations of competitiveness.

He called on the municipal Party Committee’s Standing Board to foster greater local initiative, strengthen implementation capacity and make more effective use of the powers granted under the Law on Urban Development to streamline administrative procedures and reduce costs for residents and businesses.

To meet its 2026 targets and prepare for 2027, the city should concentrate resources on projects and markets capable of delivering tangible results in the remaining months of this year, he said.

For public investment, the city must closely monitor project progress, construction material supplies and payments, and reallocate capital away from projects that are lagging. The city should also complete procedures, site clearance and funding arrangements for priority projects in 2027, ensuring that projects are ready before capital is allocated.

He urged city authorities to engage in substantive dialogue with businesses to resolve bottlenecks and provide practical support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and household businesses. Projects stalled by legal issues should be followed up, while those delayed by investors lacking the capacity to implement them should be dealt with decisively.

In terms of foreign direct investment, the city should focus on implementation progress, workforce training, technology transfer and the development of domestic suppliers. The international financial centre should, above all, help mobilise capital for Việt Nam, particularly for infrastructure, production, innovation and SMEs.

The top leader called for a reorganisation of the city’s development space, with priority given to connecting infrastructure and a functional review of urban planning following the administrative merger. The city should clearly delineate areas for services, finance, industry and logistics, while removing overlapping or unsuitable components.

He also urged the city to accelerate urban railway development and integrate it with buses and pedestrian infrastructure, while promoting transit-oriented development around stations. Flood prevention should combine technical infrastructure with the protection of water-retention areas.

Closer interregional coordination on transport, the environment and supply chains is also needed, supported by dedicated coordination mechanisms, he said.

Science and technology should be directed towards raising productivity and strengthening business capabilities, with universities, research institutes, businesses and experts working together to address practical challenges in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, finance and urban management. Priorities should reflect the city’s needs and areas of competitive advantage.

SMEs should receive practical assistance in process improvement, quality management, energy efficiency, data use and compliance with customer standards, enabling them to adopt, operate and master new technologies. Workforce development must anticipate future demand through reskilling and upskilling programmes tailored to business needs. Experts should be attracted and deployed based on their capabilities and contributions.

The top leader stressed that the city must address essential public concerns. Affordable housing for workers and low-income earners should be prioritised, particularly rental accommodation linked to employment centres, transport and essential services. Primary healthcare should be strengthened, with easier referrals to higher-level facilities.

Schools and teachers must be provided in areas experiencing rapid population growth. Every area with school-age children should have sufficient classroom capacity and teaching staff, he said, adding that no child should be turned away because schools lack the capacity to accommodate them.

The city should also monitor and support workers at risk of losing their jobs, particularly older workers and those with limited skills, while paying special attention to young people who are not in employment, education or training.

He asked HCM City to continue tackling traffic congestion, flooding, pollution and food safety concerns. Street-based economic activities should be recognised as a source of livelihood and managed through appropriate support and regulation.

Preparations for the 2027 Lunar New Year should begin early, with support for workers, families receiving social policy assistance, low-income households, unemployed people and those facing unexpected hardship. The city must ensure adequate supplies, stable prices, food safety and public order so residents can celebrate the holiday safely and enjoyably.

The Party General Secretary and State President also called for firm action against corruption, wastefulness and misconduct, particularly in land management, investment, bidding, procurement and public asset management. Those who exploit their positions for personal gain, harass businesses or evade responsibility in ways that delay work must be dealt with strictly.

Following the meeting, the municipal Party Committee’s Standing Board is expected to translate the directives into specific tasks and clarify year-end priorities and preparations for 2027. — VNS