Not only a strategic investment hub for major South Korean corporations, Hai Phong is also taking the lead in expanding cooperation in education, healthcare, culture, and technology, laying a solid foundation for comprehensive and sustainable development between the two sides.
Cooperation across multiple fields
During a recent working visit by a delegation from the Education Office of Gwangyang city, Jeolla Nam province, the Republic of Korea (RoK), and the Representative Office of the Overseas Korean Education Department in Vietnam, one of the key topics discussed was the further expansion of Korean language teaching in Hai Phong.
Hai Phong is the first city in Vietnam to teach Korean language as the first foreign language under the national general education program issued by the Ministry of Education and Training. To date, nearly 40 educational institutions across the city have been teaching Korean, with thousands of students enrolled and actively participating in Korean cultural activities. This has helped Hai Phong become a model locality in educational cooperation and cultural exchange between the two countries.
Sharing the same vision, Kim Hyundong, Director of the Representative Office of the Korean Education Office Abroad in Vietnam, expressed his wish to continue accompanying Hai Phong in supporting Korean language teachers, textbooks, and student exchange activities.
Kim emphasized that through educational and cultural cooperation, the two sides have not only deepened mutual understanding but also strengthened friendship and connections among the younger generations of both countries.
Alongside education and culture, the healthcare and social sectors also stand as clear examples of practical cooperation aimed at community benefits between the two sides. In August 2013, a delegation from the RoK’s Eulji Hospital provided free medical examinations and medicine to more than 1,000 residents in former Duong Kinh and An Lao districts of Hai Phong. Since then, numerous visits, exchanges, and joint healthcare–social projects have continued between Hai Phong and Korean institutions, organizations, and hospitals.
In addition to expanding socio-economic cooperation, Hai Phong has also placed great emphasis on strengthening local-level partnerships with Korean counterparts. Since 1997, Hai Phong and the RoK’s Incheon city have established friendly relations with numerous delegation exchanges, investment and trade promotion programs, cultural exchanges, healthcare cooperation, and personnel training activities.
The city also maintains active cooperation with its twinned cities of Cheongju and Suwon and various South Korean corporations, agencies, and associations. These partnerships have deepened mutual friendship and promoted comprehensive cooperation across economy, culture, education, healthcare, and social development, contributing to the sustainable growth and prosperity of both sides.
Towards sustainable partnership
The RoK ranks first in both total registered capital and number of projects among 44 countries and territories investing in Hai Phong. The city is home to 316 Korean FDI projects with a combined registered capital of 15.3 billion USD, ranking first in investment and third in number of projects.
South Korean investors mainly focus on electronics, automobile components, and machinery manufacturing, fields that generate high-tech products, increase scientific and technological value in production, boost export turnover, create jobs, and contribute positively to the city’s budget.
In addition to their socio-economic contributions, South Korean enterprises and organizations have also been actively involved in social welfare activities in Hai Phong, including building houses of gratitude, organizing free health check-ups for workers, donating teaching equipment, and supporting Korean language teaching programs in some local schools.
According to Seog Myeong Gug, Chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Hai Phong (KOCHAM Hai Phong), the city remains a stable and attractive investment destination for FDI enterprises, including those from the RoK. The growing number of South Korean companies investing and cooperating in Hai Phong is clear evidence of its appeal and effectiveness.
At a recent seminar, Standing Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee Le Anh Quan affirmed that the city highly values the business community, including South Korean enterprises, which have actively supported and made significant contributions to Hai Phong’s socio-economic development over the past time.
The city is committed to maintaining a stable and favorable investment environment for FDI enterprises to feel secure about long-term, effective, and sustainable investment, Quan said.
In the coming time, Hai Phong will continue to improve its business and investment environment, support enterprises in accessing land, credit, and human resources, and focus on developing a high-quality workforce. The city also encourages domestic enterprises, especially small and medium-sized ones, to strengthen cooperation with FDI firms and adopt advanced technologies to enhance collaboration efficiency with South Korean enterprises.
BUI HANH