HCM City Accelerates Preparation for APEC

Ho Chi Minh City will host the second APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 2) from May 25 to June 1, 2006 and a meeting of APEC trade ministers on June 3 and 4, 2006. Also, over 25 other meeting within the 2006 APEC Year in Vietnam will be held in the city, attracting around 800 high-ranking officials, including ministers and experts from APEC member countries.

Nguyen Thien Nhan, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and head of the APEC organising board in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the city’s targets were to ensure security and safety for APEC events. Four sub-commissions in charge of security, logistics, culture, and communication and marketing have been established to prepare for these events. What worries local authorities most is that APEC events will take place during the rainy season, so risks of flooding and traffic jam are unavoidable. Therefore, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has assigned the city’s Department of Transport and Urban Public Work to review locations which may become flooded, and find solutions.

 

Nguyen Minh Dung, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, said that the city would mobilise local people, especially those who live on main roads to clean streets and roads.

More importantly, the city will prepare accommodation for over 800 officials and venues for conferences and meetings. However, Nhan said that 25 hotels would be chosen by the Vietnam National 2006 APEC Committee.

 

Ho Chi Minh City has considered it an opportunity for the city to introduce its economic and tourism potential. Therefore, the city has asked its trade, investment and tourism promotion agencies to boost the introduction of the city’s images, investment and business environment.