V-shaped recovery
More than a year after Ho Chi Minh City decided to lift the blockade - the shops along Bui Vien Street, District 1, were crowded with Western customers. Inside the stalls were packed with people eating, talking and laughing. This is one of the busiest pedestrian streets with many restaurants and bars in Ho Chi Minh City. This atmosphere is different from the scene of closed doors, bolts and piles of chairs piled up, covered with dust of a year before the whole city of Ho Chi Minh City implemented the distance. Many other places such as Ben Thanh market, other commercial centers of Ho Chi Minh City are also bustling with customers. All trade activities in the whole area have really revived.
Industrial production in Ho Chi Minh City recovered strongly after the COVID-19 epidemic
Last year, COVID-19 and especially the 4 peak months of the gap left a big wound for the country's economic locomotive. By the end of September 2021 - before the reopening of the economy - for the first time in history, HCMC's third quarter GRDP growth rate decreased by more than 24% compared to the same period in 2020, dragging both negative 6.78% in 2021.
The damage caused by the epidemic for both 2020 and 2021 is about VND 273,000 billion - equivalent to USD 11.9 billion. Despite stepping out of the gap with chaos, Ho Chi Minh City still sets a growth target of 6-6.5% for 2022, in the context of continuing to control the disease.
Dr. Tran Thi Hong Lien - Dean of Faculty of Business Administration, University of Economics and Law, National University of Ho Chi Minh City: "Redefining the position for Ho Chi Minh City".
Ho Chi Minh City has developed a program of socio-economic restoration and development for the period of 2022-2025 with clear views and goals for the two phases. Specifically, the recovery phase (until the end of 2022) includes efforts to restore production and supply chain faults; helping businesses that have temporarily ceased operations to re-enter the market, restore production and business; job creation, social security care and socio-cultural activities on the basis of safe adaptation and effective control of the COVID-19 epidemic. The next development phase with a timeline from 2023 - 2025 will continue to effectively control the epidemic; solve the bottlenecks for the rapid and sustainable development of HCMC.
As a result, as soon as the race is back on track, the inherent dynamism of the economy gradually revives naturally. Ho Chi Minh City's recovery speed is even faster than initially expected. It took only 9 months for the GRDP growth chart to complete a V-shape. “Ho Chi Minh City's economy has basically recovered, marking the growth with a series of new industrial records", the HCMC Macroeconomic Report The third quarter of 2022 has just been released by the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City.
Thu Thiem 2 Bridge was built to be inaugurated on April 30, 2022. Photo: Pham Nguyen
During the COVID-19 pandemic, District 7 was one of the first districts to successfully control the epidemic. Now, District 7 has also achieved positive results in economic development and social stability. In the first nine months of the year, the total production value of all economic sectors was estimated at 41,849 billion VND, up 15.6% over the same period last year. State budget revenue is estimated at 3,924.3 billion VND, reaching 105.49% of the year plan, up 50.63% over the same period. The number of newly established businesses was 1,748, an increase of 18.03% over the same period… Mr. Le Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the District 7 People's Committee said that after controlling the epidemic, the District 7 Party Committee was quick and flexible. implement solutions for economic recovery and development; supporting small and medium enterprises in the area, creating conditions for production and business;
Many important infrastructures of Ho Chi Minh City have been put into use in 2022, creating a driving force for the city's economy. Photo: Pham Nguyen
Similarly, Vo Phan Le Nguyen, Vice Chairman of Nha Be District People's Committee, said that after the COVID-19 epidemic was controlled, the district had focused on solutions for socio-economic development with the support of Ho Chi Minh City. In the first 9 months of 2022, Nha Be district has added 736 businesses, nearly 400 individual business households. Nha Be district's budget revenue in the first 9 months of the year reached approximately 100% of the 2022 target compared to the assigned estimate, a high increase compared to the same period in 2021.
“After the pandemic, all the projects that the district cherished have been started and many projects have reached the finish line, such as Dong Kieng Bridge, which has completed the handover process; Traffic clearance of Ngo Quang Tham route, phase 1 of Pham Huu Lau route... Nha Be district has completed the work of compensation and site clearance for the expansion project of Nha Be Hospital to continue the care work. take care of people's health...", Mr. Le Nguyen said.
In the first 10 months of this year, the total budget revenue of Ho Chi Minh City was VND 392,790 billion, reaching more than 101%, an increase of over 22% over the same period last year. In which, domestic revenue reached nearly 103% of the estimate; revenue from export activities is more than 98% of the estimate. Number of newly established enterprises ranked first in the country.
Mr. Nguyen Van Nen said that since the XI Congress of the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the term 2020-2025 has not been completed for 2 years, and has passed 3 short but historic milestones. In the first phase, the whole Ho Chi Minh City was very enthusiastic about preparing to implement the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress and the 11th Party Congress Resolution of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee. However, after that, the city must focus all its efforts to respond to the 4th COVID-19 pandemic with unprecedented fierce challenges.
In the third phase, Ho Chi Minh City focuses on effectively controlling the COVID-19 epidemic and implementing the post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development program, focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles in development investment. and solve complex outstanding problems.
Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City Le Thi Huynh Mai proposed the theme for 2023 of Ho Chi Minh City is “Promoting the efficiency of urban government, improving the investment environment; promote innovation, green growth, digital transformation; improve the internal capacity, self-reliance, self-control, resilience and adaptability of the economy”.
Need new motivation
More than a year ago, Ho Chi Minh City made a decision to relax social distancing in stages. The reopening of Ho Chi Minh City is a right decision, helping the city's economy recover quickly and effectively control the COVID-19 epidemic. However, economist Luong Duy Sinh, GIMC Company, said that in order for Ho Chi Minh City to continue affirming its position and role as a major center in socio-economic, science and technology, Ho Chi Minh City needs a new Resolution. of the Politburo on directions and tasks to develop Ho Chi Minh City to 2030, with a vision to 2045, creating conditions for Ho Chi Minh City to accelerate development, on par with major cities in Asia.
Specifically, Ho Chi Minh City needs to have a specific mechanism for the city, especially in the direction of promoting decentralization, decentralization and authorization for the city more. At the same time, focus on increasing resources for Ho Chi Minh City to invest in key projects of inter-regional nature, creating promotion for the development of Ho Chi Minh City and the whole Southeast region, the southern key economic region. Along with that, it is necessary to soon have a new Resolution to replace Resolution 54 of the National Assembly to create conditions for Ho Chi Minh City to unleash development resources in the coming period. Specifically, in the direction of integrating all mechanisms and policies that Ho Chi Minh City needs support from the Central Government to develop commensurate with the leading position of socio-economic development of the whole country.
GS. Nguyen Trong Hoai, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, said that in the coming time, Ho Chi Minh City needs to strengthen 4 basic pillars to improve the health of the economy, both maintaining the recovery momentum and being ready to withstand the changes. surprises of the global economy. In particular, the focus is still on safety and social security for those living here. It is necessary to invest more in the health sector because it is the backbone to create confidence to attract workers and investors. In order for all fields from industry to service, innovation to facilitate development, it is necessary to improve the governance ecosystem. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City needs better digitization, more open, fast and friendly administrative corridors. For sustainable growth, infrastructure must be solved. The progress of projects on flood control, urban embellishment, closure of Ring Road 2 and implementation of Ring 3 should be accelerated. When the infrastructure system is more complete, the flow of goods will be stronger and logistics costs will be better competitive. Finally, the innovation pillar. Ho Chi Minh City cannot continue to be labor intensive, but needs new economic models based on technology and innovation. It is necessary to have policies to encourage the development of this ecosystem. Reducing labor intensity and replacing it with knowledge, technology and creativity really helps Ho Chi Minh City deserve to be a pioneering model of innovation and growth in Vietnam.
Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City Le Thi Huynh Mai proposed the theme for 2023 of Ho Chi Minh City is “Promoting the efficiency of urban government, improving the investment environment; promote innovation, green growth, digital transformation; improve the internal capacity, self-reliance, self-control, resilience and adaptability of the economy”. The Department also set out 19 key targets for 2023 to promote the economic development of Ho Chi Minh City. In which, there are 5 economic indicators, 6 social indicators, 5 urban environment indicators, 2 administrative reform indicators, and 1 social order and safety indicator.
Ms. Mai proposed 10 solutions to boost the economic prosperity of Ho Chi Minh City in the coming time. Specifically, Ho Chi Minh City needs to be proactive and flexible in socio-economic management, adapting to domestic and international situations. Speed up the implementation of the master plan of Ho Chi Minh City, study and propose to improve the specific mechanism. Building a good model of urban government. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen direction to accelerate public investment, accelerate key projects of the city. Implement economic development programs in all fields, especially tourism - trade services. Develop a modern urban system, build a smart city. Promote research and application of science and technology, promote innovation. Effectively manage and use land and natural resources, enhance environmental protection. At the same time, focus on developing synchronously the fields of culture and environment...
The world is constantly changing, so the city has only one way to keep moving forward. At present, discussions from the central government and the city often revolve around bottlenecks in public investment, transport infrastructure, human resources, mechanisms, etc., which slow down the city's development, causing the gap to prevail. of the city compared to other localities is getting shorter and shorter.
The fact that we think too much about the domestic role of HCMC may cause us to miss the opportunity to bring the city to a commensurate international status. I say this, there will be critics, not good at the domestic role, hastily calculated the international role. In fact, when Vietnam wants to build the role of an important country in the region and in the world, having an international business center is the shortest way to achieve national status.
That said, it is necessary to change the strategic position of the city from a "national locomotive" to an "important international city in the Asia-Pacific region".
The change from a position of heavy responsibility, to a position of unlimited creation will help to open up the abundant energies that are still suppressed within and have no access from the outside.
In terms of its international position, Ho Chi Minh City naturally has to achieve comprehensive standards in terms of economic and social infrastructure development. But in order to have a prominent competitive advantage to attract international partners, standards are not enough, but need to have their own highlights and personalities.
The fact that Ho Chi Minh City's recovery in the number of international tourists is not as expected in 2022 partly reflects the fading creativity of the spearhead tourism industry. Or like, the SHTP hi-tech park in District 9, this year has turned 20 years old with 95% of the allocated commercial land area, but every day I go by, I still see a lot of vacant land that has never been filled… are examples showing that Ho Chi Minh City is like a banquet table but lacks a few unique delicacies for people to think of that dish is to think about and have to come to this land.
There are very ordinary things that can also create a brand, but we do not pay attention because we are busy looking for great things.
Probably few people in Vietnam know about "Vibrant Ho Chi Minh City - Lively experience". A quick Google search with these two key phrases, each yielding less than 200 accurate results about city tourism.
From the experience of this tourist destination brand, Ho Chi Minh City should invest more professionally and methodically in branding. And, a sustainable brand is one that is obtained thanks to the intrinsic strength of products and services that are local "specialties".
According to Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, the impressive figures in recent years are the basis for Ho Chi Minh City's economic development, social stability, and improvement of the people's quality of life. strive to complete the targets and tasks of 2022 and the period of 2020-2025. It is also a testament to the right determination to not change the planned targets of 2022 that Ho Chi Minh City has chosen since the beginning of the year.
NGOC LAM-DU QUANG
According to Tien phong News