Hai Phong currently has more than 40,000 people working and living abroad. In the trend of comprehensive integration, the number of Hai Phong people going abroad is increasing in quantity and purposes such as: labor, tourism, fairs, exhibitions, international conferences, trade, investment, studying, and apprentice, marriage with foreigners, immigration and settlement, ... Of which, there are over 80% living in developed countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, etc… In general, the role, position and prestige of Hai Phong community in receiving countries is increasingly enhanced. They basically have legal status, stable occupations, economic potentials as well as scientific and technical qualifications.
Implementing Resolution No. 27/NQ-CP dated April 5, 2016 of Government on promulgating Government Action Plan to continue promoting the implementation of Resolution No.36-NQ/TW of Politburo on the affairs for overseas Vietnamese in the period 2016-2020, in the past 5 years, Hai Phong City has always identified Hai Phong overseas people as an "internal” force. Accordingly, the City has closely directed professional agencies to work tightly with the City Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese to connect, mobilize and promote their strengths and contributions. It can be briefly summarized as follows:
The City has regularly maintained "the early spring meeting” with hundreds of representatives of Hai Phong overseas people and their relatives. This is an opportunity for the city’s leaders to directly convey to Hai Phong overseas people the situation of socio-economic development of the City. At the same time, it evaluates the activities of Hai Phong overseas organizations in particular, the movements of overseas people in general; listens to their thoughts and aspirations; has timely answers and measures to create the highest consensus in both thinking and acting for common development.
The city’s citizen protection is also always paid attention. Consequently, departments and localities of the City have also actively coordinated with central agencies and overseas diplomatic agencies to issue thousands of passports to Hai Phong people residing abroad to meet their aspirations for keeping Vietnamese nationality; issue thousands of passports to people who have lost their passports for being eligible to apply or extend their residence in foreign countries... While living abroad, many people who are in difficult situations, affected by conflicts of interest, sickness, injury, death or legal violation, are given adequate attention and supports.
The City has also promptly adopted forms of encouragement and reward for Hai Phong overseas collectives and individuals who have made positive contributions to the cause of the city’s construction and development. During the period of 2016-2020, Chairman of the City People's Committee awarded certificates of merit to 40 typical overseas Vietnamese collectives and individuals.
For order and discipline advocacy affairs, it is necessary to form a network of Hai Phong overseas associations. In the past 5 years, the City Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese has actively encouraged overseas Vietnamese individuals with active roles to mobilize Hai Phong overseas people to jointly establish branches in receiving countries. Despite many difficulties, 08 branches in important areas have been established and put into operation quite regularly, which is a practical support and also an effective channel for connecting "people" between the City and Hai Phong overseas people.
Despite facing many difficulties due to objective and subjective reasons, some investment projects of Hai Phong people have also started to operate effectively.
The results of advocacy works are shown through activities of expatriates towards the homeland. The value of remittances in the period of 2016-2020 reached about 1.61 billion USD, an increase of 69.12% compared to the period of 2011-2015. In only 2019, the amount of remittances reached 409 million USD (about 9,000 billion VND), equivalent to one-third of total domestic revenue of the City. This flow of foreign currency has made an important contribution to household economic development, investment, capital contribution to production and business. Hai Phong expatriate communities have always actively participated in social activities, donation and charity, which can be implemented directly by associations or individuals. These programs have brought great material and spiritual value to disadvantaged people, contributing to improving the living standards of the city’s people. In the context of Covid-19 pandemic, many Hai Phong oversea individuals have actively donated cash and food for controlling and preventing disease, supporting families and children in difficult circumstances inside the country. It is estimated that in 5 years, the amount of money that overseas Vietnamese have supported and sent back home has reached nearly 10 billion VND.
In the coming time, even though Covid-19 epidemic has been basically controlled in the world, it will certainly still have a negative impact on Hai Phong overseas people. In order to continuously promote achievements and improve the efficiency of important activities, the City needs to focus on implementing the following solutions:
Firstly, continuing to raise awareness and sense of responsibility in implementing the policy of great national unity of the Party and State for overseas Vietnamese in general and Hai Phong overseas people in particular. Actively mobilizing people, especially the young generation, to stick with their homeland, and at the same time making positive contributions to the development of receiving countries, becoming a connection and contribution to promote the friendship between Hai Phong and other countries.
Secondly, strictly implementing policies and laws for Hai Phong people living abroad. Accordingly, creating all favorable conditions for investment, business, administrative procedures, ... inside country for them. Establishing a coordination mechanism between functional agencies in handling cases related to enterprises investing inside country, in order to protect the legitimate interests of enterprises, making contributions to creating a stable legal environment. In the process of implementing relevant legal provisions, it is necessary to promptly detect limitations and inadequacies to propose to central agencies for consideration and adjustment, in which it should pay special attention to contents related to the legal status of expatriates.
Thirdly, doing good jobs of mobilizing and encouraging activities of Hai Phong overseas associations; making active contributions of individuals, organizations and associations to mobilizing and gathering overseas communities for the construction and development of homeland and country. Promoting the connection role of the City Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese in a proactive and substantive manner in accordance with the city's conditions. Working closely with Vietnam's diplomatic agencies abroad to provide supports needed.
Fourthly, necessarily removing old thoughts about guilt in the past; prejudices about social class, social status discrimination, ethnicity, religion, the rich and the poor and development level to put forward openness, sympathy, respect and trust for overseas Vietnamese in accordance with the spirit of Resolution No.36-NQ/TW stated that "The overseas Vietnamese community is an integral part of Vietnamese ethnic community".
Fifthly, deploying the project on surveying Hai Phong people abroad, thereby clearly grasping the quantity, information, thoughts and aspirations to have timely support and implement solutions. In particular, through activities, it is possible to approach Hai Phong overseas people who are successful intellectuals and businessmen with high positions in the host countries to mobilize their supports to the homeland.