To promote achievements and overcome drawbacks for plan accomplishment, said Mr. Le Thanh Cung, Chair of Provincial People’s Committee

Despite disadvantageous situation in 2014, FDI attraction of Binh Duong Province gained over USD 1.6 billion or 60% higher than the proposed plan. To elaborate FDI attraction measures in 2014 with preparation for 2015, Binh Duong Newspaper reporters interviewed Mr. Le Thanh Cung (in photo) as  Chair of Provincial People’s Committee.

- Sir, please give us some evaluation on FDI attaction in 2014.

- In 2014, Binh Duong Province faces a lot of difficulties due to national position and the May 13 incident which have tremendously affected investors in the province; however, provincial leaders have responsibly re-evaluate the circumstances to offer detail measures close to the reality while observing demands of the government as well as listening to feedbacks and proposals of Consuls General of nations and associations and investors. Accordingly, the province has proposed some measures to resolve the situations and overcome difficulties to achieve the targets and complete plans in 2014 for all fields, especially domestic investment and FDI luring.

Cargoes are being arranged by a fork-lifter at Thai Binh Investment JSC. Photo: P.An

Particularly, FDI attraction in 2014 has exceeded the plan by over 65% as the meaningful achievements of great effects on investment image and environment of BinhDuongProvince in particular and the whole nation in general. This showed that the provincial authority has been urgently and responsibly implementing the measures to calm the May 13 incident in the fastest and most thorough manner in all fields. Notably, the diplomat affairs, investment environment, and challenges of enterprises in assuring lives of factory workers and local security have been benefited. Accordingly, enterprises are offered all conditions for stabilization of production, purchase order and contract acceptance in 2014 to gain the most benefits. On the other hand, we have consulted the Prime Minister and central ministries to support BinhDuongProvince during its facilitation of 50% credit package in offering loans to enterprises affected by the May 13 incident as support for production and business recovery. Thus, by the beginning of Q3 of 2014, such enterprises have settled down their businesses, helping the provincial growth strength to be stronger than previous quarter and well prepared for the upcoming Q4. Such growth has constributed to upgrading GDP of the province in 2014 to 13% of growth rate.

- Sir, what measures would be made by BinhDuongProvince to continue facilitating investors for the time to come?

- The year 2015 is the final year of Binh Duong Provincial Party Committee Congress Resolution for the 2010-2015 tenure; thus, we would be focusing on some fields such as infraconstruction to connect regions and create clear pathway from the South to the North and the East to the West in a bid to offer best conditions for investors to develop their business and production. Particularly in 2015, the province shall keep on investing to the expansion of National Highway No. 13 connection Ho Chi Minh City to the province, on expanding and lengthening My Phuoc – Tan Van Highway to connect the Southern Major Economic Zone to Bau Bang District which is the concentrated industrial and urban development zone of the province; on expansion of DT743 Street to connect the heart of Thu Dau Mot City to North Tan Uyen District and Tan Uyen Town to the Southern Major Economic Zone; on clearing bottle-neck joints in Song Than to shorten cargo transportation routes to regional sea and air ports. Moreover, the provincial authority has paid much attention to strongly develop services, especially premium services for investors and provincial urbanization with encouragement for major enterprises in the province to expand and improve.

- Aside from concentration on infra-construction and services, what measures would the province offer to help the enterprises to stabilize and catch up with investment opportunities, sir?

- The matter of great concern is taking care  for material and spiritual life of majority of factory workers. Currently, about 860,000 immigrant workers are residing in the locality and Binh Duong Province has been promoting and encouraging investors, especially producers in the locality to build up social welfare construction to better service the factory workers. Moreover, the catching up with Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and some other charters under negotiation with European countries and Belarus has been well-prepared. Particularly, the province has planned for industrial park of 300 hectare of clean land lots with capacity of expansion to complete infra-construction to welcome investors in the face of upcoming TPP, especially the auxiliary industries brought about. Currently, the province has accepted plenty of projects of auxiliary industries with continual negotiation for more projects servicing effective investing enterprises upon joining new charters. Generally, advantages prevail but challenges remain. Binh Duong Provincial authorities are determined to make use of available advantages and big chances to develop for the time to come.

- Practical strategies and orientation bring up effective investment luring. So, in 2015, what investment promotion should be concentrated on, sir?

- In 2015, the provincial authorities shall aim at traditional markets such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and some European markets such as Italy and Holland with developmental partnership. Besides, investors, especially major groups, are encouraged to expand its investment activities in the province. Currently, groups such as Tokyu Group and AEON are planning to expand their investment. Negotiations are also being made to call upon more major groups to invest provide that industrial structures are balanced with services and auxiliary industries to increase effectiveness, quality, and competitiveness of Binh Duong Provincial industry for the time to come.

- Thank you!

Reported by T.Minh – Translated by Vi Bao