Investment showcase for Hau Giang
Investment showcase for Hau Giang
The Hau Giang People’s Committee is the organiser of a conference seeking to promote investment in the province within the framework of the Mekong Delta Economic Co-operation Forum (MDEC) Hau Giang during July 11-15. On this occasion, Lu Van Hung, member of the Central Party Committee and Chairman of the Hau Giang People’s Committee, talked with VIR’s Huu Phuc about the event’s main goals and recent improvements in the province’s business climate.
Would you shed some light on the MDEC Hau Giang 2016’s main goals?
Under the title “Hau Giang- Active Integration and Sustainable Development”, the MDEC Hau Giang 2016 expects to attract about 300 delegates including government leaders, members of the MDEC Steering Committee, representatives of authorised government agencies and several Ho Chi Minh City-based foreign diplomatic and business organisations, as well as domestic and foreign investors and businesses. The event seeks to promote the image, potential and advantages of Hau Giang and its investment project wish-list to outsiders.
The role of businesses in spurring local socio-economic development will be lauded, and the provincial leaders will also confer certificates of merit on Hau Giang’s traditional businesses at the conference.
What business fields will be prioritised for investment at the event?
At the MDEC Hau Giang 2016, the province will unveil a list of 33 priority projects for domestic and foreign investment, valued at about $666 million in the total investment capital. Of these, special attention will be given to projects making use of the province’s natural advantages such as food and agricultural processing, high-tech agriculture, and trade-tourism development. Investment will also be promoted in the fields of biotechnology, information technology, nano technology, electronics, clean energy industries, transport infrastructure development, power, water, waste treatment industries, and the manufacture of machinery as import substitutes.
What advantages have set Hau Giang apart in attracting investment compared to other neighbouring locations?
Like most other Mekong Delta provinces, Hau Giang abounds with agricultural and seafood resources and is proud of its abundant workforce, which makes up 72 per cent of the province’s population. Another advantage is its proximity to Can Tho city- an economic, financial, and science-technology centre in the Mekong Delta with a comprehensive infrastructure network. These include the Cai Cui port, Can Tho international port, an extensive system of colleges and universities, vocational training facilities, regional level hospitals as well as diversified financial, banking, insurance, trade and entertainment services. On top of the benefits from Can Tho city’s comprehensive social and economic infrastructure, investment projects in Hau Giang are entitled to receive the highest regulated incentives in tax, land rent and others, as most of the provincial towns and districts are specified as areas with difficult conditions for socio-economic development.
What steps has the province taken to tap its potential?
From the beginning, Hau Giang has committed to building industrial clusters and parks (ICs and IPs) to woo new investors. To date, the province is home to two IPs, Song Hau IP first phase in Chau Thanh district and Tan Phu Thach IP in Chau Thanh A district. The 291 hectare Song Hau IP is well situated as it lies along the Hau River, next to Cai Cui port and just 15 kilometres away from Can Tho international airport. With its inclusive infrastructure this IP has succeeded in leasing out 83 per cent of its area to 15 different investment projects.
For its part, the 202ha Tan Phu Thach IP is only 10km away from Can Tho city centre. The IP reports around a 70 per cent occupancy rate and accommodates 26 domestic and foreign investors. In addition, the province consists of several ICs which are located next to Can Tho city, very convenient for road and waterway transport.
Aside from planning and building ICs and IPs, Hau Giang has poured investment into developing technical and transport infrastructure, pushing administrative reforms, enhancing competitiveness, improving its business and investment climate and stepping up efforts for investment and image promotion activities.
Is there any additional support for investors doing business in Hau Giang?
In light of its social and economic development orientation, Hau Giang always ensures favourable conditions for production and business development, laying the groundwork to promote local economic transformation and tap the province’s many advantages. Besides regulated common incentives, investors in Hau Giang will receive additional support such as support with cleared land handover for project implementation, technology transfer, encouragement in science-technology activities, labour training, business registration, and promotion costs.
