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Shifting the structure of export products is an important task the province should undertake if it hopes to promote exports. Photo VL |
Binh Dinh has made every effort to overcome difficulties caused by the economic recession. The investment attraction is still a high priority. Chairman of Binh Dinh People’s Committee Nguyen Van Thien talks more about the issue.
Binh Dinh attracted first foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the 1992-2000 period. The figure has considerably increased so far. What are the reasons?
Binh Dinh is now an attractive destination for domestic and foreign projects. It had the first FDI project in 1992 and the figure increased by 3 in 2000.
However, there have been 33 FDI projects worth US$410 million pouring into the province since then. Investors come from different countries, such as Japan, China, Korea, Germany, Singapore, Australia, and Malaysia.
Also, Binh Dinh has attracted many domestic projects, mainly in woodwork industry, agriculture, minerals, and aquaculture.
After the new Law on Investment came into effect in 2006, 169 domestic projects have been licensed in Binh Dinh with the total registered capital of US$1.3 billion.
The province has also prepared necessary infrastructure, including traffic, power and water supply system, banking, industrial zones, and other services, for attracting investors.
Basing on the province’s socio-economic development plan, a list of projects calling for investment was announced in some economic forums, seminars, and workshops.
Binh Dinh has promulgated some investment incentive policies and programs supporting some training courses, trade promotion, and administrative reform.
A proposal for administrative reform has undergone construction in administrative bodies, particularly in fields of business registration and investment license.
A hotline was also set up, aiming to help businesses solve urgent issues.
Binh Dinh’s Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) went down from the 4th to 11th last year. Could you reveal the reason and what must be done to go up?
The first reasons is that the State management hasn’t met the ever-increasing demand of businesses. Many, for example, asked for better quality in public services.
The improvement of other provinces is another reason. This is a very tough competition in which each province made every effort, aiming to enhance their PCI.
Binh Dinh needs to focus on improving the quality of its public services, such as market information, manpower training, trade promotion, land clearance, and administrative reform, creating the most favorable conditions for businesses.
Could you tell more about measures to ensure the province’s sustainable development?
The global economic recession offered us a chance to evaluate what we did and better the trade promotion and investment environment to attract investors when the economy recovers.
Binh Dinh must continue to finish key infrastructure and resettlement areas and strengthen the compensation, land clearance in industrial zones to attract domestic and foreign projects. Investors’ benefits must be given priority.
Agriculture development is also a key factor, fulfilling the province’s GDP growth. In addition, the support for enterprises and projects will be strengthened, focusing on tourism services and employment opportunities for laborers.
Shifting the structure of export products is an important task the province should undertake if it hopes to promote exports, boosting exports of high added value products rather than raw materials.
Associations also play an important role in promoting the cooperation among businesses, helping them closely coordinate with each other to enhance the competitiveness.
The manpower training is another urgent issue. This is expected to provide highly-qualified laborers for investors.
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