Urban specialists from the UN-Habitat programme in Vietnam and the World Bank and local experts sought to forge connectivity for the southern key economic region’s sustainable development.

At a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on October 23, Nguyen Quang, UN-Habitat Director in Vietnam, pointed to a new approach that focuses on initiatives of localities and their cooperation, thus promoting valuable resources for regional growth.

It requires creative governance as well as all-round regional cooperation to ensure the linkage between economic development planning and infrastructure investment is efficient, he said.

Delegates at the conference. Photo: hochiminhcity.gov.vn

Madhu Raghunath, a WB senior urban specialist said better land use would enable the southern region’s stronger regional integration and optimise investment efficiency, while minimising impacts in terms of space, she said.

The southern key economic region, which includes eight cities and provinces, is a dynamically developing region with high economic growth. It plays an important role in connecting the Mekong Delta to the Central Highlands and other regional countries economically.

Participants agreed that the use of land and natural resources is put under growing pressure since the urbanisation and modernisation processes in cities and provinces in the region are occurring speedily.

They viewed that regional connectivity is the key to ensuring equitable development while helping ease infrastructure pressure, bettering urban services and enhancing competitiveness for the entire region.

Source: VNA