IPPG eyes 8,000-hectare free trade zone project near Long Thanh Airport in southern Vietnam
Vietnam's Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG), led by chairman Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, is exploring a 8,000-hectare free trade zone project near Long Thanh International Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai.
Chairman of the Dong Nai People's Committee Vo Tan Duc on Thursday had a working session with IPPG, a pioneer group in investment and development of duty-free retail and tourism in the country, on the province's plan to develop a free trade zone.
Dong Nai, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, is an industrial hub in southern Vietnam and home to the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport.
Le Hong Thuy Tien, general director of Imex Pan Pacific Group, spoke at the meeting on May 25, 2025. Photo courtesy of Dong Nai newspaper.
At the meeting, provincial authorities informed IPPG about the free trade zone plan, saying they expect to complete it within May for submission to the Prime Minister. The zone will cover 8,000 hectares, accounting for 1.3% of the province's area.
The free trade zone is expected to turn Dong Nai into an international logistics and aviation center, creating a boost for the country to integrate more deeply into the global value chain.
The Department of Finance proposed the location of two logistics zones adjacent to Long Thanh airport, with an area of 1,000 hectares and 180 hectares, in addition to a 284-hectare land plot next to the airport for the company to study.
At the meeting, IPPG also shared about the projects that it is implementing and the benefits of developing a free trade zone associated with the airports and seaports.
In response, Duc said he welcomed IPPG to study investment in Dong Nai. He also requested related agencies to coordinate with the company to discuss specific issues.
According to the Department of Finance, the free trade zone will take full advantage of the Long Thanh airport, Phuoc An port, and industrial parks in the province.
The zone will house diverse industries with functional sub-zones, such as a production area, logistics area, finance-service-trade area, and innovation-IT-digital economic area.
Dong Nai province is proposing six areas that can be studied to build a free trade zone, including Bau Can-Tan Hiep Industrial Park, a concentrated IT zone, an innovation zone, a logistics zone (Long Thanh district), Xuan Que-Song Nhan Industrial Park (Cam My district), and Phuoc An port logistics and port zone (Nhon Trach district).
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