Long An province seeks investors for 13 major projects

The Mekong Delta province of Long An is seeking investors for 13 projects of “great socioeconomic significance” including industrial parks, a biotech center, cattle farms and fruit processing.

These projects are part of the province’s master plan until 2030, with vision extended to 2050, that was announced at a Tuesday conference attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

A government portal article that mentioned no investment figures said the 13 projects include the Long An border gate economic zone, Phu An Thanh Industrial Park (IP), Viet Phat IP, Prodezi IP, Khang Thong entertainment complex, Nam Long VCD urban area, a biotech center in Dong Thap Muoi region, a logistics and warehouse center at Long An Port, and a food logistics center in Dong Thap Muoi.

Also on the list are a project for beef cow farming, yam processing plants and a dragon fruit processing factory.

At the conference, provincial officials announced investment policies, handed out investment certificates to different business projects and signed cooperation MoUs with several investors.

The conference was an opportunity for investors, domestic and foreign businesses to talk with provincial leaders and get updated information about the master plan, as well as specific details on projects calling for investors.

Long An, which borders Ho Chi Minh City, is the first province in the south to announce its Prime Minister-approved master plan for development until 2030. It aims to become a dynamic, efficient and sustainable economic development hub in the southern region.

As planned, the province would also become a gateway to the urban-industrial economic corridor of the Mekong Delta, connecting conveniently with HCMC and delta localities. It would also serve as an important hub for boosting cooperation and trade with neighboring Cambodia.

Under the master plan, the province will have "One center - Two corridors - Three socio-economic areas - Six dynamic axes" as its development outline.

The “town of Tan An (the province’s administrative hub) will be the “One center”. The two corridors will comprise Ring Road 3 and 4 in the HCMC greater region and a development corridor in southern Long An.

The three socio-economic areas will comprise an urban and industrial area, a high-tech agricultural area with tourism and border gate developments, and an ecological buffer zone.

The six dynamic axes will be a network of major roads and highways serving as blood veins for the province’s socio-economic development.

According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), by the end of this June, Long An was ranked 5th out of the 63 localities nationwide in terms of FDI attraction, after the provinces of Bac Giang, Nghe An, Binh Phuoc and Bac Ninh. Currently, almost 40 countries and territories have investment projects in Long An.

Addressing the conference, Prime Minister Chinh said that an effective master plan would help drive the province’s socio-economic development. He said that attractive projects have to be presented in order to secure strong investors.

Expressing his belief that Long An would be able to welcome more and more investors and businesses in the coming time, the PM asked provincial authorities to accord priority to effective implementation of the master plan.

Chinh emphasized two development planks: prioritizing resources for the “One center - Two corridors - Three socio-economic areas - Six dynamic axes” outline; and embracing sustainable development with a long-term vision.

Long An is currently one of the manufacturing hubs in southern Vietnam, together with Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai.