Investment attraction policy of Binh Duong province

“Song Be Province used to have an area of over 1 million hectares, land was large, people were sparse, but didn't generate much material wealth, food was scarce, there was no industrial production... This greatly concerned provincial leaders, who believed that industrial development must be done. Therefore, the province advocated inviting investors to cooperate, improve the role and value of this land". This was told by Nguyen Minh Triet, former Secretary of Song Be Provincial Party Committee, former Politburo member, former State President, in an interview with Binh Duong Newspaper about the investment attraction policy, which has opened a development path for Song Be, then Binh Duong province in the process of industrialization and modernization.

Nguyen Minh Triet: "This policy is very beautiful and respectful, sincerely wanted to invite businesses to bring capital and resources to this land, cooperate with the province to create wealth and materials for society..."

- Sir, where did this policy originate from? Was it from the concern about this land?

'It is true. “Song Be Province used to have an area of over 1 million hectares, land was large, people were sparse, but didn't generate much material wealth, food was scarce, there was no industrial production... The country at that time has gone through many years of devastating wars, after liberation, it was still surrounded, embargoed, then happened the Southwest border war, the Northern border war... exhausted all people, strengths, and material resources. We had fertile land, natural resources, and human power, but we lacked some elements for development.

The provincial leadership discussed and wanted to mobilize human power, property, natural resources, material resources, domestic and foreign capital, advanced science and technology. Therefore, we established the policy of investment attraction. Because the province did not have good financial resource, no science and technology, no products, no partners, it was imperative to have a cooperation with domestic and foreign investors to enhance the role and value of this land.

After that, the province established some of industrial parks (IPs). At this time, the country had almost no IP, only Ho Chi Minh City had Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone. We discussed and consulted the Central Government, established an IP; then the concept of an IP was formed and has been developed until now. Meanwhile, it was necessary to go one step ahead, which is to develop the transport system. At that time, the province only had National Highway 13, the rest was small roads. The province facilitated traffic development, and toll roads also appeared firstly in the province to mobilize resources of investors...

- As starting to implement this policy, what difficulties did the province encounter, how was the pioneering spirit to overcome difficulties, sir?

- In general, at that time, there were numerous difficulties in capital, transportation, communications, science and technology... However, we believed, in the wars our country was disadvantaged but still fought the enemies. Thus we promoted that spirit to develop from this land, from our own people. We just tried to overcome difficulties, did not think of being a pioneer. As a problem arose, if the province could not solve it, we reported it to the Central Government, because the general legal provisions at that time were not perfect, the country stepped out of the war, thus we had to take step by step.

- Accompanying businesses is also the innovation that appeared in Song Be, then Binh Duong very early. Could you please explain this more?

- At that time, policies and laws in general were not adequate, hence investors also encountered difficulties when they arrived. Therefore, the province determined to accompany enterprises. When the province advocated creating favorable conditions, businesses did not understand how. Then when the province accompanied enterprises to the Central Government to solve difficulties, enterprises felt assured.

We think, investors came here and wanted to develop, the province also wanted to rise up, thus we had to cooperate with each other, and had to help businesses do their best. Procedures were done very quickly, creating favorable conditions for investors. Therefore, Song Be, and then Binh Duong, speeded up…

- Sir, Song Be and Binh Duong has been developing based on investment attraction policy. Along with setting guidelines and policies, the consent of the people is very important. At that time, how did the people respond to the provincial renewal process?

- The consensus and support of the people was very clear, especially in fields of land. The people and leaders of the Party and government shares the same front line. Therefore, the unanimous support of the people in development guidelines and directions at that time was significant. When making policies, provincial leaders paid special attention to and listened to people's opinions. Therefore, policies of road expansion, BOT form in the province were carried out very soon and quite quickly, because the people always agree and support.

- After 25 years of construction and development, Binh Duong has made a great change, how do you evaluate this issue?

- We can all see Binh Duong today has changed a lot in a very good way. Roads and traffic are very convenient. With economic development, people's living standards have been improved in all aspects. Overall, I'm very happy. From a poor province, Binh Duong became one of the developed provinces of the country. But at the global scale, we are still limited, so we must make efforts to develop faster and more sustainably.

Binh Duong continues writing a very beautiful 25-year history, we must not be satisfied with the present, but must continue to develop further with more modern and better science and technology breakthroughs. We must have a good human resource to meet the development requirements of the country and the province. I expect and believe in a developing Binh Duong, together with a developing Vietnam, joining with friends all over the world.

- Thank you, sir!

Reported by Thanh Son - Translated by Ngoc Huynh