The official expansion of Ho Chi Minh City's boundaries, merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau to form a new 'megacity,' is a strategic turning point, demonstrating a groundbreaking vision in territorial planning and economic development.

Representing the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, I clearly sense the trust and expectations from the Party, the State, and the business community in the model of regionally integrated urban areas. In the context of deep integration and global competition, the formation of a super-city of finance, high-tech industry, and maritime economy is a crucial step, opening up new growth drivers for Ho Chi Minh City and the entire country.

Nâng cao năng lực cạnh tranh cho doanh nghiệp

Previously, each locality had its own strengths, such as Binh Duong with its modern industry and logistics, Ba Ria - Vung Tau as a key seaport gateway, and Ho Chi Minh City as the economic engine of the country. With synchronized planning, a common development orientation, resources, and flexible operating mechanisms, we will have a completely new urban-economic structure, creating positive synergy.

Mr. Dang Hong Anh – Vice President of the Vietnam Youth Union; President of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association; Vice President of TTC Group

We, the community of young entrepreneurs, place high expectations on a transparent investment environment, modern connectivity infrastructure, and a comprehensively promoted innovation ecosystem. This is the foundation for enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses, attracting international investment, and nurturing the nation's new 'unicorns.'

From a business perspective, I believe that the formation of a 'megacity' will create a far-reaching effect on the quality of the investment environment and the overall competitiveness of the Southern key economic region.

Firstly, this is an opportunity to address the problem of 'localized development'—a situation where each locality has its own advantages but lacks a sufficiently strong coordination mechanism to optimize regional resources. When Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau are planned according to a common direction regarding infrastructure, policies, and markets, we will have a sufficiently large and attractive economic entity to attract investors from around the world.

Secondly, businesses will benefit from inter-regional connectivity: High-quality human resources will no longer be geographically limited; goods transportation and import/export will be more flexible; input costs will decrease, and productivity will increase… This will be a very positive signal for investors.

Thirdly, with its large urban scale and rapidly growing population, this area will become one of Vietnam's largest consumer markets, opening up promising development opportunities for the retail, service, technology, and innovative startup sectors. This is an ideal environment to foster innovation and large-scale entrepreneurship.

The principles for regional coordination need to be clearly defined.

However, to capitalize on these opportunities, clear regional coordination principles are needed: flexible, transparent, and unified institutions regarding licensing, taxation, and procedures, enabling businesses to thrive. Simultaneously, conditions must be created to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not disadvantaged in this new playing field, thereby building a fair, healthy, and sustainable business environment.

It must be emphasized that the expansion of urban areas will open up many opportunities for the business community and entrepreneurs. For businesses, this is a great opportunity to participate more deeply in inter-sectoral, inter-provincial, and even international value chains. In the long term, I expect this expanded urban area to become a 'super platform' that helps Vietnamese businesses develop sustainably and reach the global market.

In the not-too-distant future, Ho Chi Minh City will have the honor of being among the top 100 most livable cities in the world.

Là một trong những tập đoàn kinh tế tư nhân đa ngành tại Việt Nam với 46 năm hình thành và phát triển, TTC luôn định vị chiến lược tăng trưởng gắn liền với các trung tâm kinh tế năng động, đặc biệt là TP.HCM và các tỉnh, thành vệ tinh trọng điểm.

Ho Chi Minh City's expansion of urban space and its move towards forming a regionally interconnected megacity presents an opportunity for TTC Group to further assert its pioneering role on a larger scale.

In recent years, we have proactively restructured and expanded our investment ecosystem with a long-term development orientation, focusing on six key sectors: Energy, agriculture, real estate, industrial real estate, education, and tourism. These are all areas closely linked to the needs of a modern city – where urbanization is rapid, the population is growing strongly, and people are increasingly demanding a higher quality of life.

I have always believed that each stage of a nation's development requires a generation of entrepreneurs with aspirations and a pioneering spirit. The formation of the expanded Ho Chi Minh City megacity is a powerful call to arms for entrepreneurs and businesses to join forces with the Party and the State to create a city that is livable, worth investing in, and something to be proud of.

As Chairman of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, I am committed to continuing to support the nationwide business community, especially the younger generation of entrepreneurs; committed to supporting the development of Ho Chi Minh City, building a transparent, dynamic, and interconnected business environment, and fostering a spirit of innovation so that in the not-too-distant future, Ho Chi Minh City will proudly be among the top 100 most livable cities in the world.

(*) Vice President of the Vietnam Youth Union; President of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association; Vice President of TTC Group

According to Saigon Business Magazine