Lao Cai is expanding its industrial development space with a series of large-scale industrial park infrastructure projects.
Along with investment capital, the issue of concern to workers and local people is job opportunities when projects are completed.
In the first 6 months of 2026, the Lao Cai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board has advised the Provincial People's Committee to approve the investment policy and at the same time approve investors for 5 industrial park infrastructure projects, with a total area of about 1,255 ha and a total registered capital of nearly 14,000 billion VND.
Projects include Ban Qua Industrial Park, Phu Xuan, Phu Xuan 1, Vo Lao and Cam Duong.
In which, Vo Lao Industrial Park has the largest area with 482.6 ha, with an investment capital of more than 5,171 billion VND.
When industrial parks go into stable operation, it is expected to create about 31,600 - 42,200 more jobs.
Manpower demand is not only concentrated in factories but also spreads to logistics, transportation, warehousing, commerce, services and supporting industries.
Recorded by reporters in Gia Phu area after the groundbreaking ceremony of Phu Xuan and Phu Xuan 1 Industrial Park on August 26, many people believe that the formation of a large-scale industrial park will open up more job opportunities on the spot.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, a resident of Gia Phu commune, said that in the past, many young workers in the area had to find jobs in other localities.
When the industrial park is completed, she hopes that businesses will recruit local workers, especially jobs suitable for people who do not have high skills.
With factories and businesses coming to invest, people will have more jobs right near their homes. If they are trained in vocational skills to meet recruitment requirements, the opportunities will be better," Ms. Mai shared.
Phu Xuan and Phu Xuan 1 industrial parks have a total area of 500 hectares, with a total registered investment capital of 5,462 billion VND, invested by Linh Linh Industrial Joint Stock Company.
Infrastructure is expected to be constructed in 2027 and put into business and exploitation from the first quarter of 2028. This will be a land fund to attract production, processing, manufacturing, supporting industries and logistics projects.
The project location has the potential to connect with IC17 intersection, Tang Loong Industrial Park, Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line and important traffic axes.
According to the Lao Cai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, the development of industrial park infrastructure is an important preparation step to attract secondary projects.
When businesses invest, recruitment demand will increase, thereby creating more jobs and contributing to the shift in labor structure in the locality.
Not only Phu Xuan and Phu Xuan 1, the remaining 3 new industrial parks are also expected to create more momentum for the labor market.
Industrial parks are oriented to develop in a green, ecological direction, attracting high value-added production industries.
According to calculations, when 5 industrial parks operate stably, the value of industrial production may increase by about 47,000 - 69,000 billion VND/year, contributing over 11,000 billion VND to the budget and creating about 31,600 - 42,200 jobs.
For local people, the effectiveness of trillion-dong projects does not only lie in the figures on investment capital or industrial land area.
What is expected are specific, stable job positions and opportunities for Lao Cai workers to work and increase income right in their hometown.
