He made the remarks at a working session with the Standing Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee to review the implementation of the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the Politburo’s strategic resolutions, as well as the city’s socio-economic development plans, its 2026 double-digit growth target and measures to address outstanding issues.
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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and State President To Lam speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) |
At the meeting, Le Quoc Phong, member of the Party Central Committee and Standing Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee, reported that the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) grew 9.06% in the first nine months of 2026, including 9.86% in the third quarter.
Ho Chi Minh City aims to achieve double-digit economic growth, generate more than 1 quadrillion VND (38.6 billion USD) in budget revenue and fully disburse its public investment capital in 2026. Under its current growth scenario, the city expects to expand by 12.3% in the fourth quarter and 10.2% for the full year.
General Secretary and State President To Lam commended the efforts of the municipal Party organization, authorities, armed forces, business community and residents.
He noted that rapid global changes and unforeseen developments were directly affecting the city, driving fluctuations in orders, operating costs, interest rates, exchange rates and investment flows.
Meanwhile, artificial intelligence, automation and new environmental standards were fundamentally reshaping competitive advantages. He urged the city to strengthen its forecasting capabilities and develop response scenarios for 2027 while pursuing long-term improvements in productivity, technology, human resources and living standards.
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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam has a meeting with the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee’s Standing Board on October 28, 2026. (Photo: VNA) |
The top leader called on the city to review all delayed tasks, assign clear responsibilities and deadlines, identify bottlenecks, resolve issues within its authority and submit specific proposals on matters beyond its jurisdiction.
He also stressed the need to strengthen the two-tier local administration system, prioritize resources for wards and communes facing heavy workloads, and leverage digital data to reduce administrative burdens. Officials should be evaluated based on measurable performance and public satisfaction, with those who fail to meet requirements replaced, he said.
To achieve its 2026 targets and lay the groundwork for growth in 2027, Ho Chi Minh City should concentrate resources on projects and markets capable of delivering results in the remaining months of this year. The city must closely monitor public investment implementation, the supply of construction materials and payment progress, while reallocating capital from projects experiencing delays.
Preparations for priority projects in 2027, including administrative procedures, site clearance and funding arrangements, should be completed as soon as possible, he stressed.
The top leader also called for substantive dialogue with businesses to promptly resolve obstacles, provide practical support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and household businesses, and take decisive measures to address stalled projects involving investors lacking the necessary capacity.
Regarding foreign direct investment (FDI), the city should focus on implementation progress, workforce training, technology transfer and the development of domestic suppliers. He said the International Financial Center should first and foremost help mobilize capital for Viet Nam, particularly for infrastructure, production, innovation and SMEs.
He emphasized the need to reorganize development space following the city’s merger, prioritizing interconnected infrastructure and planning functional zones for services, finance, industry and logistics. Metro networks should be expanded with multimodal connections and transit-oriented development, while flood prevention measures should combine technical infrastructure with the protection of water-retention areas. Coordination with neighboring localities and regions in transport, environmental protection and supply chains should also be strengthened.
The southern metropolis should harness science and technology to boost productivity and business capacity, while fostering closer links among universities, research institutes, enterprises and experts to address challenges in production, logistics, healthcare, finance and urban governance.
The city should also help smaller businesses adopt and master new technologies, align workforce training with market demand, and attract experts based on their capabilities and contributions, he said.
The General Secretary and President underscored that addressing people's everyday needs, including employment, housing, education, healthcare and a safe living environment, must remain a top priority.
Affordable housing, particularly rental accommodation for workers and low-income residents, should be developed in conjunction with employment opportunities, transport links and essential services. Primary healthcare services must be strengthened, while more schools and teachers should be provided in areas experiencing growing student populations.
Particular attention should be given to workers at risk of losing their jobs, especially older and less-skilled employees, as well as young people who are not in employment, education or vocational training.
He also called for continued efforts to tackle traffic congestion, flooding, pollution and food safety issues. Preparations for the Lunar New Year 2027 should begin early to ensure adequate supplies, stable prices and safe, orderly celebrations, particularly for workers, families of policy beneficiaries, poor households and people facing hardship.
On Party building, he asked the Standing Board of the municipal Party Committee to uphold solidarity, democracy and clear accountability, while resolutely preventing and combating corruption, wastefulness and misconduct, particularly in land management, investment, bidding, procurement and public asset management.
Officials who act properly in the public interest should be protected, while those who seek personal gain, harass others or shirk their responsibilities must face appropriate action, he said.
The leader also called on Ho Chi Minh City to pilot assessments of the implementation of resolutions issued by the Party Central Committee and the Politburo in 2025 and 2026.
He urged the city to translate the meeting's conclusions into specific tasks, clearly define year-end priorities and preparations for 2027, and closely monitor implementation to ensure practical, measurable results.
Translated by Chung Anh