HCM City, Ireland to boost cooperation in education, health

Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem (R) welcomes Minister of State for Public Procurement, Open Government and eGovernment of Ireland Patrick O’Donovan on March 18 (Photo: VNA)

Receiving Patrick O’Donovan, Minister of State for Public Procurement, Open Government and eGovernment of Ireland now on a working visit to the city, Liem stressed that the relations between the two countries are developing well, manifested through the exchanges of delegations.

He also expressed his belief that when the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement comes into force in the near future, it will contribute further to the development of the relations between the city and Ireland, particularly in the fields of trade and investment which still remain modest compared to the two sides’ potential.

Irish enterprises and groups should push up trade promotion, search for investment and business chances in the city in health care and education, the official said, adding the city hopes to cooperate with and receive experiences from Ireland in building an e-administration and realizing the project on building a smart urban area.

For his part, the Irish official said his country is attentive and attaches importance to the cooperation with Vietnam, as well as takes the country as a gateway and a bridge for trade with other countries in Southeast Asia.

Expressing his impression on the vigorous and dynamic development of the city, he said that Ireland will open its trade office in Vietnam’s southern hub to strengthen its support to Irish enterprises investing in Ho Chi Minh City. Ireland will continue cooperating, supporting and sharing its experiences with the city in the time to come, the official stressed.

Last year, the trade value between the city and the country amounted to 51.4 million USD. Ireland currently has 10 investment projects in Ho Chi Minh City with a combined capital of nearly 4 million USD, ranking 50th out of the 102 countries and territories investing in the city.