Building Ninh Binh industrial parks to become key driving forces for economic development of the province

When the province was re-established in 1992, Ninh Binh was a poor province, its economy mainly relied on agriculture; industrial production was not yet developed, mainly based on exploiting available resources. Recognizing the trend of industrial park development as well as the advantages of the locality, on December 20, 2002, the Standing Committee of the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee issued Notice No. 224-TB/TU on orientations for planning the construction of industrial parks in the province. In which, it is required that the arrangement of industrial parks must be reasonable, closely following the established planning, especially the overall planning for socio-economic development, creating conditions for investors to invest in industrial parks; strengthening State management, decentralization, and appropriate delegation of power. It can be affirmed that the province's policy of developing industrial parks is completely correct, is a decisive factor in changing the province's economic structure towards increasing the proportion of industry and services, contributing to accelerating the socio-economic development of the locality.

March 17, 2004 was an important milestone in the construction and development of industrial parks in Ninh Binh province. The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 35/2004/QD-TTg to establish the Ninh Binh Industrial Parks Management Board. From here, the model and structure of State management of industrial parks in the province were clearly established, creating favorable conditions for businesses to invest, build, operate and develop.

From an industrial park established in 2004, by the end of 2023, Ninh Binh province had 7 industrial parks, with a total area of 1,472 hectares. Of which, 5 industrial parks have been established and put into stable operation, basically filled, namely: Khanh Phu, Gian Khau, Tam Diep I, Phuc Son, Khanh Cu industrial parks, with a total planned land area of over 847 hectares; industrial land for lease is nearly 700 hectares.

With the characteristics of the first 3 industrial zones (Gian Khau, Khanh Phu and Tam Diep I) invested in infrastructure construction with State budget capital, the Industrial Zones Management Board has chosen the solution of both investing in infrastructure in phases and calling for and receiving investment projects. Therefore, the industrial zones of Ninh Binh province have quickly built infrastructure, qualified to call for and attract investment, and soon brought into effect.

In addition to the 3 industrial parks invested by budget capital, Phuc Son and Khanh Cu industrial parks are invested by non-budget capital, which are the starting bright spots in attracting investment in construction and business of industrial park infrastructure in the province. Investors have deployed the construction of synchronous infrastructure, meeting the investment requirements of domestic and foreign investors. The development of industrial parks has become a lever and driving force to promote investment attraction in the province. Investment projects in Ninh Binh industrial parks are mostly large-scale projects. The indicators of occupancy rate, project quality, feasibility and efficiency of industrial park projects are at a fairly good level compared to industrial parks in the region and the whole country.

Currently, the total number of valid investment projects is 122, with a total registered capital of over 65,485 billion VND. Of these, there are 33 FDI projects, with a total registered capital of over 635 million USD (equivalent to over 13,755 billion VND). 103 projects have been put into operation (accounting for 84.4% of the total number of projects), with an estimated realized capital of 58,000 billion VND (88.5% of registered capital).

Some large-scale projects such as: CFG high-quality energy-saving glass factory; The Vissai cement factory; MCNEX VINA camera module and electronic components factory, HTMV No. 2 factory construction investment project of Hyundai Thanh Cong Vietnam Automobile Manufacturing Joint Stock Company; Hyundai Thanh Cong Vietnam automobile manufacturing and assembly factory construction investment project...

Up to now, after 20 years of formation and development, the industrial parks have made positive contributions to the socio-economic development of Ninh Binh province. In 2022, the revenue of enterprises in the industrial parks reached 72,860 billion VND, the export value reached 1.7 billion USD, and the budget contribution reached 18,917 billion VND (accounting for over 80% of the province's budget revenue).

In 2023, despite being greatly affected by the economic recession, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as geopolitical instability in a number of countries around the world, Ninh Binh Industrial Park enterprises have overcome difficulties and basically maintained production activities. In 2023, the revenue of Industrial Park enterprises reached 61,787 billion VND, the export turnover reached 1,352 million USD, the budget contribution reached 13,242 billion VND, creating jobs for 36,385 workers.

The above figures are vivid evidence affirming that the industrial zones have made positive contributions to the growth and development achievements of Ninh Binh, through strongly attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), stimulating and improving the efficiency of using economic resources, supplementing important capital sources in total social investment capital, increasing export turnover, contributing to expanding international markets, changing the structure of export goods; significantly contributing to local budget revenue and creating jobs for workers...

During the journey of construction and development, the Provincial Industrial Park Management Board has received the attention, regular, close and timely leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, and the coordination and facilitation of sectors and localities. Therefore, the state management of industrial parks as well as enterprises in industrial parks has been increasingly focused and strengthened.

In 2023, the Industrial Park Management Board proactively reviewed, advised, developed and submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for approval a series of documents to strengthen and improve state management of industrial parks such as: Regulations on coordination of state management of industrial parks in the province; Regulations on functions, tasks, powers, organizational structure and staffing of the Board; Resolutions and Plans to develop and manage industrial parks in the province. The Board pays attention to state management aspects of investment, construction, labor, security and order, fire prevention and fighting, etc., creating maximum conditions for enterprises in the industrial parks.

In particular, to meet the needs of investment and development of industrial parks in Ninh Binh province, the Industrial Park Management Board has presided over and coordinated with relevant agencies and units to advise, report and have the Provincial People's Committee review and update the industrial park development plan into the Ninh Binh province planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 2018/QD-TTg dated March 4, 2024), in which the 7 industrial parks approved by the Prime Minister in Document No. 1499/TTg-KTN dated August 18, 2014 are maintained; 4 new industrial parks are added including: Phu Long, Yen Binh, Xich Tho, Gian Khau II; bringing the total number of industrial parks in Ninh Binh province to 11 industrial parks, with a total area of over 2,800 hectares.

The achievements in the construction and development of industrial parks in Ninh Binh province over the past 20 years are associated with the efforts of the leaders, cadres, civil servants, public employees and employees of the Provincial Industrial Park Management Board. With the achievements, the Industrial Park Management Board was awarded the Third-class Labor Medal by the President in 2014, the Second-class Labor Medal in 2021, and for many consecutive years received the Excellent Emulation Flag, Certificate of Merit from the Government, the Provincial People's Committee, the Ministry of Planning and Investment...

During his visit and work in Ninh Binh province, Comrade Pham Minh Chinh, Politburo member, Prime Minister, assessed: Ninh Binh is the land of the ancient capital rich in historical traditions, "spiritual land, talented people", with many development potentials, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages. Therefore, Ninh Binh's mission is to strive to build and develop a rich and beautiful Ninh Binh, with prosperous and happy people. Comprehensively develop all socio-economic aspects, focusing on developing green, clean, high-tech industry in the Southwest region of Ninh Binh province... Promote revolutionary traditions, history, culture, the spirit of self-reliance, self-improvement, rising from the hands, minds, land, sky, seaports; open up and effectively use all resources, turn nothing into something, turn difficult into easy, turn impossible into possible.

Along with that, the Resolution of the 22nd Provincial Party Congress clearly defined the development orientation of the industrial sector as: "Promoting the development of new-generation industrial-service-urban zones associated with restructuring the industrial sector; taking the automobile mechanical industry as the driving force, promoting service and urbanization in sync with industrialization and modernization, connecting domestic enterprises with foreign enterprises, attracting strategic investors, and deeply participating in the global value chain".

Based on the orientations and directions of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Central Ministries and branches, the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Council and the Provincial People's Committee, so that the industrial parks continue to be the driving force for the socio-economic development of Ninh Binh province, in the coming time, the Management Board of Industrial Parks of Ninh Binh province will focus on implementing the following key solutions:

Firstly , pay attention to reviewing the planning of established industrial parks, ensuring compliance with the socio-economic development orientation of the province. Organize planning, attract investment in infrastructure construction and secondary projects for newly established industrial parks; focus on developing in the direction of specialized industrial parks; new industrial park models (Industrial Park - Urban Service, Ecological Industrial Park, Smart Industrial Park). From there, improve the quality of construction of synchronous technical infrastructure and social infrastructure systems, public utilities serving industrial parks. Pay attention to calling for and attracting investment projects to build worker housing areas, cultural institutions, schools, medical stations, etc. so that workers can feel secure in working stably and long-term.

Second , improve the quality of investment attraction, prioritize the development of the automobile, electronics and auto industry support industries. Create a foundation for sustainable development of key industries; selectively attract industries and production fields with advanced, modern and environmentally friendly technology, coordinate with infrastructure investors to promote and attract investment, especially in potential markets... Pay attention to supporting investors after licensing, create conditions for projects to soon complete related procedures, deploy construction and come into operation.

Third , continue to strengthen state management of industrial zones, coordination between relevant agencies, departments and branches in monitoring and inspecting investment, construction, environmental protection... in industrial zones.

Fourth , promote administrative procedure reform. With its position and role, the Ninh Binh Industrial Park Management Board affirms that it will always accompany and support investors, focus its strength and intelligence, strive, unite, and be a reliable address for domestic and foreign investors, making Ninh Binh province become the country's leading modern automotive mechanical industry center; a typical bright spot, building quickly and sustainably for the development of the 4.0 industrial revolution for the strong development of the industrial park system in the province, in the context of increasingly deep integration into the world economy. Contributing to the successful implementation of very large, strategic viewpoints, goals, and tasks, shaping the development for many future stages, demonstrating the great aspirations of the Party Committee, government, and people of Ninh Binh province. In particular, the focus is on building Ninh Binh province by 2030 to be a fairly developed province, a growth pole among the southern provinces of the Red River Delta, basically meeting the criteria of a centrally-run city with the characteristics of a millennium heritage urban area and a creative city; by 2035, Ninh Binh province will become a centrally-run city with the characteristics of a millennium heritage urban area and a creative city.

Bui Duy Quang
Head of the Provincial Industrial Parks Management Board

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