Side by Side with Investors

 

Both industrial parks are located in Long Thanh district, Ben Tre province. Giao Long Industrial Park (the first phase) has an area of 65.52 ha. The park, which commenced construction in 2005, has completed the first phase. At the end of February 2009, ten companies signed contracts to lease 27.4 ha, or 41.82 per cent of the area. In addition, two companies signed in-principle contracts and five others registered for leasing. In total, 17 companies registered to rent 60.93 ha, or 92.99 per cent of the leasable area. Especially, four enterprises in the industrial park have been put into operation. They have created many jobs for local people, have paid more income for the State Budget and have sped up the industrialisation process in the locality.

 

An Hiep Industrial Park (the first phase) has an area of 49.57 ha. At the end of February 2009, three companies registered to hire 23.94 ha, or 48.29 per cent. If 7.74 ha leased by Ben Tre Sugar Joint Stock Company are included, the rented are is 31.68 ha, or 63.9 per cent of the area. Five other companies have signed in-principle contracts to hire in the industrial park. All told, An Hiep Industrial Park has tenants that registered to hire 41.13 ha, or 82.97 per cent.

 

Compared with other localities in the Mekong Delta, the rental in Ben Tre province-based industrial parks is quite attractive, especially in Giao Long and An Hiep industrial parks. According to the Decision No. 06/2008 QD-UBND dated March 13, 2008 on investment incentives issued by Ben Tre Province People’s Committee, the leasing rate in Giao Long Industrial Park (the first phase) and An Hiep Industrial Park is 50 US cents and 60 US cents per square a year, VAT included. The waste treatment charge is 35 cents per cubic metre for the Class C wastes and the rate for infrastructure utilities use is 25 cents per square metre a year. One-pay for infrastructure utilities use will be discounted 40 per cent.

 

The success in attracting investment in Ben Tre province is attributed to the special contribution of Ben Tre Industrial Zones Infrastructure Development Company. Immediately it was set up with its prescribed functions and tasks; the company has actively called for investment capital. The firm has actively supported investors in studying policies, selecting locations, applying for investment licences and working with service providers when they want to invest in industrial parks. At present, the company is preparing to build the Giao Long residential zone in Giao Long Industrial Park to provide accommodations for specialists and workers in industrial zones.

 

After five years of operations, apart from completing political and social tasks assigned by the People’s Committee of Ben Tre province, the Ben Tre Industrial Zones Infrastructure Development Company is also an active pioneer in many other activities. The company obtained many achievements from 2006, 2007 and 2008 such as a strong and healthy Party unit, excellent trade union, and many certificates of merits from the province’s People’s Committee for excellent performances in 2006-2007. Spiritual life and incomes of its staff have steadily heightened.