The attractiveness of the investment environment helps Hai Phong continuously rank at the top of the country in attracting FDI.

Sharing at the meeting with embassies, business associations and foreign direct investment (FDI) organized by the People's Committee of Hai Phong City on the morning of April 10 before the Vietnam Development Bridge Forum 2024 and the 23rd Golden Dragon program, Mr. Bui Tien Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Hai Phong, said that in 2024, the city aims to attract 2 - 2.5 billion USD of FDI capital.

Mr. Bui Tien Phong, Deputy Director of Hai Phong Department of Planning and Investment, spoke at the meeting. Photo: Viet Dung.

Hai Phong is considered a bright spot in attracting FDI and has always maintained its position in the top of the country. Previously, in 2023, in terms of attracting foreign investment capital, Hai Phong reached the finish line 4 months early, with a total of 3.446 billion USD with 950 projects, ranking 2nd in the country.

"In the first quarter of 2024, Hai Phong attracted 253 million USD in FDI capital, reaching 12% of the annual plan. With the determination of the city government and the improvement of the investment environment, infrastructure conditions and other conditions, we are completely confident and strive to achieve the FDI attraction plan as set by the city," Mr. Phong emphasized.

Sharing about the attractiveness of the investment environment of the port city, the leader of the Department of Planning and Investment of Hai Phong, citing the assessment of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that in recent years, Hai Phong has maintained the best Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) in Vietnam and is often in the top 3. "This index is assessed by the business community, demonstrating the determination of the city's leaders and authorities in attracting investors to Hai Phong," said Mr. Phong. Regarding guidance for investors, the Department of Planning and Investment of Hai Phong guides investors to look up on the system as well as use the artificial intelligence (AI) system to answer investors about investment procedures. In addition, the Department of Planning and Investment has a one-stop department to receive and guide investors interested in Hai Phong, helping to create a transparent investment environment and eliminate many unnecessary procedures. Speaking more about the one-stop department, Mr. Bui Ngoc Hai, Deputy Head of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board, said that the management board handles all investment procedures at the one-stop department. "This is a special administrative mechanism authorized by the City People's Committee for the Economic Zone Management Board to perform this task. Investors only need to come, the board will handle all procedures related to the environment, construction permits... The board also has a mechanism to coordinate with relevant agencies, including business registration, tax code issuance with the tax authority," said Mr. Hai.

City leaders and departments of Hai Phong interact with large enterprises at the meeting - Photo: Viet Dung.

Regarding the city's green development orientation, Mr. Bui Tien Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Hai Phong, said that for Vietnam, the Prime Minister has issued a national growth strategy on green growth and Hai Phong is one of the localities actively implementing the green growth strategy. Assessing green growth from the business community, Mr. Phong said that VCCI piloted the assessment of the Provincial Green Growth Index (PGI) but this index has not ranked 63 provinces and cities nationwide. However, according to the scores announced by VCCI and evaluated on the component indexes, Hai Phong is basically in the top 5. It is known that the PGI index consists of 4 component indexes including: minimizing environmental pollution and negative impacts of climate change; ensuring compliance with minimum environmental standards; the leadership role of the provincial government in environmental protection; policies and services to support businesses in environmental protection. In addition, according to Mr. Phong, Hai Phong is currently one of three localities selected by the Ministry of Planning and Investment as a pilot locality to develop a national green development plan. On December 2, 2023, the Government approved the Hai Phong City Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. Accordingly, the planning sets out 6 development perspectives, in which the city focuses on developing a number of modern science and technology fields, especially the marine economy, so that Hai Phong can truly take the lead in the industrialization and modernization of the country. Hai Phong also strives to soon become a city with modern industry, services and high-tech, organic, green, circular agriculture, associated with digital transformation; a modern, international marine economic center. At the same time, complete the system of synchronous and modern technical and social infrastructure, first of all, prioritize the development of transport infrastructure connecting seaports with inland areas, as a basis for the strong development of logistics services and infrastructure for the development of the digital economy, digital society, and digital government.

VnEconomy

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