HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam – January 17, 2024

With international partners under a special agreement between the British Council and the University of Aberdeen, AIP Foundation is thrilled to announce that the Green and Equitable Mobility (GEM) conference was held on January 17, 2024, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The objective of the GEM Conference was to encourage new partnerships and capacity-building to advance equity and sustainability in the mobility and transportation sector. Participants and speakers shared how safe, equitable, and sustainable mobility can positively impact our daily lives and future.

Speaking up together for safe, equitable, and green mobility

HM British Consul General in HCMC, Emily Hamblin, delivered the welcome remarks at the GEM conference citing the importance of partnerships to create a sustainable future.

Sheila Watson, Deputy Director of the FIA Foundation, shared that it is crucial for mobility to be accessible for all in order to create safe and resilient cities in the first keynote speech.

Following the opening speeches, the first panel on Equity in Mobility took place where the panelists explored how to break down barriers so that every student can thrive in the mobility sector.

Mimi Vu from Raise Partners delivered the second keynote speech at the GEM conference sharing about the importance of being inclusive beyond urban areas and including the voices and perspectives of women.

The second panel on Green Mobility enabled the participants to discuss better solutions for greener transportation and inclusive initiatives to empower youth to speak up for safer communities.

“In the spirit of collaboration, let us continue working together, breaking down barriers, and paving the way for a future where mobility is not just a means of transport but a catalyst for positive change,” shared Atsani Ariobowo, Director of Child and Youth Health at the FIA Foundation as the GEM conference came to a close.

The Power of Partnerships

The GEM Conference was supported by a UK-Viet Nam Partnerships for Quality and Internationalisation grant from the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme. Aligned with the current topical issue of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), this is the first event in Vietnam to approach mobility from a human and green perspective with the motto “No One Left Behind.” Co-funded by the FIA Foundation, the GEM conference was co-organized by the University of Aberdeen and the University of Transport and Communications in Ho Chi Minh City, and sponsored by the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and the Institute of Smart City & Management.

In the spirit of inclusivity and accessibility, the GEM conference was a hybrid event with Vietnamese-English interpretation and translation. Throughout the conference day, participants, speakers, and attendees were encouraged to approach the event via interactivity on digital platforms.