Congratulations to Long An province for achieving comprehensive results in 2024 and being a bright spot in attracting investment nationwide. Could you please share about the province's outstanding investment attraction activities in recent times?
Mr. Huynh Van Son: To attract effective investment capital and create a sustainable competitive advantage, the investment environment must be truly open, equal and safe. In recent times, the province's investment promotion activities have been proactively implemented with many flexible and innovative forms, closely following effective economic diplomacy policies, contributing to enhancing the position, stature and prestige of Long An province with international friends.
During the year, the provincial leaders received and worked with 10 delegations of diplomatic agencies; allowed 177 delegations of international corporations and organizations to come and work to explore investment opportunities in the province; organized 6 delegations of provincial leaders to promote investment abroad; successfully organized many investment promotion conferences, both domestically and internationally, with the participation of large enterprises from many countries such as Japan, Korea, Singapore and European countries...
In particular, the provincial leaders proactively “knocked on the door” of large domestic corporations and directly went to many countries around the world to approach and invite investment in Long An. This is also an important factor demonstrating the receptiveness of the provincial government and a plus point to help Long An attract investment effectively.
In addition, Long An has focused on preparing conditions to be ready to receive investment such as: improving the quality of human resources; completing the infrastructure of industrial clusters to create clean land funds; investing in intra-provincial and inter-regional transport infrastructure to help reduce operating costs of enterprises and increase competitiveness.
The work of improving the investment and business environment is carried out synchronously and drastically; there are regular dialogues with enterprises; the province's special working group regularly meets, listens to, and promptly resolves enterprises' problems in the production and business process... focusing on administrative reform, increasing support for investors from the project preparation stage, construction implementation to production and business activities, creating an open, favorable, and safe environment.
Thanks to this companionship, Long An has become an attractive destination for investors, attracting many high-tech, environmentally friendly projects, in line with the orientation of sustainable development.
Could you tell us more about Long An's outstanding achievements in improving the investment environment for businesses?
Mr. Huynh Van Son: First of all, the province's business investment environment has clearly improved, with many indexes increasing in rank such as: Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) ranked 2nd; Administrative Reform Index (PAR INDEX) ranked 8th; Provincial Green Index (PGI) ranked 12th, Local Innovation Index (PII) ranked 12th... Long An was also voted as one of the Top 10 localities attracting large enterprises in 2024 by Vietnam Report Magazine.
That result is also one of the competitive advantages that helps Long An effectively attract many investment flows into the province. During the year, the number of newly established enterprises increased by over 2,300 enterprises, with charter capital of over 23 trillion VND; received many domestic and foreign investment projects with over 187 trillion VND, with many projects with large investment capital in the fields of industry, trade and services having been started, typically: Suntory Pepsi Vietnam Beverage Factory, Aeon Tan An Trade Center, Thai Tuan Textile Finishing Factory, urban areas of Ecopark, VinGroup,...
According to the report of the Foreign Investment Agency, the total foreign direct investment (FDI) capital in Long An reached over 14.2 billion USD with 1,483 projects, accounting for over 71% of the number of projects and over 38% of the registered FDI capital in the Mekong Delta. With this result, Long An continues to maintain its position in the top 10 provinces and cities nationwide in attracting FDI.
With innovations in investment promotion and improvement of the investment environment, the province continues to affirm itself as an attractive destination for domestic and foreign enterprises. Currently, Long An has received investment capital from 41 countries and territories, of which investors from Korea, Japan, and Singapore account for a large proportion.
What are the priority areas for attracting investment in Long An, sir?
Mr. Huynh Van Son: Long An province focuses on attracting investment in the following areas: High-tech industry, electronic components manufacturing, microchips, semiconductor technology, agricultural processing, automobile industry, pharmaceutical industry, medical equipment, biotechnology. Development of ecological urban complexes, smart cities. Logistics; Trade centers, entertainment services, golf courses. Renewable energy, green energy. Organic agriculture, high-tech agricultural models combined with eco-tourism. Cooperation in training high-quality workers to serve industrial development, especially training human resources for the development of the semiconductor industry.
What will Long An do to continue to be a bright spot attracting investment?
Mr. Huynh Van Son: To continue improving the investment environment and attracting large domestic and foreign enterprises, the province first focuses on effectively implementing the provincial planning plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, ensuring "whatever is done, it is solid".
Second, mobilize and effectively use all resources to build a socio-economic infrastructure system; prioritize key transport projects with inter-regional and inter-provincial connectivity; soon form 6 dynamic axes as stated in the planning to help promote trade connectivity.
Third, proactively prepare conditions to attract investment; focusing on completing infrastructure of industrial parks, infrastructure outside the fence, training high-quality human resources, building workers' housing, etc.
Fourth, continue to implement solutions to synchronously improve the following indicators: PCI, PGI, PII, PAPI, PAR INDEX, SIPAS; ensure a healthy, equal, transparent investment environment, attract diverse resources, and promptly concretize the goals set out in the provincial planning.
Fifth, proactively approach large, potential investors with the motto: "Create opportunities instead of waiting for investors to come"; flexibly promote investment activities, be creative, focused and specialized to adapt to each market and each time.
Sixth, the province has agreed on the common viewpoint of "always accompanying businesses"; from there, all levels and sectors have implemented many practical solutions with higher determination, thoroughly resolving "bottlenecks" and "bottlenecks", and proactively adapting with businesses in the new situation.
By synchronously and effectively implementing the above solutions, it is expected that Long An province will create a new breakthrough in attracting investment capital, contributing to the successful implementation of the province's socio-economic development goals and improving the quality of people's lives.
Thank you!
