On the occasion of the visit of the Swedish Sustainable City Delegation to Vietnam on 7-8 May, roundtable discussions with the theme “Fostering efficient operation and management of public transport: Sharing successful experience of Sweden in emerging countries” will be held in Hanoi and HCMC by the Embassy of Sweden, Business Sweden - The Swedish Trade and Invest Council, and the Hanoi People’s Committee.

The events aimed to strengthen the collaboration between the two countries by sharing experiences, best practices, and technologies to support the development ofthe public transport sector. 

At the events, Swedish companies including ABB, Erisson, Volvo Buses, Axis Communications, Volvo Cars and Roxtec will have discussion with several public and private stakeholders in the public transport and urban development sector on how Vietnam can increase urban ridership in public transport, ensure that urban environment is safe, as well as how Vietnam can make use of the latest technologies available in ITS / IoT and eMobility.

Swedish Ambassador Pereric Högberg said: “Trade and investments between our countries are growing steadily. However, there is room for further increases – we have only just seen the beginning of what is yet to come."

"With urbanization and a growing middle class, cities in Vietnam face many challenges, not least when it comes to transport. Swedish innovation and expertise can be of great value when Vietnam is looking for sustainable solutions. We hope that the visit by this delegation, with the participation of some of Sweden’s leading Sustainable City Solutions’ companies, will result in concrete discussions with Hanoi and HCM City.”

Like many similar Asian countries, Vietnam is going through rapid urbanization. As of 2017, around 40% of Vietnam’s population of 90 million lived in urban areas. This is expected to increase to 50% by 2025. 

With the government’s orientation toward sustainable urbanization, public transportation has become the key factor in the journey to develop urban mobility. 

In the strategy for the development of public transportation to 2020, with orientations toward 2030, Vietnam aims to make public transportation the preferable choice in tandem with the control of private vehicle growth and to upgrade the quality of urban transportation. 

In addition, by 2020, Vietnam aims to achieve the goal of 20% buses and taxi using LPG, CNG or solar energy.

However, to achieve these goals, Vietnam needs to set a clear vision and plan, and study successful cases from countries that are world leaders in this development.

Sweden has long been at the forefront of urban planning, environmental friendliness and traffic safety. Since 1990, emission has been reduced by 9% while GDP has increased by close to 50%. Since 1970, oil dependence has reduced by 90%. 

Furthermore, the number of traffic fatalities has been cut in half from 2000 to 2013, reaching 30 in a million habitants per year, among the lowest in the world. 

Mai Lan