Confidently Asserting its Position

The prosperity is attributed to the effective implementation of abundant potentials and advantages. Located in the Mekong Delta region, Dong Thap possesses convenient waterway and overland traffic systems for human and cargo transportation. Especially, the province shares a more than 48-km border with Cambodia and has seven border gates, including the two international border gates of Thuong Phuoc and Dinh Ba. This is a favourable condition for border-gate economic development and cross-border trade between Vietnam and Cambodia.

 

Dong Thap is also the third largest rice producer in Vietnam with an annual total output of more than 3.1 million tonnes. It catches over 350,000 tonnes of fish and 2,000 tonnes of shrimp for processing a year. It also grows many varieties of fruit and food crops. It also keeps more than 38,000 ha of vegetables and short-day crops, and 300 ha of ornamental plants.

 

These favourable factors help Dong Thap develop trade and service. The province is focusing on tapping these strengths for rapid and sustainable development. Mr Le Minh Hoan, Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee, said: In addition to the advantage of material sources, another essential condition to attract investors and businesses is to build infrastructure items in industrial parks. Hence, Dong Thap is building infrastructure and attracting domestic and international investors. The province has planned six industrial zones, including three centralised ones (Tran Quoc Toan, Sa Dec and Song Hau), with 52 investment projects. Not only developing industrial zones, Dong Thap is calling investors to tap the potential and advantages of the border gate economic zone. Covering a natural area of nearly 32,000 ha, this economic zone will house projects of various fields like industry, trade, service, tourism, agriculture, forestry, fishery, and urban zones. This is a hub to connect with other Mekong Delta countries, Cambodia being the first. Currently, the zone has granted an investment certificate for a VND50 billion project.

 

Together with increasingly prospering industry, the trade and service systems in Dong Thap province also progress significantly. The province not only ensures elements that form products but also creates distribution and consumption channels for enterprises. The trade and service systems are appropriately distributed from region to region. Retail turnover expanded 33 percent in 2011 compared with 2010. Export revenues reached US$877 million for the first time, up 54 percent over 2010.

 

In addition to investing in infrastructure development in industrial zones to attract investors, Dong Thap also pays special attention to improving tourism infrastructure. As a major tourism centre in the Mekong Delta region, the province is famous for fantastic specialty dishes and spectacular landscapes. In recent years, with its high focus on restoration and upgrading of tourist sites, the locality diversifies tourism products and activities to enhance its charm in the eyes of tourists far and wide. In 2011 alone, it welcomed 1.3 million visitors and expects to serve approximately 1.46 million visitors in 2012, bringing total tourism revenue to VND198 billion.

 

By promoting all its potential and strengths and reforming administrative procedures, the investment environment of Dong Thap province is more attractive to investors. Apart from helping investors to access initial investment information, the province has reformed a lot of public administration and investment procedures to enhance the accountability of public officials, transparency and publicity of investment policies. All public agencies operate one-door policy with the highest responsibility to customers. Additionally, the province applies the centrally governed policies in the most flexible way to bring most benefits to businesses, especially policies related to tax and credit support. It provides most favourable conditions for enterprises to achieve highest productivity and performance. Especially, the provincial budget funds 50 percent of worker skill training expenses. The province supports businesses to promote trade with activities like free product introduction on the provincial commercial website www.dongthaptrade.com.vn, attending market surveys and joining trade fairs in the country and around the world. Moreover, it provides soft loans, free land rent and free site clearance for scientific and technological projects.

 

In an interview with us, Mr Khuc Quang Dung, Director of Dong Thap Planning and Investment Department, stressed: “On the provincial competitiveness index (PCI) 2011, Dong Thap ranked fourth out of 63 provinces and cities, a very good position. This is the clearest demonstration for the cooperative and friendly attitudes of provincial authorities to the business community. That evidence shows enthusiasm and support to facilitate enterprises to do business and help them deal with problems to obtain highest operating results.”