From industry to urbanization

In the past, Binh Duong was an agricultural province but nowadays, the locality has shown its strong change of socio-economic situation and image of colorful urbanization has replaced this land.

After the August Revolution and the country’s liberation, Binh Duong changed and developed rapidly, especially establishment of Binh Duong province in 1997 was considered as a great breakthrough for its current industrial development.

With the policy of spreading red carpets for investors and talents, Binh Duong has really changed and after 16 years of development, its process of industrialization has won unexpected successes.

Until now, the entire province has established 28 industrial parks covering an area of more than 9,000ha, 26 industrial parks of which have been under operation with 2,172 foreign projects, capitalized at over US$18.5bil and thousands of local projects with the total investment of VND111,000.

Thanks to the industrialization process, local industrial parks have strongly accelerated local urbanization process throughout localities such as Thuan An, Ben Cat, Di An, Tan Uyen and many more. Accordingly, new urban and residential areas have been emerged in conformity with local socio-economic growth and contributing to change rural image.

According to the Southern Center for Economic Research, the provincial pace of urban population growth is at high level. In the period of 2001-2005, the pace increased at 7.2% and at 9% in the 2006-2010 period. As of 2011, the pace was at 21.7%. Meanwhile, rate of urbanization has increased along with an increase of 19.94% in 1996 and 31.75% in 2000.

At present, Binh Duong has formed up some the provincial-run cities. Under the roadmap till 2015, after separation and establishment of administration units, Binh Duong will consist of 1 city, 4 towns, 4 districts including Thu Dau Mot city (second class urban area), Di An town (third class urban area), Thuan An town (third class urban area), Nam Ben Cat town (fourth class urban area) and Nam Tan Uyen (fourth class urban area) and the remaining districts of Bac Tan Uyen, Bac Ben Cat and Phu Giao, Dau Tieng and so on.

A modern city emerged

With the available foundation, to reach the goal of turning Binh Duong into a first class urban area and the central-run city by 2020, the provincial People’s Committee lastly announced a common planning on Binh Duong urban building till 2020 and vision 2030. The planning was co-implemented by Arep – Coteba – Sogreah Company of France and Phuong Nam Consultancy Company. With the global vision of Binh Duong cultural identities, the planning will turn Binh Duong into a modern and civilized urban area.

Based on the planning, Binh Duong will be built into a political, socio-cultural, economic, tech-scientific and national defense hub and the first class city with 6 districts and 4 towns.

In terms of goals of urban development, Binh Duong urban population will reach about 2.5 million people by 2020 and about 3.5 million by 2030. In addition, the local average GDP will be at VND63.2mil per capita in 2015 and local pace of economic growth will be at about 14% in 2015 with the structure of industry, service and agriculture at 59%, 38% and 3%, respectively.

Under the planning, Binh Duong urban area will be divided into 3 regions. Accordingly, the first region will include the Southern localities such as Thuan An, Di An whilst the second region will consist of Hoa Phu and Phu Tan new urban areas under Binh Duong New City, Phu Cuong, Phu Loi wards, Nam Ben Cat, Nam Tan Uyen. The third region will be in the Northern localities such as Tan Thanh, Cong Xanh, Thuong Tan, Phuoc Vinh, Bau Bang, Dau Tieng, Long Hoa – An Lap, Thanh Tuyen and so on.

Presently, many big projects relating to real estate and investment capital sources pouring into Binh Duong have strongly spurred Binh Duong industrialization and urbanization. Especially, Binh Duong New City – the highlight of the central-run  Binh Duong city has been formed up modernly. All of these things have increased a big trust in Binh Duong’s urban development goals.

Reported by T.Son – Translated by A.C