Expertise on the green economy is one of the issues that Hanoi expects to get from the European Union (EU) to fuel the city’s sustainable development, the news reported at a meeting today [Oct 14].

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung (2nd right) and Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti (2nd left). Photos: Hanoimoi

Hanoi hopes that the EU will share with Hanoi experience in circular economy, environmental protection, waste treatment, and manpower training, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung told Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti.

Dung said in the coming time, Hanoi targets to become a green, modern, and smart city, maintaining the title of “City for Peace.”

He said the capital city has built different recovery scenarios with a focus on administrative reforms, improving the investment environment, and removing barriers caused to businesses.

In turn, Giorgio Aliberti appreciated the Government of Vietnam’s efforts in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic and Hanoi’s in particular. He hoped the situation will soon return to normal.

He emphasized that EU member states are willing to share experiences with the city in the fields. He expressed that the two sides would accelerate the European Management University project, the Urban Railway No. 3 project, and cooperation in cultural heritage conservation.

Regarding the university project, Giorgio Aliberti discussed the building roadmap with Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh in mid-June.

According to the EU representative, the project will mark the participation of nine EU educational establishments, 20 leading European universities, and several Vietnamese educational agencies. EU expects to build a European-standard university in the capital city with key majors: economics, green development, and business administration, contributing to training human resources for the city.

The European Management University is the transformation of CFVG (French Vietnamese Center of Management operating in Vietnam since 1992) and Solvay Business School (Belgian Graduate Business School operating in Vietnam since 1995) into a European business school that will operate in Hanoi and HCMC. It is designed to offer Bachelor, Master, and PhD programs.

Hanoi's Party Chief Dinh Tien Dung (2 left) and British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward.

On the same day, Dinh Tien Dung received British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward and they talked about future cooperation in finance, banking, education, climate resilience, and environmental protection.

In this regard, Dung said Hanoi has made efforts to solve traffic jams by developing belt roads and underground traffic networks, contributing to reduce air and noise pollution.

According to Dung, in 2016-2020, Hanoi’s average economic growth rate was at 7.39%, its per capita income was US$5,420 that is 1.8 times higher than the national average. The city’s foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $8.6 billion in 2019 and fell to $3.83 billion in 2020.

In the first three quarters of 2021, Hanoi’s FDI was about $1.09 billion and likely hits $2 billion by the year-end. The city contributes 16% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), 18.5% of the national budget, and 8.6% of total export and import turnover.