Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang pay a working visit to a cutting-edge semiconductor chip factory, September 2023

After 20 years of operation (December 2003 - December 2023), how has the Bac Giang Industrial Zones Authority evolved?

From a purely agricultural province, Bac Giang began developing industrial parks in 2003, starting with 98-ha Dinh Tram Industrial Park in Viet Yen district (now Viet Yen Town). After 20 years of development, the province has nine industrial parks with a total area of 2,200 hectares approved for construction by the Prime Minister. The occupancy rate is 78%. In 2023, Bac Giang attracted over US$3 billion of investment capital, ranking 4th nationwide. The province currently has 487 valid projects (373 FDI projects and 114 DDI projects) with a total registered capital of US$9.91 billion and VND18,199 billion.

In the first two months of 2024 alone, industrial parks attracted eight new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with US$89.53 million and two industrial park infrastructure investment projects with capital of VND3,072.7 billion and saw 41 existing projects to revise their investment fund. To date, the province’s industrial parks have attracted 496 projects which have invested US$7.25 billion and VND11,818 billion (US$506 million).

As many as 424 tenants in industrial parks are in operation and making significant contributions to local socioeconomic development. In 2023, their production value rose 54.5% year on year to VND453,000 billion (nearly US$20 billion), accounting for 84% of the province's industrial production value, and their export value was US$22.05 billion, up 9% year on year. They are hiring over 190,000 workers.

These results come from drastic actions of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Council and the Provincial People’s Committee towards developing the industry, building transportation infrastructure systems linked to industrial parks and upgrading roads connected with neighboring provinces such as Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Thai Nguyen and Hai Duong. In the coming time, the province will continue to promote the development of industrial parks. However, it also raises many problems that need to be resolved and sets new requirements for investment attraction, management and operation.

Mr. Phan The Tuan, Vice Chairman of Bac Giang Provincial People’s Committee, presents the investment certificate to the investor of the expanded Phuc Son and Viet Han Industrial Park, March 2024

To further boost industrial park development, in 2024, how will the Bac Giang Industrial Zones Authority continue to “focus on improving the investment and business environment, with focus on enhancing leadership capacity, operation, innovative thinking and substantive actions” as per Directive No. 26/CT-TU dated June 2, 2023 of the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee?

In 2024, the authority will continue to focus on improving the investment environment, quickly resolving administrative procedures, understanding and resolving difficulties and obstacles for businesses, and at the same time direct investors to speed up infrastructure construction in industrial parks in order to provide a clean land fund for investors. With assigned functions and tasks, the authority will enhance its advisory capacity, quickly and promptly respond to emerging problems, and increase knowledge and experience exchanges.

The authority will also concentrate on thoroughly carrying out “three daring actions” (daring to say, daring to do and daring to take responsibility for the common good); “three better methods” (more drastic, more flexible and more effective) and “five clear aspects” (clear people, clear work, clear progress, clear responsibility and clear outcomes) in the spirit of Directive No. 26/CT-TU dated June 2, 2023 of the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee. Special attention is paid to building a strong force of responsible, friendly, expert employees with a good command of foreign languages as well as accompanying investors.

The authority will gradually build a two-way connected information system with businesses; capture recommendations and feedback; promptly provide supporting information, guidelines and policies for businesses, and at the same time make a list of key investment projects in industrial parks to advise and propose business support policies and mechanisms to competent authorities.

In addition, the agency will research and advise on promoting the role of infrastructure investors in industrial zones; effectively appraise and select investors; work out a plan to engage infrastructure investors to solve water drainage and fire prevention in industrial parks; and coordinate with agencies to perform state management functions in industrial parks.

Could you please tell us how Bac Giang is focusing on developing new-generation green eco-industrial parks and forming innovative industrial parks?

Currently, Bac Giang is focusing on developing multi-industry industrial parks, with emphasis on high-tech, eco-friendly and resource-extensive industries. In appraising industrial park plans, the province will pay attention to the green tree system to make sure that the green space will account for least minimum of 12% of the industrial park area, main roads have at least four lanes and wide cross junctions and the power grid will be placed underground to ensure landscape beauty.

Industrial park development in the province will be placed in the adjacent industrial - urban - service park ecosystem and follow the green and sustainable growth policy of the province.

Thank you very much!