Creating a breakthrough in industrial cluster development

To create momentum for local industrial development, Thai Nguyen province is interested in attracting investment to develop industrial clusters with synchronous and modern infrastructure. In the photo: Son Cam 1 Industrial Cluster. Photo: TL

Expand space, increase motivation

After completing the arrangement of administrative boundaries according to Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly , Thai Nguyen has expanded its administrative scale in association with shaping a strategic industrial development axis. According to the Industrial Cluster Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period approved by the Prime Minister, the whole province has 68 industrial clusters (ICs) with a total area of 2,743.4 hectares, far exceeding the average of many localities in the Northern midland and mountainous region.

Of which, the area of Thai Nguyen province before the merger had 41 industrial parks with an area of 2,067 hectares; the remaining 27 industrial parks, more than 676 hectares, belonged to the old Bac Kan province. The merger is not simply an increase in quantity, but a process of connecting development space, helping to plan industrial parks to be designed synchronously, in depth and maximize regional advantages.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Thai Nguyen province, after merging administrative units, the province has comprehensively reviewed the planning of industrial parks to avoid overlap, eliminate bottlenecks and supplement planning in places with room for development.

Chung Jye Bac Kan - Vietnam Shoe Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has a capacity of 10 million pairs of shoes/year, attracting about 5,000 local workers, operating at Huyen Tung Industrial Park (Duc Xuan ward). Photo: TL

The formation of a system of interconnected industrial parks between communes and wards associated with traffic infrastructure connections is an important foundation for Thai Nguyen to develop supporting and high-tech industries and shift the labor structure in a sustainable direction.

To date, Thai Nguyen has established 40/68 industrial parks, with an area of about 1,590 hectares. The total registered investment capital reached 16,692 billion VND, of which capital for site clearance and infrastructure investment accounted for nearly 5,000 billion VND, showing the increasing attractiveness of industrial parks.

The projects focus mainly on the fields of manufacturing, mechanics, electronics, materials production and supporting industries - in line with the province's "sustainable - smart - green" orientation. This is an important step to help Thai Nguyen shift from "traditional mining industry" to "high-tech industry with high added value".

Currently, the province has 16 industrial parks in operation, attracting 97 production projects, of which 65 projects have been operating stably. The average occupancy rate is about 56%, a positive figure compared to the national average, especially in the context of many localities facing difficulties in clean land funds and attracting infrastructure investment.

Panorama of Quang Chu 2 Industrial Park with a scale of about 74.4 hectares. After completing the infrastructure, this place is expected to attract strong investment and create jobs for about 10,000 workers.

Perspective of Quang Chu 2 Industrial Park with a scale of about 74.4 hectares. After completing the infrastructure, this place is expected to attract investment and create jobs for about 10,000 workers.

The industrial parks are also creating stable jobs for nearly 13,800 workers, mainly local people. Many farming households have successfully transformed their livelihoods from small-scale production to industrial logistics services, contributing to the formation of a new economic face in rural areas.

From a business perspective, many investors appreciate Thai Nguyen province’s flexible and proactive approach to infrastructure improvement, licensing procedures improvement, legal support and human resource training. In particular, preferential policies on taxes, land rents, and the orientation of developing “green clusters - clean infrastructure” have created a more transparent, stable and attractive investment environment.

It can be said that developing industrial clusters in Thai Nguyen is identified as a "double lever" - both promoting production and playing a pivotal role in economic restructuring and building advanced new rural areas.

Removing bottlenecks, opening up investment flows

In the first 9 months of 2025, Thai Nguyen province approved the establishment of 8 new industrial parks including: Minh Duc 1, Luong Son 2, Cam Giang, Huyen Tung 2, Tan Tu, Binh Trung, Quang Chu and Cau Binh. These industrial parks were established in accordance with the development plan for the period 2021-2030 and the infrastructure conditions of each region.

Representative of professional unit presented the plan to adjust the planning of Quan Chu 2 Industrial Cluster, Quan Chu commune, with a scale of 75 hectares.

Representative of professional unit presented plan to adjust planning of Industrial Park Quan Chu 2, Quan Chu commune, with scale of 75ha.

To synchronize planning and investment, the Department of Industry and Trade has chaired many meetings with sectors and localities to remove difficulties and comprehensively review the industrial park system after the merger. On that basis, the Department of Industry and Trade has advised the Provincial People's Committee to propose adjustments to the industrial park development plan in the Thai Nguyen Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Cuong said: During the implementation process, many industrial parks have not been able to be implemented due to weak technical infrastructure, small scale, and no longer suitable for the new development orientation. The Department of Industry and Trade is coordinating with sectors and localities to update the entire planning system, cut out unfeasible points and add new clusters with high potential to attract investment.

Currently, the province still has 28 industrial clusters in the planning but have not been implemented, mainly in the Northern region, due to lack of clean land, limited traffic connections and lack of qualified infrastructure investors. In addition, site clearance is still slow, especially in densely populated areas or complex terrain. Some industrial clusters have not clearly defined their main industries, leading to lack of chain linkages and resource dispersion.

In response to the need to expand industrial space, the Department of Industry and Trade has proposed adding 7 new industrial parks with a total area of 467.6 hectares, including: Dong Hy, Nam Hoa 2, Phu Thuan, Quan Chu 2, Phu Luong - Phu Lac, Phu Lac and Dai Tu 1.

Mr. Dang Le Ninh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quan Chu Commune, affirmed: Quan Chu 2 Industrial Park with an area of 75 hectares is one of the bright spots in terms of industrial development potential in the area. We are committed to ensuring clean land, creating favorable conditions for investors, contributing to the early operation of the project, creating a breakthrough in local socio-economic development.

Yen Lac Industrial Park has a scale of 25.6 hectares, located next to Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi expressway, and is speeding up infrastructure construction progress.

Yen Lac Industrial Cluster has a scale of 25.6 hectares, located next to Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi Expressway, and is speeding up infrastructure construction progress. Photo: TL

The addition of the planning of industrial clusters this time is oriented towards streamlining, specialization, prioritizing clusters with strategic locations and regional connectivity potential. Along with that, the province accelerates investment in technical infrastructure through strong mobilization of socialized resources, especially the public-private partnership (PPP) model. This solution helps expand industrial space, attract investment, create jobs, improve production capacity and promote sustainable growth.

At the same time, the province also focuses on reforming administrative procedures, supporting businesses in accessing land, loans and labor training. Resolutely reclaiming projects that are behind schedule and using land for the wrong purposes will contribute to improving the efficiency of management and use of resources in industrial zones.

The development of industrial clusters has been identified by Thai Nguyen province as a strategic task in the process of industrialization and modernization of rural areas. When the bottlenecks are removed, along with the synchronous direction from the provincial level, the industrial cluster system will continue to be an important driving force for socio-economic growth, expanding the space for regional development, creating more stable jobs and increasing income for people, contributing to making Thai Nguyen a modern industrial center of the midland and mountainous region of the North.

Decree 32/2024/ND-CP dated March 15, 2024 of the Government on management and development of industrial parks defines: Industrial parks are understood as places of industrial production, providing services for industrial and handicraft production, with defined geographical boundaries, without residents, invested in and built mainly to attract and relocate small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, and cooperative groups to invest in production and business. Industrial parks have an area of not more than 75 hectares and not less than 10 hectares.

Regarding the conditions for establishing an industrial park: Being included in the list of industrial parks in the province approved by competent authorities; having land funds in accordance with the land use planning in the area; having enterprises, cooperatives, and organizations with legal status and capacity to invest in building technical infrastructure proposing to be the investor in building technical infrastructure of the industrial park.

Regarding the conditions for expanding the industrial park: The total area of the industrial park after expansion must not exceed 75 hectares; there must be enterprises, cooperatives, or organizations with legal status and capacity to invest in and build technical infrastructure that propose to be the investor in building the technical infrastructure of the industrial park; the occupancy rate must be at least 60% or the demand for industrial land lease in the industrial park must exceed the existing industrial land area of the industrial park; the construction must be completed and essential shared technical infrastructure works must be put into use...

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202510/tao-but-pha-phat-trien-cum-cong-nghiep-a180e38/