President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) at a meeting on Wednesday with voters in HCM City’s Củ Chi and Hóc Môn districts. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has called on investors to fulfil their commitments in HCM City’s Củ Chi and Hóc Môn suburban districts to meet ‘environmental and ecological criteria’.

Speaking at a meeting with voters in the districts on May 11, Phúc said the city should closely monitor the investments committed at the investment promotion conference last month.

At the conference, the two districts solicited investments worth a total of VNĐ285 trillion (US$12.46 billion) in 55 infrastructure, industry, high-tech agriculture, trade-service, education-culture-sport, and transport projects. 

Phúc urged the districts to review all public investment projects, especially their feasibility, and improve their business climate.

He said the city should promote investment in the two suburban districts as part of its plan to expand to the northwest, creating long-term livelihoods for people living there and developing new sustainable urban areas. 

He said they would ensure new growth for the city, but it is important to carefully identify projects and optimise the potential and advantages of the districts. 

To achieve this, they need to improve management in all areas, including the fight against corruption and squander, he said.

They must work to attract investment in new urban areas, industrial parks, tourist areas, and commercial zones, he said. 

They need to balance economic development with environmental protection, he said, urging them to address issues related to waste treatment and housing for workers. 

Hóc Môn spreads over more than 109 square kilometres (sq.m) and has a population of nearly 463,000. The corresponding figures for Củ Chi are 435sq.km and 468,000.

Phan Văn Mãi, chairman of the city People’s Committee, said the city has fully resumed business activities post-pandemic to regain its role as the country’s economic locomotive.

The city People’s Council last month passed 11 major resolutions to speed up economic recovery.

They include one on building Ring Road No 3, Mãi said. “The city is also preparing to build Ring Road No 4.”

Later that day, the president met with voters in Thủ Đức City and several districts. — VNS