The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO) held an annual meeting of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Ho Chi Minh City in 2020.

Foreign NGOs with many contributions to the sustainable development of the city receive certificates of merit. Source: HUFO

The event was attended by representatives of NGOs working groups in the city, Departments, Branches and People's Committees of the above districts within the city, representatives of the Union of Friendship Organizations and Department of Foreign Affairs of the provinces An Giang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Dinh, Ca Mau, Dong Nai, Dong Thap , Gia Lai, Hau Giang, Phu Yen, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Vinh Long together with representatives of more than 100 NGOs operating in Ho Chi Minh City.

Addressing the event, HUFO President Vuong Duc Hoang Quan thanked foreign consular offices, business associations, organisations and NGOs for having funded development projects over the past year, helping improve the spiritual and material life of Vietnamese people in the city and the country in general.

This has helped Vietnam complete Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals earlier than scheduled, he said.

Noting that many localities and regions of Vietnam still face difficulties, especially impacts from COVID-19 pandemic, climate changes and natural disaster, he said that the city and Vietnam need great assistance from the international community and foreign NGOs.

HCM City hopes to receive support in education-training, vocational training, the provision of medical services to the poor, HIV/AIDS and drug prevention and control, as well as in raising public awareness of the rights of children and women as well as environmental protection and traffic safety.

The HUFO will continue coordinate with authorised agencies to give guidelines on legal and administrative procedures to the organizations, as well as in managing and using the assistance, he said.

At the meeting, participants were told the report on the non-governmental work in HCM City in the past year, the aid needs for the programs and projects of the sponsors social, education, environmental resources in HCM City as well as from southern provinces such as Tien Giang, Hau Giang and Dong Nai.

On this occassion, the HUFO honored foreign NGOs with many contributions to the sustainable development of the city by awarding certificates of merit from the City People's Committee to eight organizations and certificates of merit from HUFO for 25 organizations.

At the end of the program, HUFO leaders received the symbolic donations from foreign NGOs and business associations to the program“Xuan Yeu Thuong” (The Spring of Love) to help local poor people to enjoy a warm and happy Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.

Currently, 163 foreign NGOs have been permitted to operate in HCM City in various areas such as health, education-training, social welfare, community development, the environment and climate change, among others.

In 2020, the city People’s Committee approved the reception of 124 aid packages worth nearly USD 84.2 million./.

VNF