Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone Authority: Creating Motivation for Socio-economic Development

4:38:14 PM | 10/7/2013

After five years of operation, the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone Authority has licensed 113 investment projects, including 13 FDI projects, with a total investment of VND19,680 billion and US$1.093 million and generated 7,700 jobs. In 2012, the economic zone paid VND520 billion to the State Budget. To learn about the efforts for this outcome, Vietnam Business Forum has an interview with Mr Vo Van Hai, Head of the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone Authority. Ngo San reports.
Could you please tell us how the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone has attracted investment capital? How do you assess the quantity and quality of investors in Nghe An province?
The Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone was founded to become a powerful engine of socio-economic development of Nghe An province. Therefore, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee have directed the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone Authority to collaborate with competent departments, agencies and localities to carry out economic zone development plans. Planning and planning management of economic zones are being completed. The authority has completed the detailed planning for nine out of 10 functional areas in the economic zone, six out of eight industrial parks, Cua Lo deepwater port planning, and Dong Hoi specialised deepwater port. Essential infrastructure construction has been invested. The authority has completed 12 infrastructure projects for the economic zone, including 10 roads (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5), the northern region water plant with a daily capacity of 17,000 cubic metres, the B region wastewater treatment system in Nam Cam Industrial Park, the worker housing project in Nam Cam Industrial Park, and resettlement zones for road construction projects. Three trunk roads (N2, N5 and D4) and the wastewater treatment facility in Nam Cam Industrial Park are being built.
 
The Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone Authority has to date licensed 113 investment projects, including 13 FDI projects, with a total investment of VND19,680 billion and US$1.093 million. In spite of domestic and global economic difficulties, many domestic and foreign investors from South Korea, Thailand, Australia and Japan have come to study investment opportunities and decided to locate their projects in the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone. Licensed projects basically suit sectoral development plans, use modern and environment-friendly technologies, generate jobs for local people, and increase income for the State Budget.
 
In the five years since its establishment, what role has the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone played in the province’s development?
After five years of operation, the economic zone has demonstrated its positive roles in the province’s economic growth. To date, the economic zone attracted 113 investment projects, including 13 FDI projects. Operational projects now account for about 15 percent of the province’s industrial production value and increase their tax payments to the State Budget. The investment, construction and development of the economic zone has facilitated economic restructuring as specified in the Resolutions of the 16th Provincial Party Congress (term 2005 - 2010) and the 17th Provincial Party Congress (term 2010-2015).
 
To make Nghe An province an attractive destination to domestic and foreign investors in the coming time, what are the core issues that need to be focused on right now?
To make Nghe An province an attractive destination to domestic and foreign investors, including the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone and industrial parks, the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone Authority has specified the following tasks.
 
One, strengthening planning and management; completing detailed planning of remaining functional areas in the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone based on the approved master plan; mobilising resources and accelerating the construction of essential infrastructure items in the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone; implementing land compensation, clearance to give land for prospective investment projects.
 
Two, accelerating investment promotion, renovating methods in order to seek direct investment through domestic and international agencies. The key is to attract large-scale projects and dynamic projects using modern, environment-friendly technologies, infrastructure construction projects for industrial parks. Enterprises will get support for business development, and capital access for business development.
 
Three, implementing public administration reform in line with the Government's Project 30; issuing specific administrative procedures; enhancing professional training and retraining for State officers and employees; reviewing and advising the Provincial People's Committee to issue and supplement investment policies, mechanisms and incentives for projects in economic zones and industrial parks.
 
Four, consolidating collaboration of relevant agencies and authorities to troubleshoot problems arising from the implementation of licensed investment projects in industrial parks and economic zones.
 
The South Korean Investment Promotion Conference into Nghe An province is going to take place in Hanoi. Do you have any message to send to authorities and partners at this event?
The Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone, covering 18,826 ha, is a general, multi-sector and multi-functional economic zone, a development engine for Nghe An province, an important development pole of the central region, an international trade centre, a major centre of industry, tourism, commerce and port for the northern central region. Investment projects in the economic zone are granted special incentives like tax, land and labour. With these advantages, the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone Authority hopes to welcome domestic and international investors, especially those from South Korea and Japan, to learn, and seek investment opportunities in the Nghe An Southeast Economic Zone. The board is committed to cooperating, supporting and facilitating investors to implement and operate their projects efficiently.