In recent years, the total value of investment in industrial zones (IZs) and economic zones (EZs) in the province of An Giang has been growing. This shows that the IZs and EZs in An Giang province have been hugely attractive for investors. In an interview with reporter from Vietnam Business Forum Magazine, Head of the Management Board of EZs in An Giang province, Mr Pham Bien Cuong said: "In order to improve the efficiency of investment in the IZs and EZs in the locality, in the near future, An Giang province will focus on the technical infrastructure investment, administrative reform and investment promotion." Luong Han reports.
Could you please specify enterprise supporting activities and investors in the IZs and EZs?
To create an open environment which can attract domestic and foreign investment in IZs and EZs, in addition to the State's policies on investment incentives such as free rent, land use, business income tax, favourable import and export taxes, supportive labour training activities, the province of An Giang also have policies to support investors such as investing in essential infrastructure, supporting 100 percent of the cost setting up IP clearance compensation plan, and supporting 50 percent of the cost of the investment in IP infrastructure plan.
Focal agencies handling administrative procedures for investment projects in EZs in An Giang province are implementing the no red tape policy to process all procedures from investment certificate issuing, sealing, tax code registering, land lease, construction permission issuing, and environmental protection. In the near future, information system and IT applications in solving one-stop administrative procedures in the EZ Management Office will be put into operation to address the procedures in the shortest time and most convenient way, contributing significantly to reducing the cost and time of investors, and creating an open and transparent investment environment.
What can you tell us about the application of new technology at the IZs and EZs in the area in current time, sir?
So far, among the projects granted investment certificates in IZs and EZs, none yet have brought new technology transfer. In the time to come, the EZ Management Board will consider giving priority to projects with high-tech applications, advanced technology to create products with high added value, environment friendly, contributing to socio-economic development, and posing the lowest risk of water and air pollution around production facilities.
Can you share about the future orientation of the IPs and EZs in the province, as well as the specific objectives of this orientation?
To improve the efficiency of investment attraction in the IZs and EZs in the province, in the future, the EZ Management Board of An Giang province will focus on the technical infrastructure investment, administration reform and investment promotion. Particularly in investment promotion, in order to avoid dependence in foreign partners in the footwear and garment industry, the province needs to focus on attracting investment in the processing industry of the province's strong products such as food processing, especially industrial products of high value for export including rice, seafood, vegetables and frozen fruits. In addition, it is essential to develop the mechanical manufacturing industry to contribute to the development of the province’s agriculture towards industrialization.
To effectively attract investment, the EZ Management Board will take advantage of the relations of existing foreign investors to actively contact organizations and look for potential investors in and outside the country in order to attract investment in the strong fields of the provinces mentioned above.
Can you tell us some highlights in the cross-border economic development program of the An Giang in the period of 2011 to 2015? What do you expect of this program, especially in issues concerning border economic activities of An Giang with bordering countries?
In the border economic development program in the period of 2011 to 2015, An Giang province focuses on implementing trade promotion, accessing the Cambodia market and expanding into the region including Myanmar and Laos through main activities such as organizing border fairs, signing agreements, and opening representative office in the centre of the capital of Phnom Penh.
In addition, the province also develops transport infrastructure, invests in traffic construction from the country’s territory to outside the border, actively take advantage of capital from the government to quickly build Vam Cong Bridge connecting Hau River and Highway 1A leading to border gates, constructs Tan An Bridge to replace Tan An Ferry, forms Tan Chau urban area to create urban development corridor, links the provincial road 952, 953 and Tan Chau - Chau Doc part of N1 road, and connects routes from Phnom Penh to Tan Chau, facilitating economic development and cultural exchange between the two countries.
The province will soon begin to build Long Binh bridge crossing Binh Di River, connecting Highway No 2 in Kandal province and the capital of Phnom Penh-Cambodia, leading to Laos and Thailand, to open tourist and commercial routes with Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The province also creates favourable conditions for shipping goods to and from border gates to attract capital investment of domestic and foreign enterprises in border-gate economic zones.
The implementation of the program will contribute to the development of transport infrastructure leading to EZ gates and create policies favourable to attracting investment, developing trade thanks to the policy on export and import duty-free on Cambodian market, contributing to maintaining political security and socioeconomic development for local border areas where conditions are particularly difficult in the province.
Vietnamese
