Nguyen Van Hung, Chairman of Becamex IDC Corporation: Continue to build infrastructure to connect the Southern key economic region

In recent years, Becamex IDC has made important contributions to the socio-economic development of the province and the Southern key economic region. Becamex IDC is strengthening strategic cooperation with major domestic and foreign partners, stimulating the growth of the industrial-service-urban model, building the Binh Duong Innovation Region. Binh Duong Newspaper interviewed Nguyen Van Hung on this topic.

- What did the establishment of VSIP 1 in 1996 mean to Binh Duong province and Becamex IDC at that time, sir?

- In the economic development process, in many years, Binh Duong has attained high growth pace, the most prominent is industry. Industrial value account for the highest value of the provincial overall economy. Especially VSIP 1, so far, has made an impression of a model industrial zone developing very well in Binh Duong. The cooperation of the two governments Vietnam and Singapore has created favorable conditions for industrial parks to break through. Up to now, Binh Duong has the opportunity to develop VSIPs in many provinces and cities.

For Binh Duong, in the early days of cooperation, we learned and exchanged experience of Singapore in the development of industrial parks. From the early years, Becamex IDC formed a marketing team and has spread to other businesses. Becamex IDC's marketing network has grown to many countries. These countries already have investment relations with Binh Duong as well as Vietnam.

- Which programs and projects will Becamex IDC continue to accompany and contribute to the province? Especially contributing to the spread of the innovation culture?

- From the beginning we have built many eco-parks to meet requirements, attract investors. We built VSIP 1 with very good infrastructure. Outside the industrial park, we invested in the construction of National Highway 13. This was the first backbone to attract investors to Binh Duong. Becamex has built and developed very well infrastructure.

Initially, to attract investors, Becamex IDC built a single-window management board. This was a breakthrough and I think for Vietnam this was a reform of administrative procedures, giving businesses a good impression. Besides, we also set up many other related ecosystems. In developed industrial zones, there were urban areas, services for people coming here to work and improve the quality of life. The first phase of this ecosystem helped people previously in agricultural areas to switch to services and urban areas integrated with production and business activities of enterprises. I think that the "three-legged" relationship between workers, businesses and the State is very important, contributing to improving skills, creating stable jobs for local people, while creating peace of mind for investors.

We have created a very good ecosystem in each industrial park, gradually building and developing many industrial parks, especially large ones in Binh Duong. Currently, we have completed the connection in this region and are implementing connections outside the region, aim at conditional areas, new orientations such as Long Thanh International Airport, Cai Mep port (Ba Ria - Vung Tau).

- In order for Binh Duong to overcome the middle-income trap, what solutions do you suggest?

- Recently, Becamex IDC has conducted many surveys and found that Binh Duong has many problems to overcome the middle income trap, including important solutions. In 2016, Binh Duong started from a Smart City project, which was a very important breakthrough. In the project, the roles of the State, businesses, scientists and universities are very clear. Over the past 5 years, the world’s Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) has recognized Binh Duong’s new orientations and contributions to socio-economic development.

In the coming time, Becamex will continue the construction of new infrastructure to meet the connection demand in the planning of the Southern key economic zone according to the new direction. Binh Duong has long been oriented towards some infrastructure that is of service to regional connectivity. For example, the Government is very interested in Belt Road 3, Belt Road 4, Binh Duong has completed 50%, this is a very important start in infrastructure construction. In terms of transport infrastructure, the province invests heavily in construction, but somewhere there is still congestion. The province is mobilizing domestic and foreign investment resources for localities to develop provincial transport system. Road system is also facing many difficulties, Binh Duong is developing river ways and railways. I believe that the next problem would be solved to ensure smooth traffic flow in the province.

Through many years of industrial development with numerous changes, how to make businesses reasonably price, continue to operate, I think this is the responsibility of the State to guarantee human resources. The province is building this new ecosystem. Viet Duc University, Eastern International University are building an ecosystem with Faplap rooms. Recently Becamex IDC has organized training programs about Industry 4.0, cooperated with large corporations to invest in new training technology, connected with businesses to improve human resources in Binh Duong.

This new ecosystem, I think, is very special and unprecedented in Binh Duong and Vietnam. Binh Duong anticipated from the beginning, tried to overcome challenges, which were how to both improve capacity, while improving governance further, improve technology, and apply the transformation of enterprises. Currently, Becamex IDC is building a startup ecosystem, cooperating with large corporations to transform businesses with models and schemes. If Binh Duong facilitates the exploitation of this strength, this is a spectacular transformation, businesses have good conditions to renovate products. Especially the products in the new ecosystem, the issue of quality, sustainable development of products are put on top, this is also a requirement in the development of global trade.

- One of the breakthroughs for Binh Duong's socio-economic development is the successful construction of Smart City. In your opinion, what programs and projects does the province need to achieve this goal?

- Smart City in the next phase needs to change, has more dynamic opportunities, is more creative, many businesses and people in the province believe that this ecosystem definitely meets the new development requirements. In particular, Binh Duong is more aggressive in the orientation of planning in the 2021-2030 period, with vision towards 2050 and based on the industry 4.0. Surely, this planning direction will find many different solutions. Regarding the mobility in the southern region, labor-intensive businesses, the effects of environmental pollution are still facing problems and challenges, the province has sought for areas with good conditions. The province is building huge infrastructure in northern areas, there will definitely be industrial parks to guarantee this shift. Binh Duong must first build new industrial parks, to be ready to meet, the remaining space is sure to make orientation planning for service and urban development in order for businesses to move to new areas.

Binh Duong previously did not have industrial zones, crowded residential urban areas; thus it was difficult to renovate traffic, electricity, drainage systems, environmental pollution... It is necessary to balance industrial development as well as urban development and services. I think this space would definitely serve well the new demands, this is a very important new ecosystem for the long-term development orientation of the province.

- Thank you!

To carry out the construction of Binh Duong Smart City, recently Becamex IDC set up the orientation of TOD urban development (taking the orientation of transport development as the basis for urban development, planning), these TODs will be connected. Currently, Binh Duong has three cities, including Thu Dau Mot, Thuan An, Di An. In the coming period, these three cities will continue to improve production and business, contributing to the proportion of service growth of the province many times, creating extremely large added value, developing urban areas. I think that this is a breakthrough task for the province to develop the northern infrastructure, which must be very good to help these three cities continue to develop well, then the socio-culture, health and education sectors will also attain good development conditions.

Being close to Ho Chi Minh City is a great opportunity for Binh Duong. If we focus on a good ecosystem, especially Binh Duong New City World Trade Center has a great role in connecting with domestic enterprises, foreign investment enterprises. The strategic orientation of this service sector is one of the breakthrough development goals of the home province.

Reported by Phuong Le – Translated by Ngoc Huynh