Hanoi, May 18 (IANS) Vietnam’s southern hub Ho Chi Minh City has approved an outline for its 2025-2050 master plan with a 100-year vision to transform itself into a leading sustainable, innovative and livable mega-city in the Asia-Pacific region, local media reported on Monday.
Under the outline, which was approved by the municipal People’s Committee, the city targets an annual gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate of at least 10 per cent between 2025 and 2050. Its total GRDP is projected to reach some 1.2 trillion US dollars by 2050 under favourable conditions, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting local media outlet VnEconomy.
The outline envisions Ho Chi Minh City becoming a major regional hub for economy, finance, trade, services, logistics, tourism, education, healthcare, science, technology and innovation, balancing robust economic growth with environmental protection, social equity and cultural preservation.
It also aims to develop a multi-centre mega-urban model featuring modern infrastructure, smart governance and enhanced climate resilience, as well as improve residents’ quality of life with income levels and living standards ranking among the highest in Southeast Asia.
The outline covers the city’s administrative area of more than 6,700 square kilometres and reserves future land reclamation areas to meet economic development needs. It projects the city’s population to reach 20 to 22 million by 2050, according to the report.
In a separate development, the Vietnamese government has approved a list of 70 high technologies prioritised for investment and development, which will take effect on July 1, 2026, Vietnam Television reported on Monday.
The list of prioritised high technologies covers artificial intelligence (AI), big data and data analytics, cloud computing, edge computing, distributed computing and high-performance computing technologies.
It also includes the Internet of Things, blockchain technologies, quantum technologies, renewable and clean energy technologies, advanced energy storage technologies, as well as AI-integrated real-time disaster monitoring, forecasting and early warning technologies.
The government has also issued a catalogue of 100 high-tech products encouraged for development. The catalogue encompasses AI and data-based systems, equipment and software for recognition, analysis, forecasting and control, along with platforms supporting AI research, development and application.
According to the report, other products on the list consist of unmanned aerial vehicles, eco-friendly new energy vehicles, biopharmaceuticals for healthcare and agricultural use, as well as next-generation vaccines, medical biological products and diagnostic biological products.
–IANS
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