HCM City’s 10 outstanding achievements in 2023

HCM City is the leading economic engine of the country. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ A flyover station on HCM City’s Metro Line No 1 from Bến Thành Market in District 1 to Suối Tiên Theme Park in Thủ Đức city. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Tuyến

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Information and Communications has announced the city’s 10 outstanding achievements in 2023, a year for improving the efficiency of public services and investment environment, promoting administrative reforms and economic growth, and ensuring social security.

1. Quickly implementing the Central Resolutions for the city’s development

That includes resolutions No 24 and 31 of the Politburo on socio-economic development and ensuring the national defense and security of the southeast region by 2030, with a vision to 2045.

In 2023, Resolution No 98 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies to develop the city was approved by the National Assembly.

2. Building the Party and an effective and efficient government system

The city Party Committee thoroughly educates party committees and party members at all levels to enhance the responsibility, political determination, self-awareness, and exemplary behaviour of party committees, party organisations, agencies, units, organisations, officials, Party members, civil servants, public employees, and union members in implementing Conclusion No 21 and Regulation No 37 of the Central Executive Committee to create clear, effective, and practical changes in Party building work.

3. Quick implementation of solutions to revive the economy, achieving positive results.

In the first quarter of 2023, the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) only increased by 0.7 per cent over the same period, and many growth indicators were negative.

Faced with this situation, the city’s leaders and the entire political system were determined, diligent and promptly proposed a series of key and urgent solutions to solve and revive the economy.

4. The annual HCM City Economic Forum themed “Green growth – The Journey to Zero Emissions”

The annual international event took place from September 13 to 17, attracting more than 1,400 domestic and international delegates.

Topics for discussion included green growth and circular economy trends for mega cities like HCM City; building a circular economy ecosystem aimed at reducing emissions to zero; policies for building green growth to reduce emissions to zero; international lessons and experiences to promote green growth and circular economy; and how to promote green growth and a circular economy in the city.

There was a meeting between the city leaders with 100 leading CEOs in the world at home and abroad to discuss solutions to promote green growth in the city.

5. HCM City’s Ring Road No 3 project and many key infrastructure projects were implemented and many other projects were restarted and inaugurated to serve the people

With a total investment of VNĐ75.4 trillion (US$3.2 billion), the Ring Road No 3 project is the largest traffic project in the southern region.

Its construction started in June, 2023. It has a length of 90 km running through HCM City and Bình Dương, Đồng Nai and Long An provinces.

Metro Line No 1 completed a full-line trial-run from Bến Thành Market in District 1 to Suối Tiên Theme Park in Thủ Đức City for the first time in August, 2023.

With an investment of more than VNĐ43.7 trillion ($1.9 billion), the line is about 19.7km in length with three underground stations along with 11 flyover stations.

After nearly seven years since the first phase was completed, construction on the second phase of the project on water drainage and environmental improvement of the polluted Tham Lương-Bến Cát-Rạch Nước Lên Canal in HCM City began in February, 2023.

The project cost about VNĐ8.2 trillion (nearly $343 million). It aims to improve the quality of the environment and drainage systems, expand waterway traffic, improve the quality of life for local residents, and give a facelift to areas on the banks of the Tham Lương canal, which covers about 14,900ha of land.

Works on many other key projects also begun in 2023 such as An Phú intersection, HCM City – Long Thành – Dầu Giây expressway, and the third terminal (T3) of Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport.

A flyover station on HCM City’s Metro Line No 1 from Bến Thành Market in District 1 to Suối Tiên Theme Park in Thủ Đức city. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Tuyến

6. Digital transformation, innovations and startups – bright spots, along with administrative reform towards economic growth, serving people and businesses.

In 2023, the city increased the rate of online public services to 100 per cent for eligible procedures. It also operated the state management and law enforcement system on digital platforms, and launched the city digital map platform.

7. Development and investment in health care, education and sustainable poverty reduction, ensuring the people’s rights and welfare

The programme to send young doctors to practice for 18 months at a hospital attached to a medical station is one of the solutions to strengthen the quality of grassroots medical human resources in the city. It also facilitated and increased the quality of primary health care for people right at the grassroots level.

The city’s budget for education is prioritised to increase each year, currently accounting for 28 per cent of the regular spending budget and 20 per cent of the capital construction investment budget.

The city now has 8,410 poor households, accounting for 0.33 per cent, and 14,498 near-poor households, accounting for 0.57 per cent of the city’s total households. This result exceeded the target of the Resolution of the municipal Party Congress two years ahead of schedule.

8. Tourism recovered and grew strongly

The series of various special cultural, entertainment and art activities along the Sài Gòn River held in August was an opportunity to arouse pride in the people about the thousand-year history of their ancestors on this land.

The tour to visit the headquarters of the municipal People’s Committee and People’s Council, a national-level architectural and artistic monument, is considered a meaningful activity, demonstrating the openness of the city government in the new development period.

9. Maintaining national defense and security, social order and security

All types of crimes in the city are effectively prevented and eliminated. Some 48 cases of illegal trafficking, transportation, and storage of drugs were discovered and prosecuted by seizing more than 370kg of various types of drugs and much evidence related to the cases.

10. Diversifying friendly relations, bringing international cooperation to reality

HCM City now has special friendship relationships with 58 localities in the world.

In 2023, the city’s leaders had many foreign affairs activities, business trips and visits to other countries such as Saint Petersburg in Russia, France, China’s Guangdong, Guangzhou and Shanghai, Laos, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Cuba and the United States. — VNS