Industrial Zones and High-Tech Park: Strengthening Da Nang’s New Foundation in Global Value Chain

As the world moves into a phase of supply chain realignment and competition for investment among countries and localities intensifies, economic centers are expected not only to expand production but also to improve growth quality and engage more deeply in higher value-added segments of the global value chain.

Da Nang Free Trade Zone is expected to create a dynamic economic space with internationally competitive mechanisms and policies

A set of major central government policies and strategic directions has laid a solid foundation for shifting the development model. These include Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation; Da Nang City’s socio-economic development strategies; and the plan to establish Da Nang Free Trade Zone (FTZ), along with new mechanisms and policies to build internationally competitive economic spaces, all of which are creating significant opportunities for the city.

These directions not only create new opportunities for growth but also require a redefinition of the role of industrial zones and the Da Nang High-Tech Park.

On that basis, the Da Nang Specific Economic Zones Authority (DSEZA) has proactively developed plans and action programs to implement central and municipal strategies, focusing on restructuring investment attraction, improving infrastructure quality, and building an industrial, technology, and innovation ecosystem, thereby gradually forming a new growth foundation for the city.

“In the new phase, we see our role not only as an administrative body but also as an institution that shapes the investment environment, supports businesses, and contributes to Da Nang’s economic structure,” said Vu Quang Hung, Director of the Da Nang Specific Economic Zones Authority.

From quantity to quality in investment attraction

The DSEZA has set a clear, consistent principle: shifting from a focus on “attracting capital” to “attracting high-quality projects.”

This means industrial zones and the high-tech park will prioritize projects in high technology, supporting industries, the digital economy, modern logistics, green energy, and knowledge-intensive sectors. Selection criteria are no longer based solely on capital size but instead focus on technological sophistication, innovation capacity, technology transfer commitments, participation in global supply chains, and spillover effects for domestic enterprises.

In particular, the Da Nang High-Tech Park is positioned as the core of the high-tech ecosystem, focusing on attracting key sectors such as semiconductor microchips, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, information technology, and smart manufacturing. The goal is to gradually move the city from a “manufacturing destination” to a “technology and innovation hub” for the central region and the country.

Korea-based Dentium operates in Da Nang Hi-Tech Park, producing high-tech medical, especially dental, equipment

Green, smart, and integrated development

From a long-term perspective, the DSEZA views infrastructure as the strategic foundation of competitiveness.

Technical and logistics infrastructure help optimize costs and improve connectivity. Energy and digital infrastructure are essential for high-tech industries, especially in the context of digital transformation and the knowledge economy. More importantly, green infrastructure is no longer a supporting factor but has become a required standard in attracting global corporations aligned with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) benchmarks.

Accordingly, the DSEZA is gradually transforming industrial zones toward an ecological model, promoting a circular economy and industrial symbiosis, strictly enforcing environmental standards, and encouraging clean technologies and efficient energy use.

At the same time, digital transformation in governance is being accelerated through automated environmental and energy monitoring systems, greater data transparency, and improved operational efficiency. An integrated development model is also being implemented, linking production with R&D, workforce training, and social infrastructure to create a coordinated and sustainable development space.

Fostering business support

The “one-stop, on-site” mechanism continues to be refined to shorten processing times, accelerate digitalization, and provide online public services. Investment incentives are implemented in line with the current legal framework, with a focus on high-tech projects, R&D, supporting industries, and green energy.

In addition, the DSEZA places strong emphasis on preparing clean land and synchronized technical infrastructure, while strengthening ecosystem linkages among foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises, domestic firms, banks, logistics providers, and training institutions to increase localization rates and on-site value creation.

Looking ahead 5-10 years, Da Nang aims to develop its industrial zones and high-tech park not only as production spaces but also as core elements of a new economic structure, serving as key growth poles for the city and the central region.

Accordingly, industrial zones and the high-tech park will be developed into centers for high-tech production and innovation, gradually moving into higher value-added stages of the global value chain. The city prioritizes attracting advanced sectors such as semiconductor microchips, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, smart manufacturing, the digital economy, and high-tech supporting industries. The objective is to move Da Nang from a traditional manufacturing destination to a regional hub for technology and innovation.

Alongside high-tech industrial development, Da Nang is also oriented toward building an integrated ecosystem that combines industry, logistics, trade, and services, creating a strong foundation for connectivity with Asia-Pacific supply chains. Strategic infrastructure such as Lien Chieu port, Da Nang International Airport, interregional transport systems, and the East-West Economic Corridor will serve as key drivers, expanding development space and strengthening the city’s competitiveness within the regional economic network.

A key pillar in the coming period is the focused development of Da Nang Free Trade Zone (FTZ). The FTZ is expected to create a dynamic economic space with internationally competitive mechanisms and policies, promoting transshipment, international trade, modern logistics, cross-border e-commerce, and value-added services. When closely connected with the high-tech park, industrial zones, and the seaport and aviation systems, the FTZ will help form a complete value chain from research to production, logistics, and global trade.

Notably, industrial zones and the high-tech park will gradually transition toward ecological models, promoting a circular economy, efficient resource use, and compliance with international environmental standards. This aligns with green development requirements and serves as a key factor in attracting multinational corporations as ESG standards increasingly become global investment benchmarks. In turn, this will create strong spillover momentum for Da Nang’s growth, innovation, and integration.

By Thanh Tung, Vietnam Business Forum