Drawing ties between Ho Chi Minh City and the world closer

Carel Richter, the Netherlands Consul General and newly appointed Dean of the Consular Corps in Ho Chi Minh City

You have just assumed the position of Dean of the Consular Corps in Ho Chi Minh City. How do you feel about your tasks at this important organisation?

It is an honour to be appointed as the new Dean of the Consular Corps in Ho Chi Minh City and I hope to meet the expectations of the diplomatic community and the local authorities.

Before, the Hungarian Consul General, Tibor Baloghni did an excellent job and I look forward to sustaining the work that he did.

Apart from the official tasks, the Consular Corps is also a platform for cooperation, sharing ideas, and dialogue. I will do my best to facilitate this platform and suggest relevant content.

What are your interests in the development of trade, investment, and diplomatic relation between Ho Chi Minh City and the members of Consular Corps? Which fields should be focused on regarding the partnership between the Ho Chi Minh City government and the international community?

Ho Chi Minh City is a dynamic financial hub with a fast-growing economy with its opportunities and challenges. With more than 50 representatives of countries present here, it shows us how important Ho Chi Minh City is to the world.

Having said that, the city has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, not only from the local but also from the international market perspective.

The Consular Corps is a unique and important platform for countries that have a special relationship with Ho Chi Minh City to exchange knowledge, complement each other when it comes to cooperation, and in finding drivers for much-needed socioeconomic recovery because of the COVID-19 crisis.

I will do my best to bring together all the members of the Consular Corps who have a wealth of knowledge and capacity to boost cooperation and business in Ho Chi Minh City.

How can we strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and members of the consular corps in Ho Chi Minh City in the coming year?

The relationship between Ho Chi Minh City and the representatives of the Consular Corps has always been very constructive and solid. I want to build on that strong fundament.

Today, this platform of dialogue and cooperation is even more important due to the big socioeconomic challenges.

As there are representatives from all over the world sitting at the table, there is a wealth of knowledge, economic power, and cooperation opportunities for Ho Chi Minh City, and I will try to help bring all these important world players together to find solutions to the existing and new challenges and capitalise on emerging opportunities. I am looking forward to it!