Binh Duong: A potentiality comes true

After 19 years of re-establishment (Jan 1^st 1997 – Jan 1^st 2016), the growth of Binh Duong province has been not only a pride of provincial people but also a admiration from people throughout the country. To obtain this accomplishment, provincial leadership, business community and people have been attempting to build up Binh Duong to become a civilized, modern city.

Dynamism and comprehensive development

In early days after the re-establishment, Binh Duong had limited economic resources and was a purely agricultural province. After 19 years, the achievements of Binh Duong have astonished many people.

At present, socio-economic of Binh Duong has prospered and grown; people’s material and spiritual life has been improving. In the province, high-class private cultural – sports facilities, cinemas, high-quality medical services, like: International General Hospital with Singaporean standards, Columbia Asia Hospital with Asian standards…, have been developed. Besides, fields of water supply drainage, transportation, electricity, accommodations… have grown robustly.

 After 19 years of re-establishment, Binh Duong has become one of the most developing localities of the country. Image: An urban corner of TDM City

Financial – banking sector has also thrived, improved their quality, extended loans in order to satisfy capital needs in the province. Postal – telecommunications services, information technology, e-commerce is growing in depth. Environmental protection has been concerned to ensure a sustainable development of the province...

Economic breakthroughs

In 1997, the province had an economic structure of industry - services - agriculture corresponding to 50% - 26.8% - 22.8%. Although industrial sector made up 50% economic structure, industrial production value at that time was only about 4,000 billion VND, total retail sales of goods and service was 3,042 billion VND, export turnover was 363 million USD, state budget revenue was only 817 billion VND, investment attraction was weak…

At present, Binh Duong’s economy has boomed with rocketing indicators. Namely, at the end of 2015, provincial industrial production value was 217,211 billion VND, up nearly 68 times compared to 1997; total retail sales of goods and service was 125,747 billion VND, up over 41 times; export turnover was 20.976 billion USD, up 57.7 times; import export growth was sustained, trade surplus reached over3.7 billion USD; state budget revenue was 36,000 billion VND, up 44 times. Industrial and service sector play the key role in the economic structure at the rate of industry 60% - services 37.3% - agriculture 2.7%.

On the other hand, some critical aspects, like: administrative procedure reform, open investment environment, people's life improvement…, have been paid much attention by leaders at all levels. Provincial leaders always listen to opinions and aspirations of the people, meet the poor, support policy beneficiaries on national holidays; visited, held dialogues with businesses to resolve their difficulties. Thereby, Binh Duong province has realized well the Central’s policies on land rent exemption and reduction, tax extension and reimbursement, salary support..., facilitating effective operations of businesses, organizations in the province.

Through preferential policies, the province has made great efforts, demonstrated dynamism and creativity in attracting talents, economic investments. At present, the province has 28 industrial parks with total area of nearly 9,500 ha and 8 industrial clusters with total area of nearly 600 ha. By Dec 15 2015, the province has 2,573 FDI projects with a total registered capital of 23.3 billion USD. Binh Duong is one of five national leading localities in FDI attraction surpassing 20 billion USD.

Synchronous development of infrastructure facilities

Along with industrial development, Binh Duong has also invested in infrastructure development to sustainably grow. The highlight of this process was the construction of Binh Duong New City. The new city’s rhythm has become vigorous with many large projects, like: provincial Integrated Political Administrative Center, Eastern International University, Lucky Square Convention and Event Center, green park, shopping streets… The new city has been identified as a modern, dynamic, sustainable urban center with fully services serving about 125,000 permanent residents and more than 400,000 persons coming here to work.

Besides, the urban innovation has been conducted as planning. In particular, the urban renovation and upgrading have been strongly invested; many diverse architectural structures have emerged, contributing to forming identity, improving the overall architecture, urban landscape ... to bring Binh Duong province to a civilized, modern city in the future.

In 2015, per capita income of Binh Duong province reached 73.1 million VND. By the end of 2015, the province had one type-2 urban, four type-5 urban areas. Binh Duong has now 32 communes meeting new rural standards; 541 schools; 63.26% schools have more than 2 floors; 13 schools meeting national standards; 55.9% public preschools, high schools meeting national standards; 3 province-level hospitals, 9 district health centers, 17 regional clinics, 91 health centers, 2,087 private medical facilities…

Reported by T.Huynh – Translated by Ngoc Huynh