HCMC seeks cooperation with Belgium in waste treatment

On April 9, Nguyen Loc Ha, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, met with Karl Van Den Bossche, Belgian Ambassador to Viet Nam, along with representatives from the Wallonia Trade Office, to discuss directions for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the coming period.

At the meeting, city leaders highly valued the role of the Belgian Embassy and Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche in promoting cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Belgian partners across multiple sectors. According to Nguyen Loc Ha, economic ties between the city and Belgium have been developing positively, with bilateral trade exceeding $3.4 billion in 2025. Belgium currently has 60 investment projects in the city, totaling over $73 million in capital, along with 11 representative offices of Belgian businesses operating locally.

Over the years, Ho Chi Minh City has also benefited from Belgium’s effective support through official development assistance (ODA), technology transfer, and expertise in areas such as environmental management, healthcare, agriculture, seaports, and high-quality human resource training. Notably, environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards supported by Belgium have contributed to improving the quality of production and business activities in the city.

A major focus of discussion was a joint project between Ecosteryl and the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Environment Company Limited (Citenco) to treat and recycle medical waste using microwave technology. The project is considered significant to the city’s sustainable development goals, particularly as demand for safe, environmentally friendly medical waste treatment continues to grow.

City leaders noted that challenges related to relocating a hazardous waste treatment plant from Dong Thanh to Phuoc Hiep, along with technology upgrades, have been identified. Citenco has been tasked with coordinating with relevant agencies to expedite documentation and procedures, enabling early project implementation and facilitating access to financing from Belgium’s Finexpo fund.

Beyond environmental cooperation, Ho Chi Minh City also proposed expanding partnerships with Belgian localities. The city will continue implementing cooperation agreements with East Flanders Province in agriculture and smart urban development, while strengthening collaboration with the Wallonia Region in high-quality healthcare workforce training and Francophone education. The city also expressed its interest in establishing partnerships with additional Belgian localities to maximize complementary strengths.

In economic terms, city leaders called on the Belgian Embassy to continue supporting connections between business communities in both countries, promoting trade and encouraging Belgian enterprises to expand investment in priority sectors such as education, healthcare, environmental technology, renewable energy, logistics, seaport development, and smart cities.

A working visit by Ho Chi Minh City leaders to Belgium and Luxembourg is planned for this autumn. The city hopes to receive support from the Belgian Embassy and the Wallonia Trade Office in connecting with suitable partners to enhance the trip's effectiveness.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche praised the positive development of relations between Ho Chi Minh City and Belgian partners, particularly in clean technology and environmental sectors. He noted that Viet Nam’s clear commitment to sustainable development provides a strong foundation for deeper and broader cooperation between businesses of the two countries.

According to the Ambassador, the cooperation project between Ecosteryl and Citenco, supported by the Belgian government, is expected to mark significant progress in the treatment of hazardous medical waste, contributing to improved urban environmental quality and higher living standards in Ho Chi Minh City.

Karl Van Den Bossche also reaffirmed his commitment to continue serving as a bridge, supporting Belgian businesses in exploring investment opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City, thereby further strengthening cooperation between Viet Nam and the Kingdom of Belgium in the coming years.

Viet Nam and Belgium have maintained strong economic and development cooperation, particularly in trade, logistics, and sustainable development. Belgium is among Viet Nam’s key European trading partners, with bilateral trade exceeding $3 billion annually in recent years, driven by sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery and agricultural products.