The vitality of openness and integration.

Hai Duong has attracted $11.3 billion in foreign direct investment.

With $11.3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), Hai Duong is among the leading provinces nationwide in attracting FDI.

The leading birds

On December 29, 1987, at its second session, the Eighth National Assembly passed the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam. This is considered a historical turning point, the most important legal document officially formalizing the acceptance of foreign investment in Vietnam in general, and Hai Duong in particular.

In the early years, Hai Duong only received a few small-scale FDI projects, with a total registered capital of less than 10 million USD.

Five years later, the province had licensed nearly 20 FDI projects with a registered investment capital of nearly 450 million USD.

In particular, during the period 2006-2010, FDI inflows into Hai Duong reached nearly US$1,970 million, including both newly registered capital and additional capital, across a total of 151 projects. During this period, the number of FDI projects expanding production and increasing capital continuously rose, with 84 projects and an additional capital increase of US$541.5 million.

In 2006 alone, a particularly significant year, the amount of FDI attracted reached $663.6 million, nearly equaling the total FDI of the previous 10 years combined.

As one of the earliest FDI enterprises to invest in Hai Duong, Ford Vietnam has consistently been among the province's top 7 key enterprises in terms of contributing to the state budget.

In 1995, shortly after Vietnam and the United States officially normalized relations, Ford Motor was one of the leading US businesses to invest in Vietnam. That same year, the Ford Vietnam joint venture began laying the foundation stones for its assembly plant at the gateway to Hai Duong City. Ford's production line in Hai Duong started operating in the fourth quarter of 1997.

"From those early days, we recognized that Hai Duong had enormous potential in Ford Vietnam's development strategy," shared Mr. Ruchik Shah, General Director of Ford Vietnam.

Starting with an assembly plant spanning over 30 hectares in Lai Cach town (Cam Giang district) with an investment of over 100 million USD, after nearly 30 years, according to the Provincial Tax Department, from the beginning of the year to December 31, 2024, Ford Vietnam has contributed over 4,634 billion VND to the state budget in Hai Duong province, the highest amount and accounting for 68% of the total of the province's 15 key enterprises.

Many large FDI enterprises in the province believe that with its existing advantages and the efforts and decisive actions of management at all levels, Hai Duong will attract more and more new, high-quality FDI projects.

Hyundai Kefico, a globally renowned South Korean brand, is also one of the early FDI projects in Hai Duong. In 2009, Hyundai Kefico Vietnam officially invested in Hai Duong with a project to manufacture spare parts and auxiliary components for motor vehicles and engines, with a total investment of 65 million USD.

After 11 capital increases, reaching $400 million on a total area of ​​10 hectares, Hyundai Kefico Vietnam is now the enterprise with the largest investment per hectare in the province's industrial parks, at $40 million/hectare.

"We hope that the provincial leadership will continue to implement administrative reforms and provide support in legal procedures to further facilitate investors who have chosen, are choosing, and will choose Hai Duong as their destination. Improvements in road transport, convenient connections to major provinces and cities, and enhanced infrastructure will also make Hai Duong a bright spot on the map for potential investors," shared a representative of Hyundai Kefico Vietnam.

Working together, sharing the rewards.

Representatives of FDI enterprises we spoke with stated that Hai Duong's consistent support for investors, working together and sharing the benefits, not only serves as encouragement for businesses. Based on this consistent approach, all levels and sectors have concretized this through reforms in administrative and investment procedures; and organized direct investment promotion activities through numerous overseas trips by provincial leaders.

Some figures on attracting FDI and the contribution of FDI enterprises to the overall development of Hai Duong.

“The proactive approach of the provincial leadership shows a Hai Duong that is increasingly dynamic and ready to welcome high-quality foreign investors to invest in the province. Based on the province's development orientations, we have made solid progress in building Makalot into the strong company it is today,” said Kevin Lee, Deputy General Director of Makalot Garment Co., Ltd., the largest FDI enterprise in Thanh Ha district.

Sharing the same view, CeLink Limited, a 100% Chinese-owned investor and one of the first four investors to pour capital into An Phat Industrial Park in the first half of last year, stated that the frequent dialogues and meetings between Hai Duong provincial leaders and businesses to proactively resolve difficulties in investment activities have created trust among businesses.

A favorable and equitable business environment, a Hai Duong ready to integrate and invite investors to move forward together in a prosperous era.

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the Deli Hai Duong stationery factory project of Deli Group Co., Ltd. (Deli Group, China) in the expanded Dai An Industrial Park at the end of September 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc highly appreciated the close coordination of the province's departments and agencies in promoting FDI attraction. This has contributed to making the province one of the leading localities nationwide in attracting foreign direct investment.

HA KIEN - MINH NGUYET

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/suc-song-tu-mo-cua-hoi-nhap-401437.html