Haiphong to step up infrastructure

Cat Bi International Airport is a highlight in Haiphong’s infrastructure development

Infrastructure acts as a key element leveraging traffic connections and comprehensive development co-operation between Haiphong and three other localities of the economic corridor, namely Lang Son, Hanoi, and Quang Ninh. The spotlight of Haiphong’s traffic linkages comes from three completed infrastructure projects that are now in use: Hanoi-Haiphong Expressway, Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Highway, and Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Bridge. These projects facilitate the connection to Hanoi-Lao Cai Expressway, shortening the travel time between the northern province of Lao Cai and Haiphong International Gateway Port (HIGP) to some six hours.

Haiphong’s port area is a key driver of the development co-operation of the five localities that make up the Vietnam-China economic corridor: Lao Cai, Hanoi, Haiphong, Quang Ninh, and Yunnan (China). The Haiphong port area works as both the main sea trade gateway of northern localities of Vietnam and the closest sea route to the Chinese province of Yunnan. With its 42 terminals with a combined length of over 10.7km, the HIGP is capable of receiving 100,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) vessels. Located in Lach Huyen district, HIGP, which is one of the country’s most crucial deep-water ports, is under rapid construction and is expected to be put into service on May 12.

Under a master plan for the seaport development of the HIGP, the HIGP plans to have nine terminals of 3,000m by 2025, including six container terminals and three multi-purpose ones. It will be home to 23 terminals of 7,750m by 2030, capable of handling 118 million tonnes of goods per year. Haiphong pledges to mobilise resources to speed up the construction of the HIGP Industrial Zone (also known as Deep C III).

Meanwhile, the city continues to invest in upgrading the transport infrastructure connecting Cat Hai island and Road No.356, backbone roads and dykes in the south of Dinh Vu Industrial Zone and Tan Vu-Lach Huyen 2 Bridge, and the projected wharves of HIGP.

In addition to its advantage of seaport services, Haiphong is home to Cat Bi International Airport, which has been upgraded and fully qualified to receive aircraft in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards with varied domestic flights and international routes to South Korea, Thailand, and other countries.

It can be said that the local business climate has been improved, with FDI inflows of nearly $1 billion in 2017 and the presence of many large local and foreign corporations. They include the Vinfast automobile manufacturing factory project with a total investment value of over $1.5 billion in the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai economic zone, an eco-tourism and recreational resort project on Cat Ba Island valued at $3 billion, and Japan’s AEON Mall with a total investment value of $200 million.

Located at the heart of the above-mentioned key projects, the DEEP C Industrial Zones (DEEP C) is taking the opportunity to become a reliable destination for investors. DEEP C is regarded as the first and possibly the only industrial park in the northern region to successfully develop an industrial zone on the sea from millions of cubic meters of sand. DEEP C has so far called for a combined investment of nearly $3 billion and 72 projects from Japan, Germany, the US, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. These projects are invested by big names, including Bridgestone, JX Nippon Oil and Energy, Idemitsu, Shin-etsu, Chevron, IHI,

Nippon Express, Yusen, Knauf, C. Steinweg, Flat Group, and PVOil. Investors come from various industries, including supporting industries, automobiles, logistics, light industries, and others.

Investors highly value DEEP C as one of the most successful industrial parks in Haiphong and the country in general. The distinguishing feature of the DEEP C comes from a system of multipurpose zone located immediately adjacent to the new infrastructure development and reliable provision of utilities and services where tenants can enjoy the best tax incentives in the country. This makes the target of developing DEEP C into a world-class industrial zone coupled with seaport services feasible.

“DEEP C will lead the way in implementing the initiative on building an eco-industrial zone toward sustainable growth. Besides, Deep C III is expected to serve as a reliable partner and destination for investors,” Frank Wouter, general director of Dinh Vu Industrial Zone JSC, said at the ground-breaking ceremony of Deep C III held last October.