On the morning of September 23, a seminar summarizing the Ho Chi Minh City Industrial and Trade Development Forum was held with the theme “Suggestions - Action - Global Integration.”

At the event, Trinh Tien Dung - Chairman of Dai Dung Mechanical Construction and Trade Corporation (Dai Dung Group) - pointed out that Vietnam’s mechanical engineering sector is currently fragmented, small-scale, lacking prominent brands, and still not integrated into global supply chains. Experience in international markets is also limited.

Dung noted that after administrative expansion, Ho Chi Minh City now contributes 23–25% of the national GDP. Despite its potential in mechanical engineering, the industry remains underdeveloped due to the absence of a long-term regional plan and strategic coordination.

With nearly 20 million people in the extended economic zone, combined with a strong logistics and port infrastructure and a dynamic business community, the city has the potential to become a leading center for heavy industry and supporting industries in Southeast Asia - effectively replacing suppliers from more developed countries.

To realize this vision, Dung recommended that Ho Chi Minh City develop a comprehensive mechanical industry strategy through 2035, with a vision to 2050. Additionally, he urged the government to establish specialized industrial zones integrated with supporting ecosystems.

He cited global models such as the Suzhou Industrial Park (China), specializing in precision mechanics and automation components; the Ulsan Mipo & Onsan complex (South Korea), focusing on heavy industry, automotive, shipbuilding, and oil refining; and the Yokohama Smart City (Japan), which leads in robotics, automobile manufacturing, and precision mechanics.

A mechanical industry alliance to lead major projects

Most notably, Dung proposed forming a national mechanical production alliance to unite large domestic firms and increase competitiveness. This alliance would undertake key national and municipal infrastructure projects.

He suggested potential members could include steel producers like Hoa Phat, locomotive manufacturers like Vingroup or Thaco, tech companies such as Viettel and FPT, mechanical giants like Dai Dung and Lilama, and other capable Vietnamese enterprises.

Dung emphasized in a follow-up interview with VietNamNet that such an alliance could generate large-scale, globally competitive products and projects. Without collaboration, he warned, Vietnamese companies will remain stuck in low-margin subcontracting roles.

However, for this alliance to succeed, the government must go beyond tax incentives. Dung called for the allocation of large plots of "clean land" to create space for joint manufacturing operations - essentially building a “playing field” for domestic enterprises.

He also recommended that public procurement policies mandate a minimum 60% localization rate in state-funded projects. This would give local companies the opportunity to contribute, strengthen capabilities, and eventually export high-quality products and services abroad.

A forum driven by practical insights and expert input

The Industrial and Trade Development Forum was co-organized by the HCMC Department of Industry and Trade, Tuoi Tre Newspaper, and the UEH.ISB Talent School (University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City). The goal was to gather insights from experts, business leaders, and citizens to shape policies that can power the city's industrial and commercial transformation in this new era.

After nearly three months of implementation, the forum received more than 150 research articles and policy recommendations from scientists, scholars, business leaders, and associations.

Tran Chung