The 2019 Horasis Asia Meeting to open a new stage for Binh Duong development

From the success of the 2018 Horasis Asia Meeting, Horasis Asia 2019 not only promotes the image of a peaceful and stable Vietnam, but also helps Binh Duong introduce its development strategy to international friends. On this occasion, Binh Duong Newspaper had an interview with Mai Hùng Dũng, Member of Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee, Head of Horasis Asia 2019’s Organizing Committee.

Mai Hùng Dũng (second from right) and provincial leaders check the preparations for Horasis Asia 2019.

- In 2018, Binh Duong successfully hosted Horasis Asia Meeting. Could you please tell us why the province continues to host Horasis Asia 2019?

- After the success of Horasis Asia 2018, Binh Duong has received much attention and encouragement from the Government, ministries, industries, businesses, many members of this community. They also want to understand more about Binh Duong to have cooperation opportunities. On that basis, Horasis proposed that Binh Duong should hold this year meeting to create more opportunities of investment attraction and improve the reputation of Binh Duong in the world.

In order to enhance the implementation of Binh Duong Smart City Project, to build Binh Duong into a smart, modern city of sustainable development; at the same time, to increase the attraction of foreign investment, advertise Binh Duong brand name to domestic and foreign partners, following the success of Binh Duong WTA series and Horasis Asia 2018, the province continues to host Horasis Asia Meeting 2019.

- Could you tell us more about the content of discussion sessions in this event series? What will the province do to strengthen the connection and link its activities with those of foreign businesses and partners?

- Horasis Asia Meeting 2019 will take place in 3 days, from 24 to 26 Nov 2019 in Binh Duong New City. The main content of Horasis Asia 2019 focuses on sessions 24 and 25 with hot issues around the globe, such as: Science and Technology Revolution 4.0 and smart city development; the influence of the science and technology boom on the world and Asia economies, including Vietnam in general and Binh Duong in particular; many workshops related to artificial intelligence, digitalization, shared economy and impacts on society; global trade ... will be in plenary and dialogue sessions to help organizations and businesses have a broader vision, more rational development orientation in line with the current trends of globalization.

First of all, I’d like to emphasize that Horasis Asia 2019 is an event within Binh Duong smart city events. Horasis Asia 2019 will be an opportunity for cooperation, exchange, sharing, and approach of Binh Duong to a new development stage, which is strongly accelerating the growth of services and high-tech industries.

- How do Binh Duong’s accomplishments mean to the province in realizing the strategic goal of becoming a smart city, sir?

- In the smart city building strategy of Binh Duong, the introduction of Binh Duong brand name and investment opportunities is one of the important contents. The province has cooperated, registered, and been admitted to the world’s Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). Recently, ICF has announced that Binh Duong is one of the top 21 provinces and cities with the world's most excellent strategy of smart city development in 2020. What Binh Duong is doing is aiming to become a smart city; increasing business value, improving the quality of people’s lives.

In order to facilitate trade and service growth, provincial leaders agreed for Becamex IDC to join the World Trade Center Association (WTC). This is an association with more than 180 commercial centers around the world. The Binh Duong World Trade Center will be a place to develop services, human resources for the province, making the added value of trade - service sector higher in the coming period.

The launch of Vietnam's first World Trade Center Complex in Binh Duong with the expectation of quickly shifting the province's economic structure, accelerating trade and service development. The announcement ceremony was be held on November 23 with a firework display at Provincial Exhibition and Convention Center (Hoa Phu Ward, Thu Dau Mot City).

- Sir, how did the province prepare for Horasis Asia 2019?

- In 2018, Binh Duong successfully hosted Horasis Asia. Therefore, the organizers have considerable experience in preparation and organization, so it was done more thoughtfully and elaborately than in 2018. According to the reports of agencies and units, the preparation for Horasis Asia 2019 was completed. The number of guests was more than 1,000. Communication was also strengthened, we set up an official website (www.binhduongsmartcity.vn) to spread information about this event.

In particular, we also paid attention to ensuring security and order before, during and after the event. We believe that Horasis Asia 2019 would go well and be successful.

- What are your expections after Horasis Asia 2019, sir?

- After Horasis Asia 2018, Binh Duong had many cooperation opportunities with friends around the world. The most striking feature of Binh Duong in 2019 is that the province's socio-economy has achieved many important results, notably FDI capital reached more than 2.7 billion USD, bringing the total to more than 35 billion USD, being ranked 3rd in the country in terms of FDI attraction after Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. This capital flow is mainly into the fields of industrial production and trade - services.

These are the obvious results we can measure and see. As for qualitative results such as brand name, reputation, development of Binh Duong, it is highly assessed by international friends, provinces, cities, and the Government for building a smart city. I hope Horasis Asia 2019 would bring many good results, contributing to the successful construction of Binh Duong smart city.

- Thank you Sir!

Reported by Phuong Le – Translated by Ngoc Huynh