Industrial zones have been left unused for years, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

An industrial park left unused in Thai Nguyen Province 

The ministry reported that by late June, the country was home to 336 industrial zones covering a total area of 97,800 hectares. Among those, 261 have been put into operation, while 75 others were at site clearance stage.

Meanwhile, the country has 17 coastal economic zones located on a total area of 845,000 hectares.

The ministry added that the coverage rate of industrial parks and economic zones has tended to be on the gradual rise.

By the end of June, the rate of industrial parks’ coverage was 76%, up 3% by late 2018 and 9% against late 2015.

However, a report conducted by CBRE Vietnam indicated that the occupancy rate of industrial parks in many provinces remains low with just 58% in the south and 76% in the north. The list includes Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Ha Nam, Thai Binh, Quang Ninh, Tay Ninh and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Meanwhile, a range of industrial parks in provinces such as Thai Nguyen, Hai Duong, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien-Hue and Dak Lak and those in the Mekong Delta region have been left idle for years.

By the end of June last year, industrial parks and economic zones in Vietnam attracted 340 foreign investment projects with total registered capital of USD8.7 billion, while the domestic figure was VND82.9 trillion in 334 projects.