From the insight of a Thai Entrepreneur and based on the needs of Asian investors to focus on core business rather than infrastructure, environment or paper work, in 1994, Amata Industrial Park (Amata IP) was established in Bien Hoa, Dong Nai Province as a joint venture between Amata Corporation Public Company Limited (Thailand) and Sonadezi Bien Hoa, (Vietnam) with a long-term ambition of making a “perfect city”.
At the beginning, leaders of both sides clearly agreed that the industrial park location would not be driven by cheap land prices, but complex needs for access to transportation, availability of appropriately skilled workers, provision of water and electricity, ability to handle solid and liquid waste, and proximity to executive housing, recreation, clients, services and markets. This long –term vision has brought splendid successes for Amata IP after nearly 20 years in Vietnam.
The second project completed in 2010, Amata Commercial Complex also located in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province, reflects the continuing success of the joint venture. The project adds a shopping centre with office buildings, villas, high-rise apartments and lifestyle facilities to meet the growing demand of people in Bien Hoa City and its vicinity. Amata Commercial Complex, the so called “perfect city,” is a full service industrial state where investors can find available infrastructure such as roads supporting heavy industrial trucks and ready-built factories, water, waste water treatment facilities, phone lines, broadband internet, vehicle leasing, power, housing, shopping, health clinic, schools, and more. In addition, Bien Hoa is also the second-largest city in Vietnam's southern half, in dynamic Dong Nai province close Ho Chi Minh City.
An outstanding advantage of Amata IP is that it is close to Southern seaports, including Saigon Port, Cat Lai Port, and most recently Cai Mep Port, where cargo can be directly transported to the US without trans-shipping via container terminals in Singapore or Hong Kong. The close proximity of key transportation facilities combined with the low operating costs and enthusiastic and well-trained workforce makes Amata the best location for business.
For nearly 20 years, Amata IP has attracted about 128 investors from 17 countries and territories with a total investment capital of over US$1.8 billion, creating a workforce of about 25,000 workers. Among them, Lotte Group (Korea) invested a US$40 million project namely Lotte Mart Bien Hoa in Amata Commercial Complex. Lotte Mart Bien Hoa is one of the most complete commercial centres in Bien Hoa, providing a wide range of merchandise and services as well as entertainment.
In the years to come, Amata Vietnam will continue investing in new industrial cities, especially in Long Thanh district. It is also considering listing on the stock market to expand into new investments in Vietnam. Together with the Government’s available investment incentive policies and its firm measures to regain investor confidence, Amata Vietnam will accompany localities to contribute to the development process of Dong Nai province and the whole country.
Duc Quan
Vietnamese
