Belgian Friends with Long Term Vision in Vietnam

Over two decades ago, back in 1994, Mr Filip Martens visited Vietnam with a mission to find new business opportunities for port-related industrial development. He travelled throughout Vietnam and China to a number of cities and provinces from north to south. Mr Martens then met the American Insurance Group (AIG) team in Hanoi, who had signed a MOU with Vietnamese Government to transform a peninsula called Dinh Vu in Haiphong city into an industrial hub. AIG requested Mr Filip Marten to join the project, which he accepted and finally became General Director of Dinh Vu Industrial Zone (DVIZ).

With the expertise and experience in developing ports and industrial zones in different continents from the mother group Rent A Port, Filip Martens saw a huge potential in this region for industrial development, an industrial hub with logistic focus to domestic destinations as well as to international markets through a deep sea port. The project team then started the dream of transforming this peninsula into a 1,000 ha modern Economic Zone. At this time exactly 20 years ago when DVIZ team first initiated the concept of the industrial zone, very few people believed in their dream.

But luckily at that time DVIZ received tremendous support from the leadership of the city, who had the necessary momentum and the ambition to look far ahead, even when knowing that the way forward would not be an easy way. DVIZ took their responsibility at heart and were committed to the strategic plan to lead the city into a successful century.

In 1997, Dinh Vu Development Joint Venture Company, today known as Dinh Vu Industrial Zone Joint Stock Company (DVIZJSC/Deep C), was established to develop an Economic Zone in this area.

Millions of cubic meter sea sand, which were exploited somewhere in the sea 30 km away from the peninsula, were transported and hydraulically pumped to elevate and reclaim hundreds of hectare of front water land. Thousands of meters of sea dyke were built to protect the land from flood, erosion and typhoon. DVIZ at the same time also built roads, power, water and waste water treatment facilities.

The 164 ha first phase of the industrial park was developed with persistent hard work and determination. After 2 years of construction, in 1999, DVIZ welcomed the American investor Chevron Lubricants to be the first tenant of the zone. After that, DVIZ launched its second phase, increasing the total area to 541ha. Since then, Marc Stordiau, Chairman of BOM of Dinh Vu Industrial Zone, continued to actualise the vision of DVIZ/Deep C.

In 2007, when AIG left the Dinh Vu project, their share was taken over by the Belgium government and by IPEM, a group of private investors with reclamation know-how. The majority of the share remained in the hands of Rent A Port Belgium.

The hardship in the early days of development was paid back by the recognition of the world class Detailed Master Plan of the Dinh Vu Industrial Zone approved by the Vietnamese Government, Ministry of Construction in 2010. The industrial zone is supported with the development of the Dinh Vu Port, the expansion of the Cat Bi Airport, the new expressway connecting Hanoi and Haiphong, together with other expressways leading to Quang Ninh, China and also other coastal provinces. Most importantly the Lach Huyen Deep Sea Port is being constructed, and soon will become the biggest port in the north of Vietnam. The Dinh Vu/Deep C Industrial Zones is located right at the centre of these mega-infrastructure developments, linking the city centre and hinterland industries to the gateway port which opens up the north of Vietnam to the world.

This success story illustrates how perseverance and collaboration between a dynamic Belgian company and the city authority turned the big dream ever into reality. With contribution of the Belgian government in the development of the project, the visionary team of Rent A Port has ever since acted as a bridge connecting the governments of Vietnam and Belgium, making DVIZ become a symbol of the strong economic tie and friendship between the two countries. This close relationship has been celebrated by visits of of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to Belgium in 2002 and Belgian Prince Philip in 2012 to Vietnam, and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2014 to Belgium.

Rent A Port is not only doing business in Vietnam, but also caring about cultural exchange. The social and cultural ties between Vietnam and Belgium have also been tightened by various cultural exchange activities such as the annual Belgian beer festival, performance of Belgian artists in Haiphong city in 2015, etc thanks to his efforts.

This year, DVIZ is celebrating its 20 years’ presence in Vietnam with an anniversary in April. The event will mark an important milestone on the company’s path of carrying on its founder’s legacy. It also reflects the passion and love of those Belgian men for the country of Vietnam, where they will further forward their expertise in other respects than industrial zone development.

L.S