Haiphong is a coastal city, located in the northern economic triangular axis (Hanoi-Haiphong-Quang Ninh). The city possesses high development potential for sea transportation, heavy industry, mechanics, shipbuilding, seafood processing, footwear, and garment and textiles. The city is situated in a convenient position for transportation to domestic provinces and international networks via road, rail, sea, inland waterway, and air, making it an ideal destination for both local and foreign investors.
Presently, Haiphong has projects planned for two industrial parks and one export processing zone: Nomura-Haiphong Industrial Zone, Dinh Vu Industrial Park and Haiphong '96 Export Processing Zone. These three projects were approved by the Government following Decree No. 36/CP, 24 April 1997 of the Government on Industrial Zones, Export Processing Zones and High-Tech Zones and are managed by Haiphong Export Processing and Industrial Zone Authority (HEPIZA). Among them, Nomura Industrial Zone has already become open to investors while construction on Dinh Vu IZ and Haiphong 96 Export Processing are soon to be completed.
Capitalized at US$137 million, the Nomura-Haiphong Industrial Park is considered the best in Vietnam in terms of the sophistication of its infrastructure facilities. The Nomura IZ is situated five kilometers away from National Highway 5, 13km from downtown Haiphong, 15km from Haiphong port, and 20km from Cat Bi airport. Covering an area of 153 hectares of land in An Duong district, the IZ has a furnished infrastructure system with an independent power station of 50 MW, a wastewater treatment plant, a telephone switchboard of 2,000 lines and other public facilities such as post office, clinic, bank, and Customs Branch Office as well. Thanks to these, Nomura Hai Phong Industrial Zone has a lot of favorable conditions for hi-tech projects involved in precise engineering, electricity, and electronics.
With a total area of 982 hectares, Dinh Vu Economic Zone is strategically located downstream seven kilometers away from Haiphong, three kilometers from Cat Bi airport, 8km from the railway line, and around 5km from Haiphong port. The zone is one of the few with direct deep water shipping access, paving the way for projects involving in heavy industry, chemical and petrochemical industries, and mechanics.
Established in June 1997 under license No. 506/GP issued on January 12, 1993 by the State Committee for Cooperation and Investment, the Haiphong 96 is a joint venture between Asia Glorious Development Company of Hong Kong and Hai Phong Construction and Infrastructure Development Company with a total registered capital of US$75 million. Covering an approximate area of 150 hectares of land in Kien Thuy and Do Son township, the EPZ has installed a water supply system with capacity of 9,000 cubic meters per day. The EPZ is calling for small and medium-scaled investment projects involved in clean industries.
The HEPIZA has so far applied the "one-door" policy mechanism in order to promote both foreign and domestic investment into industrial and export processing zones in Haiphong. Specifically, processing of application documents for Investment Licenses shall be minimized to between 1 and 7 days (in comparison to 15 days as regulated by law), issuance of export - import permits within 1 to 3 days (in comparison to 7 to 15 days as regulated by law). In addition, Hai Phong People's Committee shall be responsible for training labourers free-of-charge to meet Grade 2 skills (according to the existing regulations of the Government of Vietnam) for projects upon request by the investors at city's vocational training units.
Thanks to these, Dinh Vu IZ has to date attracted five local investors with total investment capital of VND762.7 billion. The HEPIZA had lured as many as 52 FDI projects worth US$374.5 million from 2001 to 2004 and 42 of which have been put into operation with an investment of US$164.9 million.
The HEPIZA has so far this year attracted additional 17 projects registering a total capital of US$80.9 million and allowed 15 others to raise their chartered capitals by US$49.8 million, increasing the total FDI capital to US$130.7 million in the past eleven months of this year, up 122.37 against the same period last year.
Taking advantage of its geographic position and other economic potentials, the HEPIZA is a promising location for all domestic and foreign investors.
Luu Hiep
Vietnamese
