Intensifying Support for Enterprises Operating in Industry and Trade

In the industrial sector, Kien Giang currently has five projects registered to invest in industrial zones, bringing the total number of projects registered to 13, in which 8 are of Thanh Loc Industrial Park and 5 are of Thuan Yen Industrial Park. The province is completing investment procedures for two others investing in Thanh Loc Industrial Park, which are a pulp mill and an animal feed processing factory.

 

In 2012, Kien Giang also achieved many positive results in the areas of trade and services, export and tourism. The total retail sales of goods and services of 2012 is estimated at VND41,710.1 billion, up 18.02 percent over 2011. In particular, the state economy rose 15.9 percent, non-state economy increased by 18.1 percent over the same period last year. The province also organised domestic and foreign exhibitions which attracted many local enterprises to participate. Moreover, the province actively responded to the national programme “bringing Vietnamese products to rural areas”.

 

In 2012, the total exports of the province reached about US$620 million, of which agricultural products earned US$438 million, and seafood US$157 million. The main exports of Kien Giang are rice, which reached 1 million tonnes; frozen shrimp, 2,700 tonnes; and frozen fish, 200 tonnes in 2012.

 

The province has also paid due attention to investment promotion activities supporting the development of industry and trade. In 2012, the province organised many cooperation activities, creating good conditions for investors from Japan, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea to do business in the province.

 

Mr Huynh Van Ganh, Director of Kien Giang Department of Industry and Trade, said that the local industry and trade sector has been greatly contributing to local economic growth, helping the province to grow 11.81 percent in 2012.

 

Besides the results achieved, there still exist some difficulties in the industry and trade area of the province. Agriculture production, especially food production, is high but the export value of farm produce such as rice, and fisheries declines sharply. Prices of inputs increase while product consumption is slowing and inventory is increasing. Bank interest rates have been reduced but remain unaffordable for many businesses, especially those in seafood. Construction work is still facing many problems, particularly the clearance and resettlement arrangement. Many projects are delayed due to slow capital disbursement. The reform of administrative procedures of the province is making progress, but the quality has not improved much.

 

To overcome these challenges, in 2013, Kien Giang will focus on promoting investment in sectors with much potential and advantages.

 

Accordingly, in industrial sector, the province will implement policies on supporting tax, credit and land to develop supporting industries. Also the province will focus on overcoming difficulties and obstacles in order to accelerate the process of investment in infrastructure of industrial zones like Thanh Loc, Thuan Yen. In addition, it will deploy the market project in Ha Tien border gate economic zone. At the same time, the province will check and adjust industrial park planning, pilot studies to develop rice processing industry by waterways, effectively implement the program of developing processing industry and agricultural and fisheries exports.

 

To support enterprises in exports, the province will focus trade investment promotion, strengthen export markets, open new markets with high purchasing power, support enterprises to expand production, develop domestic and foreign markets, increase the rate of export of products of high value, and restrict exports of raw products. In the domestic market, the province continues to promote the “Vietnamese use Vietnamese goods” campaign and build projects under the national trade promotion program to bring Vietnamese goods to rural and border areas.