Binh Duong (VNA) – The 2018 Horasis Asia Meeting, Asia’s premier gathering of theregion’s most senior leaders in business and administration, was opened inthe southern province of Binh Duong in November 26.

The annual meeting isdescribed as an ideal platform to explore and advance regional cooperation,impact investing, and sustainable growth. 

In his opening remarks, Deputy PrimeMinister Trinh Dinh Dung highlighted Vietnam’s economic achievements over thepast three decades of reforms since 1986, saying the country has postedimpressive GDP growth for years and is viewed by the international community asa model of a successful transition economy.

Nearly 26,000 FDI enterprises from about130 countries and territories are operating in Vietnam with committed capitalof over 330 billion USD, Dung noted. The country has become a reliable partnerhaving trade relations with more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

It is now a member of 12 Free TradeAgreements (FTAs), including six between ASEAN and big partners like China,India, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Vietnam ratified the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in November and hasworked alongside the European Union to complete all necessary legal steps tosoon conclude the EU-Vietnam FTA, the Deputy PM stated.

He emphasised that the Government ofVietnam has been consistent towards the goals of stablising the macro-economy,ensuring national financial and monetary security, improving business climateand removing barriers for enterprises. These efforts are made to bring Vietnaminto the leading group of ASEAN and reach the standards of OECD (Organisationfor Economic Cooperation and Development) member countries in terms ofcompetitiveness, he added.

The Government has also strived to enhanceits transparency and accountability as it regards satisfying firms and peopleas a measure of efficiency in governmental management. Furthermore, the Governmenthas taken various steps to protect property rights and pilot new businessmodels, particularly in the hi-tech sector, he said.

Also at the event, Chairman of the BinhDuong People’s Committee Tran Thanh Liem said more than two decades ago, BinhDuong was an agricultural province with poor infrastructure and low livingstandards.

But the province has determined to makefull use of its advantages and unlock its potential to grow into the country’skey industrial hub, luring foreign investors from 63 countries and territories,Liem said, stressing that Binh Duong now ranks third in FDI attraction, onlyafter Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

A range of activitieswill be held during the two-day event, with four plenary sessions and 36 dialogues.

Plenary sessions includediscussions on new trends in technology and the status of the regional andglobal economy, new business models, support for start-up businesses, andsolutions for smart cities.

One of the sessions willfocus on Bình Duong province’s investment opportunities in hi-techindustries, supporting industries, information technology, construction, humanresources development and vocational training, among others.

The event is hosted bythe People’s Committee of Binh Duong in collaboration with the Horasis GlobalVisions Community, Becamex IDC Corporation, VSIP Group, All India ManagementAssociation and the Young Premier Leadership Organisation.-VNA