This morning (October 15), the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee held a conference to promote investment in cultural and sports projects in 2024. The event was attended by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai said that this is an opportunity for the cultural sector to introduce investment projects in the cultural and sports sector; at the same time, listen to investors' comments and improve policies and mechanisms in the field of cultural industry development.

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Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai. Photo: HV

“It can be said that, up to now, Ho Chi Minh City has not been able to organize major events such as hosting the SEA Games, or continental and world events; the city is also not a place to be chosen to organize major regional cultural and artistic events… This is something that from the government’s perspective, we are very concerned about,” Mr. Phan Van Mai expressed.

The city hopes to work with investors and relevant parties to solve the above problem. By 2030, the city hopes to have the infrastructure to become a continental and regional event center; with modern cultural and sports facilities, ready for major events.

Mr. Phan Van Mai affirmed that the city prioritizes mobilizing domestic and foreign social resources. From there, it will promote the goal of developing the cultural industry, aiming to become a key industry of Ho Chi Minh City.

Calling for investment of 2,352 billion VND

At the conference, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee introduced the project to develop the city's cultural industry until 2030. At the same time, it called for investment in 5 new construction projects in the field of culture and sports under the form of public-private partnership (PPP), including: AB Labor Performing Arts Center; Gia Dinh Theater; Ho Chi Minh City Cultural Center; Ho Chi Minh City Cultural and Arts Center in Thu Thiem and Ho Chi Minh City Multi-purpose Cultural and Sports Center in Can Gio District.

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Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City Tran The Thuan introduces 5 projects to investors. Photo: HV

According to the City People's Committee, as of September 2024, the total investment for the construction of 5 new projects is expected to be nearly 2,352 billion VND.

Specifically, 1,643 billion VND will be used to build a new multi-purpose cultural and sports center in Ho Chi Minh City in Can Gio district to meet development requirements and serve the cultural and sports enjoyment needs of the people.

Particularly, the Ho Chi Minh City Cultural and Arts Center in Thu Thiem (Thu Duc City) was built with the goal of organizing large-scale cultural and artistic activities, with a capacity of 3,000 seats, and the investment level has not yet been determined.

Construction of Ho Chi Minh City Cultural Center (District 1) with investment capital of 295 billion VND, Gia Dinh Theater (Binh Thanh District) with 250 billion VND and AB Labor Performing Arts Center (District 5) with 164 billion VND.

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Ho Chi Minh City will issue the land price list no later than October 20, instead of 5 days earlier as previously planned.
A series of prime public lands in Ho Chi Minh City are left vacant, causing waste . As of June 2024, Ho Chi Minh City has reclaimed 35 houses and public lands that agencies and units no longer need to use. However, there are still many prime public lands that have been left vacant for many years, causing waste.