Officials from Đà Nẵng City and the Germany Business Association join a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony on investment promotion. The city has called for investors from Germany in hi-tech industries, logistics and IT. – VNS Photo Công Thành

ĐÀ NẴNG – The Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) of Đà Nẵng and the Germany Business Association (GBA) have agreed to promote investment and field study exchange as well as business connections among businesses in the two countries.

The proposal was discussed at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony in the central city last week between the two partners, offering investment opportunities for business partnerships between Germany and Đà Nẵng in hi-tech industries, human resources training, information technology, logistics and seaport development.

Director IPA, Huỳnh Thị Liên Phương said the investment from Germany to Đà Nẵng was still small with 11 projects worth US$10.3 million – just 1 per cent of the total FDI projects in the city.

A worker is completing an electronic product at a factory in the Đà Nẵng Hi-Tech Park. The city has been building an IT Park as the 'Silicon Valley' of Việt Nam. – Photo courtesy of Trung Nam Group

She said the city had been calling for the development of a deep seaport and logistics zone, as well as an airport to boost connections of multi-transport logistics industries.

Phương said the MoU would open the doors to possible investment projects from Germany in the micro-mechatronic engineering, precision electronics equipment production, sensors and software industries.

German businesses are operating in Đà Nẵng creating sports shoes and sewing machine batteries.

The Cen­tral Agen­cy for Ger­man Schools Abroad (ZfA) developed a pilot German teaching project at two junior secondary schools in the city in 2016, according to IPA.

Elmar Dutt, GBA Co-Chairman, said the association started activities in Việt Nam in 1995, and the GBA has been the focal point of German business life, culture, and values in Việt Nam for 28 years.

“We have helped German businesses in developing their operations in a wide range of fields and created opportunities for business and social exchange across Việt Nam.

“GBA – one of the founding members of EuroCham Việt Nam – has more than 350 members. Over 700 German enterprises call Việt Nam their home, creating around 100,000 jobs and investing directly and indirectly to the country to the tune of US$10 billion,” said Elmar Dutt.

He noted that energy security was a major pain point in parts of Việt Nam and the GBA encouraged all provinces to increase resilience and ensure the stability of electricity supply to increase attractiveness for foreign investors.

Environmental protection and sustainability should also be priorities of all local, provincial, and national level government agencies. Pollution and other harms to the environment must be eliminated by regulations and more efficient enforcement, he said.

He urged simplifying and digitalising administrative procedures, in particular in the areas of customs, cross-border finance and operations.

“Our members face daily challenges in these areas resulting in delays, avoidable costs and a slow down of business activities. Some examples are red tape on promotions that involve discounts, VAT refunds, and customs clearance,” he shared.

He explained that it should eliminate local testing requirements for European Certified products in all sectors to foster free trade with the European Union. This would also make it easier to import necessary machinery and parts.

Elmar Dutt called for further easing of licensing, work permits and visas.

Cranes working on a berth at Tiên Sa Port in Đà Nẵng City. Seaport development and logistics need more investment from domestic and foreign sources. –VNS Photo by Công Thành

According to IPA, Đà Nẵng saw a boom in the development of household rooftop solar power, but this was halted by a blockage in policy from the government.

Germany plans to open a representative office in Đà Nẵng to boost cooperation and investment in the central coastal city and central region.

Last year, the IPA and Bremen's economic development agency BremenInvest signed an MoU on cooperation and investment promotion.

Vice Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, Hồ Kỳ Minh committed that the city had been calling for stronger and deeper investment from Germany and European countries in seaport development, infrastructure, hi-tech industry, education, and IT.

Minh said the city would create optimal conditions for German businesses seeking investment opportunities in the long-term in Đà Nẵng.

Earlier this year, Đà Nẵng had investment promotions with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Japan, and the UK.

Đà Nẵng and the UK city of Birmingham signed minutes on cooperation in five key sectors – economics, trade and investment; digital infrastructure construction, innovation and technology and fintech; education and training; sustainable development and circular economy; and sports, tourism and cultural exchanges – in March.

Six IZs and a high-tech park have attracted 503 projects, including 130 FDI worth $1.8 billion and VNĐ27.56 trillion ($1.2 billion) from domestic investors.

The US-based aviation firm Universal Alloy Corporation, as well as Korea’s LG Electronics, have already started their operation in Đà Nẵng, while Samsung Việt Nam has launched its Innovation Campus in the city.