This summer, Quang Ngai People’s Committee approved the investment attraction list to implement a series of infrastructure projects in into next year. The 33 ventures calling for financing in the central province are mainly in transport infrastructure, environment, and health.

Quang Ngai is boosting its transport infrastructure and connections

Specifically, there are four projects in the health sector; five in services and tourism; six in the environment; 10 in urban infrastructure, services, and trade; six industrial infrastructure schemes; and two industrial sector projects.

The transport infrastructure system requiring financing covers an area of ​​up to 270 hectares in Binh Son district. The available land is adjacent to Chu Lai Airport and next to Dung Quat Seaport with a convenient road and railway infrastructure adjacent to National Highway No.1, Danang-Quang Ngai Expressway, and the North-South Railway.

In addition, a 75-hectare land area in Dung Quat Economic Zone (EZ) is calling for investors in the Dung Quat North Port Logistics Urban Area.

Nguyen Phong, director of Quang Ngai Department of Transport, said that promoting a regional logistics centre in Dung Quat EZ was a major part of turning the entire region into a hub combining multiple modes of transport.

Moreover, Quang Ngai is hoping to build satellite logistics centres to support regional logistics centres in localities, at locations connecting to the North-South Expressway.

“The establishment of the logistics centre in Dung Quat will meet the needs of fast and economical transport of goods when convenient roads are built, including Quang Ngai-Kon Tum and Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon expressways, express roads, and Quang Ngai-Quang Nam Expressway,” Phong said.

Nguyen Van Trong, director of Quang Ngai Department of Planning and Investment, said that local leaders invariably consider creating a healthy funding environment as a top priority, so the province held an important position for domestic and foreign investors.

“Quang Ngai has been creating a good attraction for capital flows. Besides Dung Quat Oil Refinery, Doosan Heavy Industries, and Hoa Phat, the presence of Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park is a critical factor in creating an investment environment for the province,” Trong said.

Economist Tran Dinh Thien said the development of Quang Ngai was aided by Dung Quat EZ, which is one of the first marine EZs in Vietnam, and would develop the petrochemical and heavy industries.

“The presence of Vietnam’s first oil refinery in this zone has created a huge attraction for capital flows, including Doosan and Hoa Phat Steel Plant. The success of these renowned companies has created momentum and shaped the development direction for Quang Ngai over the coming years,” Thien said.

Funding infrastructure

Tran Phuoc Hien, Vice Chairman of Quang Ngai People’s Committee, said that to solidify the tasks set out in development towards 2030, the province has proposed to fund numerous crucial traffic projects.

Currently, Quang Ngai has started Hoang Sa-Doc Soi road with total funding of VND3.5 trillion ($149 million), directly connecting the centre of Quang Ngai city with Dung Quat EZ.

“After completion, it will contribute to completing the province’s road traffic network, forming an important vertical traffic axis of the region, connecting quickly and conveniently from Chu Lai Airport and Dung Quat EZ to Quang Ngai city and southern localities,” Hien said.

Going forward, Quang Ngai will implement Tra Khuc 1 Bridge at a cost of more than $89 million, spanning Tra Khuc River connecting the north and south banks of Quang Ngai city.

“This is an infrastructure undertaking that not only solves the traffic problem but is also a driving force and a highlight for the urban area,” he said.

In addition, the plan also updates the funding outlook for the eastern portion of the North-South Expressway that has been funded through this province, including Danang-Quang Ngai and Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon expressways.

Business opportunities in Quang Ngai will be more open when there is a clear economic development framework for infrastructure as a strategic vision.

Nguyen Phong, director of Quang Ngai Department of Transport said, “The province will study the construction of Quang Ngai-Kon Tum Expressway when it is added to the nation’s road network planning, ensuring resource allocation and current regulations, to increase connectivity in the Central Highlands region.”

Planning opens the door

The Quang Ngai overall planning towards 2030, approved in November 2023, has widened prospects for investment in numerous fields.

The plan aims to make Quang Ngai a relatively developed province with an average income per capita at least equal to the national average. Notably, a national centre for refining, petrochemicals, and energy will be built in Dung Quat EZ, while Ly Son island district will become a centre for sea and island tourism.

The blueprint also indicates the development directions of key industries in the province. Quang Ngai continues to exploit its strengths and potential in key industrial sectors like petrochemicals, chemicals, metallurgy and mechancal engineering, and promote environmentally friendly development.

Quang Ngai continues to pour money into completing and developing infrastructure in major industrial zones, especially Dung Quat EZ. The connection between Dung Quat and Chu Lai Open EZs will be promoted to form a key coastal industrial centre of the central coastal region.

The trade and service sector will develop tourism into a key economic sector with the core of the Ly Son Sea-Island Tourism Centre and experiential tourism related to the culture, history, and core values ​​of Quang Ngai.

Quang Ngai is also developing a synchronous, modern, and convenient logistics system to become a multimodal transport and transit logistics centre connecting the Central region, the Central Highlands, and Southeast Asian countries, as well as a gateway for transporting goods across the East Sea.