Foreign contractors proposed for Thu Thiem exhibition center

Foreign contractors proposed for Thu Thiem exhibition center

Foreign contractors proposed for Thu Thiem exhibition center

Hung Le

HCMC – The HCMC government is looking for approval from the Prime Minister to select foreign investors to build a convention and exhibition complex in Thu Thiem New Urban Area in District 2.

According to the office of the HCMC government, the city has proposed picking a consortium comprising Intertrade Singapore Pte Co Ltd and Saigon Bund Capital Partners-BVI Co as project contractors in line with the Bidding Law.

The 12-hectare exhibition center by the Saigon River is expected to be built based on the lotus petal model. The highlights of the project include a specially-designed dome which can be seen from the western bank of the river and from Thu Thiem 1 and 2 bridges. The work will create an architectural landmark in the downtown area of Thu Thiem.

In the future, the center would be able to host international economic and political events such as APEC, ASEAN Forum, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) conferences and major events regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the bilateral agreements between Vietnam and the European Union (EU).

Finding venues for large-scale conferences and exhibitions in HCMC and Hanoi has become harder, and the lack of proper facilities for such events in this economic center of Vietnam has become a chronic problem. As a result, many organizers have to go to stadiums and parks to hold events.

BT Tee, deputy chief of Singapore Exhibition Services’ Vietnam representative office, said HCMC has only two exhibition centers which can attract foreign enterprises: Tan Binh Exhibition and Convention Center in Tan Binh District and the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in District 7.

However, the former suspended operation early this year while SECC is overloaded. Exhibitors at large-scale exhibitions such as Vietbuild, and MTA engineering and machinery and auto shows have to set up booths outside SECC.

Tee said international exhibition centers in Singapore and Thailand usually cover over 100,000 square meters and 200,000 square meters, respectively, while SECC, the largest in the city, covers around 20,000 square meters.

Some regular exhibitors said as HCMC has posted rapid economic and industrial growth, demand to introduce products and look for investment opportunities is growing strongly. Therefore, the city must build large international-standard facilities to lure overseas firms to participate in its events.

Earlier in Hanoi, the Prime Minister told relevant departments to construct a national exhibition center at Co Loa Commune in Dong Anh District. As planned, the center would be built at Co Loa and Me Tri Commune in Nam Tu Liem District.

The Prime Minister allowed the center in Co Loa to enhance the efficiency of land use and match the newly-built traffic system of the capital. The project is required to meet demand for domestic and international events and be in accordance with Hanoi’s master development plan.

The national exhibition center will be funded by capital from the exploitation of land at 148 Giang Vo Street in Ba Dinh District and Me Tri, and other sources.

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