HCM CITY — The possibility of achieving double-digit growth this year for HCM City is seen as feasible, affirmed international engineering company Royal HaskoningDHV.

The growth trajectory is projected to continue in the coming years, buoyed by the strategic roadmap laid out in the city’s master plan 2021–2030, with a vision reaching out to 2050, said Royal HaskoningDHV.

Royal HaskoningDHV, which is the lead consultancy among a consortium of ten firms for the master plan, noted significant progress in accelerating the construction of ring roads, which were completed within the past year. These developments have set a strong foundation for the city's future growth.

The consultant attributed the potential for achieving the city's growth targets to the master plan's vision of transforming HCM City into a hub of high-quality human resources, modern services, and advanced industries. The plan also aims to spearhead progress in green and digital economies while solidifying the city's role as Việt Nam's premier hub for commerce, finance, culture, education, and technology, integrated globally.

In late 2024, the city's development plan for the 2021–30 period, with a vision to 2050, was officially approved by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính through Decision No.1711/QĐ-TTg. This forward-thinking blueprint aims to position HCM City as a global leader in innovation, sustainable growth, and digital economy advancements.

The master plan envisions an ambitious annual Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth target of 8.5–9 per cent for the 2021–30 period, with aspirations for GRDP per capita to reach $14,800–$15,400 by 2030.

Đoàn Mạnh Thắng, director of water & resilience at Royal HaskoningDHV Vietnam, shared: "By prioritising sustainability and resilience, we integrate smart infrastructure, climate adaptation strategies, and sustainable water management to address current urban challenges and build a foundation for a future-ready metropolis. This masterplan is a collective effort to ensure HCM City is a thriving, livable, and globally competitive city for generations to come."

According to Thắng, under this master plan, the city will concentrate on priority sectors such as high-tech and green energy industries, logistics, digital services and innovation, financial services, and tourism.

The plan emphasises breakthroughs in institutional and policy enhancements, innovation in growth models, economic restructuring, competitiveness enhancement, and improvement in urban governance efficiency.

Additionally, the plan focuses on mobilising investment resources for infrastructure development, optimising land use efficiency, enhancing regional connectivity, and advancing key economic sectors and social domains. This includes addressing ongoing projects and executing strategic development initiatives.

Moreover, the master plan seeks to excel in nurturing high-quality human resources, advanced technology deployment, and establishing a robust network of strategic enterprises to propel HCM City forward.

Thắng highlighted that HCM City has nearly 1,000 large-scale plans enveloping the entire city. These plans are meticulously evaluated to gauge their structure and progress levels. The city's planning approach integrates various sectors, beginning with socio-economic development, followed by essential infrastructure elements. All sectors, spanning transportation, infrastructure, irrigation, power supply, water management, and wastewater treatment, are seamlessly incorporated. Successful past plans are set to be inherited and implemented as part of the city's future growth strategy.

Acting as the lead consultancy for the master plan, Royal HaskoningDHV has been instrumental in steering the strategic direction of the project. Drawing on extensive experience in urban planning, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability, the firm has actively collaborated with governmental bodies, stakeholders, and the local community to ensure the plan conforms to international standards and tackles HCM City's urban challenges effectively. — BIZHUB/ VNS