Lao delegation visits Ho Chi Minh City to study investment attraction, technology development

Standing vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha and representatives of municipal departments and agencies met with the delegation, led by Deputy Secretary of the Luang Namtha Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial Administration Committee Khamphong Inmany.

The meeting was part of a study program in Vietnam covering economic development, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Truong Cong Dac, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said the program was the third initiative for Lao officials visiting Vietnam in 2026, which runs from October 26 to November 9.

Ho Chi Minh City was selected as a field-study destination because of its position as a major economic center and its experience in managing socio-economic development and implementing policies on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

The delegation is expected to study the city's development models and mechanisms for possible application in Laos, Dac said.

Speaking at the meeting, Standing Vice-Chairman Ha highlighted the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, which has been nurtured by generations of leaders and people from both countries.

Ho Chi Minh City is willing to share its experience and strengthen cooperation with Lao localities, he said.

He said the city was entering a new development phase with expanded geographical boundaries, scale, and resources.

Its priorities include improving the operation of the two-tier local government system, promoting socio-economic development and improving the investment environment, he added.

Inmany thanked the city's leaders for receiving the delegation, saying the visit was being conducted under a high-level agreement between Laos and Vietnam.

Before visiting Ho Chi Minh City, the delegation attended thematic sessions organized by central government agencies and visited the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), Hung Yen Province, and Dong Thap Province.

He said the delegation wanted to learn more about Ho Chi Minh City's development experience.

Ho Chi Minh City attracts US$19.1 billion in FDI in 10 months

Lao officials asked city authorities about investment attraction policies, development strategies following the merger of localities in July last year, and the implementation of the Law on Urban Development.

Quach Ngoc Tuan, deputy director of the municipal Department of Finance, said the city's exports totaled an estimated $84.87 billion in the first 10 months of 2026, up 10.93 percent year on year.

Tourism revenue reached an estimated VND307 trillion ($11.7 billion), up 37.71 percent, while industrial production increased by an estimated 11 percent over the period.

The city attracted approximately $19.1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), 4.2 times the amount recorded in the same period of 2025 and 73.9 percent above its annual target.

It licensed 1,726 new FDI projects with combined registered capital of approximately $9.7 billion.

Ho Chi Minh City had 22,036 valid FDI projects with total registered capital of approximately $157.4 billion.

Lao investors currently hold stakes in two projects in the city, with combined registered capital of approximately $70,000, he added.

The city plans to prioritize investment in high technology, semiconductors, microchips, biotechnology, clean energy, logistics, finance and banking, the digital economy, and the green economy.

Ho Chi Minh City proposes technology cooperation with Luang Namtha

Pham Huynh Quang Hieu, deputy director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology, said the city had identified 10 strategic technology groups and 30 priority products.

The priorities include artificial intelligence (AI), microchips, semiconductors, biotechnology, and digital technology.

As of October 2026, the city had completed the evaluation of 64 science and technology tasks.

Its technology exchange platform connected 25,000 technologies and equipment products from more than 2,500 suppliers.

The platform recorded 54 contracts worth a combined VND31 billion ($1.2 million) in the first nine months of 2026.

Fully online public services accounted for 80.1 percent of the city's administrative procedures, while 95.99 percent of administrative applications were processed on schedule.

The digital economy accounted for 29.76 percent of the city's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in the first nine months of the year.

The city has also piloted drone-based delivery services at a hi-tech park and coordinated the implementation of a cross-sea postal delivery route between Can Gio and Vung Tau.

City department representatives proposed cooperation with Luang Namtha in digital government, data governance, innovation, digital workforce training, and AI applications.

They also proposed connecting businesses and transferring technology in agricultural processing, e-commerce, tourism promotion, and drone delivery.

Concluding the meeting, the city's standing vice-chairman called for continued cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Lao localities in resource management, innovation, and digital transformation.

He said the city wanted to maintain bilateral connections and expand practical cooperation.