4 Northeast provinces and cities unite in Hai Phong City

This is one of a series of programs to realize the "Eastern Expressway Economic Connection Cooperation Agreement" signed on July 28, 2022, by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and 4 provinces of Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh.

Accordingly, the four provinces and cities agreed to build economic links based on promoting the potential and advantages of each locality, increasing growth rate, and economic development and forming a growth pole in the Red River Delta.

When united, the 4 provinces and cities will have full potential and conditions to form a dynamic economic development area such as having a large international seaport (in Hai Phong), land and sea border gates with the world's largest market - China (in Quang Ninh), an international airport (in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh), an abundant human resources (in Hai Duong and Hung Yen) and a large and potential economic development space (as in Hai Duong and Hung Yen).

The forum is held with the expectation of providing a comprehensive picture of investment and infrastructure development of industrial parks (IZs), industrial clusters of provinces and cities on the Eastern Expressway axis for investors, investment promotion organizations and related organizations.

At the same time, creates favourable conditions for businesses in 4 provinces and cities located on the Eastern expressway axis to the joint venture, association, and connect to effectively exploit investment resources, facilities of each unit, source of goods, and other support services.

Thereby, it will help expand the service supply network, improve competitiveness, and reduce transportation costs and intermediary costs of businesses in the domestic and global supply chain.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tung - Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee said that Hai Phong is identified as a growth pole of the Northern key economic triangle; it has many advantages in linkage and regional economic development. In the period 2021 - 2022, the city growth rate reached an average of nearly 13%/year, twice the growth rate of the whole country.

In the first six months of 2023 alone, the GRDP growth rate reached nearly 10%, the provincial competitiveness index was ranked 3rd and the administrative reform index ranked 2nd in the country.

Currently, the city has the Dinh Vu - Cat Hai economic zone, with more than 22,500 ha and 14 industrial parks with over 6,000 ha, the average occupancy rate is over 60%. At present, it has attracted $ 38 billion in investment, mainly from businesses in Korea, Japan and Vingroup.

In the past time, although the investment attraction of the four localities was relatively good, there was still a rather large gap compared to the major economic centres. Service quality and professionalism are not consistent and they have not been able to create a continuous chain of logistics activities.

Therefore, the forum will contribute to promoting the socio-economic development of all 4 localities, will help 4 localities overcome local difficulties, and link their strengths. The forum will also assist the 4 localities in overcoming isolation in local policy planning and implementation and promote regional and inter-regional transport infrastructure connectivity.

In addition, through the forum, localities share good experiences in state management, especially in developing and connecting infrastructure of industrial zones. At the same time, it solves the inadequacies in attracting investment and managing environmental resources and social issues among localities.

As of July 2023, in the provinces and cities on the Eastern Expressway axis, there are 87 economic zones and industrial parks, of which Hai Duong has 24 industrial parks with a total area of about 4,508 ha. Hai Phong has 1 Dinh Vu - Cat Hai economic zone and 25 industrial parks with a total area of 12,702 ha. Quang Ninh has 5 economic zones (including 3 border gate economic zones, and 2 coastal economic zones) and 16 industrial zones, with a total area of about 388,671 ha. Hung Yen's 17 industrial parks have an area of 4,395.43 ha.