Accordingly, Hai Phong must accelerate the process of restructuring the economy in line with renewing the growth model, developing the digital, green and circular economy, and promoting the development of economic zones, industrial parks, high-tech industrial parks, industrial clusters, etc.
Implementing Resolution No.45 of the Politburo, Hai Phong City has focused on strongly developing the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone and industrial parks. At the same time, the city is also focusing on completing the project to submit to the Government for consideration and approval of the policy of establishing the Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong in the direction of a green and modern economic zone, creating an important driving force for Hai Phong to soon realise its development goals.
From the success of the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone
Established in 2008 under the Prime Minister's Decision, the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone of Hai Phong City has quickly become a major growth driver of the city.
Statistics from the Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board show that, to date, Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone has attracted nearly 32 billion USD in development investment capital with more than 300 domestic and foreign investment projects. The occupancy rate of industrial parks with completed infrastructure in Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone is more than 80%, of which Trang Due and Minh Phuong-Dinh Vu industrial parks have been 100% filled.
Many large investors deeply involved in the global value chain are present here, such as LG Group with a total investment capital of more than 8.2 billion USD; VinFast Automobile Manufacturing Complex with a total investment capital of 7.6 billion USD; Bridgestone Factory with an investment capital of 1.2 billion USD; Regina Miracle International Company with an investment capital of 1 billion USD; Pegatron Company with an investment capital of nearly 900 million USD.
According to the Head of Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board, Le Trung Kien, by 2023, the efficiency of attracting investment capital of Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone, with an investment rate of 1.81 million USD/ha, is the highest in the country. Along with that, this economic zone also ranks first among coastal economic zones nationwide in terms of contribution to the state budget at 11.82% since its establishment.
From 2021 to 2023 alone, Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone has increased its contribution to the state budget to 14.54%, and it is expected that in the coming years, this rate will continue to increase due to the decreasing financial incentives throughout operation. In addition, Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone has also attracted a large workforce of more than 185,000 people and achieved an average income of 11.5 million VND/person/month, creating conditions for localities within the economic zone such as An Duong, Cat Hai, Thuy Nguyen, and Hai An, to have more development opportunities, all achieving economic growth rates of 12.6% - 27.8% over the past 10 years.
According to Hai Phong City Party Secretary Le Tien Chau, the economic zone and industrial parks have made Hai Phong gradually become a leading city in the country in the cause of industrialisation and modernisation. The city’s economy has continuously maintained a high double-digit growth rate for the past nine years; GRDP each year in the period of 2019-2023 reached 12.6%/year, 2.44 times higher than the national average, 1.74 times higher than the period of 2014-2018. At the same time, Hai Phong is also constantly expanding, maintaining the second largest economic scale in the Red River Delta, after the capital Hanoi.
To develop a green, modern economic zone
Speaking at the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Hai Phong Economic Zone, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that to realise the goal of becoming a national maritime economic centre of international stature, leading in Southeast Asia, and a driving force for development in the region, Hai Phong must have breakthrough solutions, in line with new trends in the development of industrial parks and economic zones. Hai Phong must focus on promoting the development of ecological and green industrial parks and forming technology and innovation zones.
According to Hai Phong City Party Secretary Le Tien Chau, to lead the country in the industrialisation and modernisation process according to Resolution No. 45 of the Politburo, Hai Phong City is focusing on developing industry, investing in infrastructure systems, establishing a southern coastal economic zone, creating a driving force for breakthrough growth in the coming period. The Hai Phong City Party Committee has discussed and agreed with the highest political determination to complete the project for submission to the competent authority for decision in 2024.
Head of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board, Le Trung Kien, said that Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone has currently filled more than 80% of its industrial land, so there is little room to attract investment, especially large projects. In this situation, Hai Phong City has promptly proposed and received permission from the Government to develop a project to establish a coastal economic zone in the south of Hai Phong City.
This is an opportunity, a room for Hai Phong's economy to accelerate in the coming time, helping the city to develop and expand in four directions, especially to the south, including urban space. At the same time, this coastal economic zone will strongly promote the effectiveness of the coastal road that is being invested in and built and will also be a condition for the socio-economic development of localities in this area to develop at a faster pace, creating uniformity and contributing to creating momentum for the whole city to grow strongly.
According to the project, the Southern Hai Phong Coastal Economic Zone has an area of 20,000 hectares in the districts of Vinh Bao, Tien Lang, An Lao, Kien Thuy and Do Son district. This new economic zone is planned to be linked to the coastal highway, the Van Uc River area, Nam Do Son Port (planned as an international gateway port and domestic and international transit), and Tien Lang Airport (a backup for Noi Bai International Airport) with two important railway lines also planned: Hai Phong-Hanoi connecting with Lao Cai and connecting with Lang Son, Nam Dinh-Thai Binh-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh.
When formed, the Southern Coastal Economic Zone will be an important "link" in the chain of coastal economic zones, connecting and utilising the existing advantages and efficiency of the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone.
The city advocates building the Southern Coastal Economic Zone into a green economic zone, a 3.0 generation ecological, multi-industry economic zone, focusing on high-tech industry and modern logistics. It is the focal point of Hai Phong City to participate in the regional and global value and supply chain with many incentives to create international competitiveness.
At the same time, this economic zone is also researching the formation of a free trade zone with breakthrough and outstanding mechanisms and policies being applied in successful free trade zones worldwide.
Hai Phong aims to build a free trade zone and a regional logistics centre, which will further attract Korean investor’s participation.
According to Associate Professor Dr Pham Xuan Duong, Rector of Vietnam Maritime University, developing the Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong is urgent for Hai Phong to develop in the right strategic direction with three pillars: High-tech industry, seaport-logistics, tourism-commerce. As one of the key national universities, Vietnam Maritime University will strive to participate in building and forming the Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong.
According to Mr Le Trung Kien, the central ministries and branches have currently given their opinions and agreed to support Hai Phong City in developing the Southern Coastal Economic Zone; foreign investors with great potential have also studied the investment orientation here.
The city expects that the Hai Phong Southern Coastal Economic Zone will soon be formed and become a key driving force of the city's economy in the near future. This is also the determination of the City Party Committee to affirm the position and role of Hai Phong as a driving force in the development of the Red River Delta and the whole country in the spirit of Resolution No.30 of the Politburo and Resolution No.45 of the Politburo on the construction and development of Hai Phong City until 2030, with a vision to 2045.
