The 2019 Horasis Asia Meeting plays an important role in the implementation of Binh Duong's development goals

The 2019 Horasis Asia Meeting (or Horasis Asia 2019 for short) is one of the important activities in the implementation of Binh Duong Smart City Project. On the threshold of Horasis Asia 2019, Binh Duong Newspaper had an interview with Đoàn Hữu Đức, Directors Board’s Chairman of Vietnam Consulting Group (VCG) and BankMart Company, about this event.

At Horasis Asia 2019, it is expected that many cooperation agreements would be signed. In photo: Becamex IDC leader signs a cooperation agreement with Nitol Niloy Group (Bangladesh) and Intelizest (Singapore) at Horasis Asia 2018.

- What is your opinion about that Horasis 2019 is about to be held in Binh Duong province?

- First of all, I would like to confirm that Horasis Asia 2018 was very successfully hosted by Binh Duong province. Horasis Asia 2018 attracted many leaders and top experts in the world coming to share their visions and exchange valuable experiences. In particular, this event was a new active method attracting effectively investments, forming a forum to connect governments, businesses, institutes / schools and related organizations. This forum was assessed to contribute to raising the reputation of Binh Duong province in the international arena, in accordance with the development orientation towards Binh Duong smart city.

In my opinion, Horasis Asia 2019 has an important role to support the implementation of the province's development goals as well as fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Government. Thereby creating trade opportunities for Binh Duong in particular, the Southern key economic region, and expanding to the whole country, ASEAN or Asia-Pacific as the event name itself.

This event also connects and helps local businesses to develop international trades, make Binh Duong a dynamic area with a variety of professional services, human resources and global trade development, increasing attraction of real estate projects in the region.

In particular, Binh Duong Smart Zone has joined the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), continued (the second year in a row) to be recognized as one of 21 localities and regions with the most excellent smart city development strategies by ICF (Smart 21) in 2020. This result has great significance, contributing to the province's continued creation of a breakthrough in socio-economic growth, which confirms that the development orientation of Binh Duong towards a smart city is efficient, consistent with the global trend; elevating Binh Duong to a new position in the international arena; opening up opportunities for cooperation and exchange of experience with ICF's network of more than 180 smart cities around the world...

Previously, in Oct 2018, Binh Duong Smart Zone was the first locality in Vietnam to achieve Smart21 and officially became a member of ICF. In addition, this year, Binh Duong has opened a new complex in the new city center, creating a highlight of commercial services for officially joining the World Trade Center (WTC).

- As an entrepreneur, while conducting research development and international cooperation for associations, clubs ... how do you assess the opportunities facing domestic and foreign entrepreneurs from Horasis Asia 2019?

- Horasis Asia 2019 is expected to have the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister, leaders of ministries, central agencies, leaders of provinces, cities, leaders of major domestic economic groups with the participation of more than 800 international high-ranking guests from all continents. Especially, compared to last year, this year's event has confirmed that there would be more influential speakers and guests in the world.

I think that Horasis Asia 2019 would be more carefully prepared and more effective. This is an opportunity for Binh Duong to do "on-site marketing" to leading corporations all over the world, thereby promoting the image and attracting investment into Binh Duong.

- Within the series of Horasis Asia 2019 events, on 23 Nov Binh Duong will officially announce the project of Binh Duong New World Trade Center (WTC BDNC). In your opinion, what does this event mean for Binh Duong and trade promotion activities, trade links between Vietnamese and international corporations?

- WTC BDNC with the role of supporting international trade and service activities in Binh Duong and surrounding areas will gather domestic and foreign resources (including material facilities and international trade services) such as international convention and exhibition centers, office buildings, shopping malls, hotel and restaurant complexes. International trade service zone at the center includes hosting services for fairs, international conferences, trade business connection services, trade delegation connection services, information centers, international trade assistance, training center for global trade development’s manpower...

In my opinion, the event that Binh Duong will officially announced the WTC BDNC project on 23 Nov is a very bold decision, an innovative step of Binh Duong Province and Becamex IDC. From the target of a satellite urban, to now, it is a center for international trades. With that name, we look forward to the realization of international and globalized opportunities that surround Vietnam through signed FTAs, such as EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), economic sectors such as ASEAN, APEC...

Local business community is very grateful to Becamex IDC efforts to build a "hardware" infrastructure that is extremely impressive. We expect Becamex IDC to continue developing “software” such as value-added services through the cooperation with international partners, so that Binh Duong province could soon have a complete startup ecosystem attracting many investors to WTC BDNC in the true meaning of its name.

- Thank you Sir!

Reported by Phuong Le – Translated by Ngoc Huynh