The 5^th Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum (HEF 2024) is scheduled to be held between September 24-27, with the theme  “Industrial transformation – a new drive for Ho Chi Minh City’s sustainable development”,  according to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Business Association (HUBA).

The forum is organized to promote Ho Chi Minh City's Industrial Transformation Program, centered around four main objectives: (i) Analyzing global trends in industrial transformation towards the application of modern technology, emission reduction, and sustainable development; (ii) Seeking solutions to build and enhance awareness, the effectiveness of state management, and the applicability of enterprises aligned with the city's developmental goals and orientations. This includes focusing on industrial transformation, digital transformation, green transformation, new energy, and transitional energy to promote economic restructuring associated with renewing the growth model towards green and sustainable development; (iii) Sharing lessons learned and best practices in governance and execution during industrial transformation, providing policy implications for developing countries like Vietnam and localities such as Ho Chi Minh City; and (iv) Clarifying cooperation and investment opportunities, both domestic and international, in the city's priority industries and the region.

The Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum 2024 will commence immediately following the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue 2024. This event will bring together local and international leaders, government officials, politicians, experts, scholars, and representatives from the business community. Participants will engage in policy dialogues with the Prime Minister, contribute insights during the plenary session, and participate in three parallel discussion sessions related to the aforementioned topics.

It is expected that the HEF 2024 will attract 1,200 – 1,500 participants.

In the framework of the HEF 2024, the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in Ho Chi Minh City, which has been established in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), will be officially inaugurated.

The C4IR, which is located in Saigon Hi-tech Park (SHTP) where technology ecosystems aligned with the trends of the Fourth Industrial Revolution have been formed, including semiconductor chip technology, biotechnology, new materials, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and IoT (Internet of Things),  will provide an ideal venue for experts to ramp up ties in research activities, put forth policy proposals, enhance the application and transfer of technologies, and mobilize resources for priority areas such as green growth or smart city development.