Phu My 3 Specialised Industrial Park in Phuoc Hoa Ward in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Numerous suggestions for strengthening thecompetitiveness of industrial parks and developing model industrial parks in thesouthern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau were discussed at a seminar held in theprovince on June 25.
Organised by the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Industrial Zones Authority (BIZA), theseminar, titled “Solutions to improve competitiveness of local industrialparks; developing model industrial parks”, was attended by hundreds of localauthorities, experts and investors from the province and neighbouring areas.
They included executives, experts and representatives from the KoreanTrade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Thailand Board of Investment (BOI),Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and The Japan External TradeOrganisation (JETRO).
The seminar collected ideas from experts and investors for inputs for a draftpolitical report to be submitted to the 7th meeting of the provincial PartyCommittee for 2020-25.
During the seminar, experts discussed a number of issues that require attentionwhen building industrial zones. They also talked about experiences in buildingstandard models of industrial zones and lessons from them and how to go aboutbuilding standard models.
Foreign experts shared lessons in developing industrial parks from theircountries.
A Ba Ria-Vung Tau representative delivered a report on infrastructuredevelopment and drawing investment in local industrial zones.
Model industrial parks to be developed
Improving the competitiveness of industrial parks and developing modelindustrial parks are indispensable trends that provinces and industrial parkdevelopers are following because sustainable development is what investorsfocus on when they begin a project.
Experts said it is now difficult to ensure long-term profits without ensuringenvironment, socials, governance/sustainable development goals (ESG/SDGs), thethree central factors in measuring the sustainability and societal impact of aninvestment in a company or business because these help determine the futurefinancial performance of companies including return and risk.
Seeing the trend, industrial park developers and Ba Ria-Vung Taus authoritiesare investing considerably to improve the quality of parks like adopting theInternet of Things and other advanced technologies and applications andgenerally upgrading infrastructure. They are also soliciting investments intheir parks from sectors with high value-addition.
Akira Shimizu, chief representative of JICA Vietnam, said: “In September 2015the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment, which set the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collectionof 17 global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and moresustainable future for all.”
“Many international businesses put more awareness on SDGs, and convert theirSDGs awareness into concrete business actions. More specifically, companiesprioritise the SDGs based on their relevance to their countries and sectors ofoperation. Companies must strike a balance between business growth and societaland environmental impacts.”
Many Japanese businesses, as initiated by Keidanren (the Japan BusinessFederation), place great emphasis on ESG, which contributes to achieving theSDGs, thereby increase the companies values and create its positive image.
In other countries like the Republic of Korea, many model industrial zones havebeen set up including the Korean Free Economic Zone (KFEZ), Incheon FreeEconomic Zone (IFEZ), Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone (BJFEZ), Gwangyang BayFree Economic Zone, Yellow Sea Free Economic Zone (YESFEZ), and East Coast FreeEconomic Zone (EFEZ).
In Vietnam, a number of model industrial parks have been developed to attractforeign investors and provide them with the best investment environment.
“Vietnam’s trend is also eco-industrial development, and relevant legislationis under development.” Shimizu said.
The trend is evident in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, a member of the Southern KeyEconomic Zone.
Thanks to the efforts of local authorities and investors, Ba Ria-Vung Tau isnow among the provinces in the country with the most developed industrialparks.
Of its industrial parks, the Phu My 3 Specialised Industrial Park (SIP) is oneof model industrial zones in the whole country.
Phu My 3 Specialised Industrial Park (Phu My 3 SIP), the only one of its kindin Vietnam, was established under a Government decision in December 2014. Itwas built on an area of 999ha in Phuoc Hoa Ward, Phu My Town, Ba Ria-Vung TauProvince by the Thanh Binh Phu My JSC, a 100 per cent Vietnamese privatecompany.
Phu My 3 SIP has world-class technical infrastructure and utilities designedand built by professional global contractors to meet the demands of a widerange of sectors like heavy industry, supporting industries, chemical andpetrochemical industries, and multi-sectoral industry.
The park has been investing to complete the synchronised technicalinfrastructure, providing services of electricity, water, natural gas andindustry, telecommunications information ... to the fence of customers'factories. This is a big difference compared to other industrial zones and istrusted and highly appreciated by investors.
Phu My 3 SIP provides comprehensive investment support services in multilanguages via a one-stop service that assists customers with all affairs relatingto investment procedures, legal issues, recruitment, logistics, and on-sitecustoms services.
With a port inside and logistic services available, the park is an idealdestination for companies in all sectors ranging from heavy industry tochemicals and automobile to supporting industries as it helps them cut costsand enjoy comprehensive services.
The park has an excellent location with access to key traffic infrastructuresuch as National Highway 51, National Highway 1A, the HCM – Long Thanh Dau GiayExpressway, Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway, the Trans – Asia Road,inter-regional highways, inter-port roads, and inter-industrial zone roads.
Nguyen Thi Thao Nhi, chairwoman of the Thanh Binh Phu My JSC, said her companyis strengthening its relationship with international organisations like JETRO,JICA, HCM City Japanese Friendship Club (JCCH), Korea Trade-InvestmentPromotion Agency (KOTRA), Korean Chamber of Commerce (KOCHAM), American Chamberof Commerce (AMCHAM), and European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EUROCHAM),Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) to attract more foreign investors to BaRia-Vung Tau in general and to Phu My 3 SIP in particular.
Phu My 3 SIP recently attracted 20 projects, among that there are 3 Koreaninvestors, 1 joint venture from Switzerland, 12 Japanese investors with a totalcapital of around 22.5 trillion VND.
Her company has kept investing in infrastructure and amenities to offer tenantsconvenience.
For instance, it has offices for rent, a conference centre and a restaurant. Infuture, it plans to build an 18-hole golf course, sports centre and lodging toserve expats working and living in the park.
“Our goal is to develop a comprehensive modern industrial park that meetsinternational standards and attracts investors from diverse sectors whileensuring sustainability and environment friendliness,” Nhi said.
The development of Phu My 3 SIP is clear proof that the development ofindustrial parks is an indispensable trend the province has to pursue to reachthe goal of becoming an international logistics centre, ensuring sustainabilityand doubling its economy within 15 years./.
VNA
