In the first six months of 2025, the decline in international investment and global market volatility posed challenges in attracting foreign investment and boosting exports in the province. However, Ben Tre province proactively implemented solutions to adapt to the situation, while also taking advantage of opportunities from free trade agreements and strategic partnerships to promote socio-economic development.

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Ben Tre's leaders always welcome and are committed to working alongside investors to develop the province. Photo: Thanh Nhan

Ben Tre province aims for an 8% GRDP growth rate in 2025, with the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector growing by 3.62%; the industry and construction sector by 14.91%; the service sector by 7.84%; and product taxes by 7.44%. The economic structure is projected as follows: Sector 1: 32.13%; Sector 2: 21.96%; Sector 3: 42.37%; and product taxes: 3.53%. Export turnover is targeted at US$1,930 million, and total social investment at VND 20,920 billion. GRDP per capita is targeted at VND 63.27 million.

On the other hand, Ben Tre province continues to implement social welfare, education , and health programs, while also promoting sustainable poverty reduction and improving the quality of life for its people.

Recognizing foreign affairs as one of the key tasks to serve socio-economic development goals, in the first six months of 2025, Ben Tre continued to comprehensively and seriously implement the directives, resolutions, and action programs of the Central Government, as well as the provincial plan, on strengthening diplomatic work to serve economic development.

This will enhance the sense of responsibility of Party committees, governments, agencies, units, and businesses regarding international integration and the effective implementation of diplomatic work to serve economic development. It will also actively promote the position and role of investment promotion, trade, tourism, and business support activities in the socio-economic development and sustainable poverty reduction of the province.

Along with improving the quality of foreign relations activities, Ben Tre always focuses on economic diplomacy to attract investment resources to the province. At the same time, it actively promotes the image, potential, and advantages of Ben Tre to domestic and international friends. In particular, cooperative relationships with large domestic and foreign economic groups and businesses are increasingly expanding, deepening, and becoming more substantive and effective.

Specifically, regarding investment promotion, in the first six months of the year, Ben Tre received and worked with 68 investors who came to learn about the investment process and procedures in the province, achieving 22.7% of the plan. Investment support was provided in 594 instances related to investment and business procedures, and assistance in implementing investment projects after investment approval was granted, achieving 45.7% of the plan.

Regarding overseas trade promotion, the province organized a trade promotion delegation to Hong Kong (China) in 2025; met and worked with the Guangdong Import-Export Association and a number of Chinese enterprises to discuss investment and trade promotion; and organized a delegation to participate in the "5th Ho Chi Minh City and Friendship Provinces Exhibition in Savannakhet" in 2025, in the Lao People's Democratic Republic...

Meanwhile, import and export activities were maintained, with export turnover estimated at 966.2 million USD, an increase of 21.23%, reaching 50.06% of the plan.

To date, goods from Ben Tre have been present in over 120 countries and territories.

Import turnover is estimated at 262.6 million USD, an increase of 21.01% compared to the same period last year, reaching 47.75% of the plan. The main imported items are raw materials and components for production and processing (textiles, electronics, leather bags, protective work nets, etc.). In the first six months of the year, coconuts were also imported, contributing to the increase in turnover compared to the same period in 2024.

In the first six months of the year, Ben Tre province granted licenses and adjusted 14 projects with a total registered capital of US$35.94 million, equivalent to 9% of the 2025 plan, an increase of 295.81% compared to the same period in 2024.

To date, there are 71 active investment projects with a total registered capital of US$1,699.31 million.

Currently, Ben Tre province has 2 ODA projects, with a total allocated capital of over 1,192 billion VND in 2025. Ben Tre also has 2 businesses investing in the US market with a total investment of 1.95 million USD.

In the coming period, Ben Tre will strengthen investment promotion and attraction activities; continue to support investors in implementing projects that have signed MOUs with the province. At the same time, it will monitor and promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles for businesses to stabilize production and business operations; strengthen support for projects that have been granted investment policy decisions and investment registration certificates to ensure early implementation and operation. It will also implement cooperation contents according to the memorandum of understanding between the People's Committee of Ben Tre province and Ehime province, Japan.

Furthermore, in the coming period, the province will continue to implement activities related to international economic integration. It will maintain and promote the expansion and diversification of export markets; and support the effective implementation of signed free trade agreements.

Proactively contact and coordinate with ambassadors and trade attachés to support provincial businesses in linking up and expanding markets for agricultural and aquatic products.

T.Chi

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/ben-tre-no-luc-thu-hut-von-dau-tu-nuoc-ngoai-and-thuc-day-xuat-khau-2415740.html