Ha Nam vows good business climate

Speaking at an economic-investment promotion forum, Mai Tien Dung, the Ha Nam Party Secretary and People's Council Chairman, said the province was seeking investment in industry, healthcare and education, tourism, and agriculture.

It would give priority for projects using advanced and environmentally-friendly technologies especially in industries like vehicle assembly, electrical manufacturing, electronics, telecom, IT, supporting industries, foodstuffs, and agricultural processing.

It sought investment in hi-tech agriculture, dairy farming based on industrial models, organic farming, and agricultural research and development.

In healthcare and education, it was seeking investment to build a regional-level healthcare centre and the Nam Cao University and vocational training schools.

It wanted investors to build infrastructure for its four proposed industrial parks.

Investors were welcome in the tourism and service sectors and urban development, and were encouraged to build infrastructure for the Tam Chuc tourism area, including entertainment, commercial, and high-end accommodation facilities.

In return it would create favourable conditions for investors through a mix of incentives related to land lease, infrastructure, administrative procedures, and taxes; labour training and recruitment support; and others.

"The province will focus on further improving its investment environment to enable it to become a friendly, attractive and competitive destination in the region."

Vuong Dinh Hue, member of the Central Party Committee and head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Economic Affairs, said besides its great advantages in terms of strategic location and natural and human resources, the province has also made efforts to improve its business environment.

So it is attracting special interest from domestic and foreign investors, especially from Japan and South Korea, he said.

The province has more than 500 projects with total investment of over US$3.36 billion, including 144 foreign projects worth $1.31 billion.

In the first half of the year it was among the top five provinces and cities in attracting foreign investment, Hue said.

At the forum, the Ha Nam and HCM City people's committees signed a socio-economic co-operation agreement for 2015-20.

The province also signed memorandums of understanding with many companies, including Japan Flower Corporation, Tokushima Kohwan Niyaku and Tokushima farmar sommeliers (of Japan) and RXO Group (South Korea).