Binh Duong province has absorbed foreign investors, because of not only abundant land resource adjacent to HCM City but also open hearts always welcoming those who want to be friends with "the beautiful Binh Duong”! That is the inevitable consequence of the motto “laying out red carpet” launched by leadership of former Song Be province and Binh Duong province later to invite investors…
It is the first step that costs
The narrow 13 Street in the past is now the 13 Highway constructed by Becamex IDC. It is the first impression proving changes of this land. In 1993- 1994, local economy depended solely on rubber tree, cashew, and apparel items. Leaders of the province had to find a way to promote advantages of land and labor, develop industrialization, reduce agricultural density. At that time, the country had no industrial zone, only export processing zones 100% foreign invested in HCM City. Song Be province was allocated 180 hectares of land of the 4th Corps in Song Than for economic development. This required VND40 billion for the Corps to move and VND100 billion to set up infrastructure. How could a poor province have that big money?
It is the first step that costs. Provincial leadership called on businesses to invest. Investors were allocated lands and paid land use fees. Thus, Song Than 1 industrial park was born, paving the way for following industrial parks of domestic investment. The next big project was Vietnam – Singapore industrial park (VSIP), a joint venture between Vietnam and Singapore and was represented by Becamex IDC. This brought Binh Duong province to a new era, industrialization and modernization process.
Reap fruit season
Heroic names of Bau Bang, Dau Tieng, D warzone, Iron Triangle... are now filled by the industrial zones with a total area of approximately 9,500 hectares. In 1997, when the two Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Singapore shoveled in the groundbreaking day of VSIP 1, and Vietnam contributed 49% capital. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, CEO of Becamex IDC representing Vietnamese investor, said: “It was so hard to mobilize enough 49% capital. In the future, this will be a clean, modern industrial park developing high-tech industries, such as: manufacturing electronic components, additives… Total industrial output will reach $1 billion/ year; exports $750 million/ year...”
A corner of VSIP.
That desire becomes true now. Now, VSIP I is not only filled with manufacturing facilities but also expanded with VSIP II, and then industrial parks in Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Quang Ngai, and then will be Nghe An, creating jobs for the poor in many provinces and cities nationwide. Becamex IDC also built up My Phuoc 1, 2, 3, and Thoi Hoa, Bau Bang industrial park. In 2014, Binh Duong province had 27/29 industrial parks that are running, filling 65% of leased land, increasing exports 17.5% over the same period.
Along with economic development, the province has focused on administrative reform and ensuring social security in order to improve people’s life. Integrated Administrative Center in Binh Duong New City was established to assemble agencies and organizations, implement one-stop procedure, serving better people. Administrative reform has also strongly contribute to the improvement of people’s life, solving problems of social security. In 2013, Binh Duong province was ranked at 3/63 national provinces and cities in terms of administrative reform index by Ministry of Interior.
Recently, in a meeting with journalists, Mr. Nguyen Huu Tu, Deputy Secretary of Binh Duong Party Committee, said: " At the recent conference, Binh Duong has 9 issues appreciated by the conference. These were: strategies of economic development; development towards integration and attracting investment; preferences for economic development such as industrial parks combined with high quality services; strategic breakthrough in transport infrastructure development... " The most impressive issue, in opinion of the writer, was the breakthrough in thinking for economic development towards industrialization - high quality services to improve human life, turning towards humans, social security.
This has been proved by many new projects, such as: Hoa Loi urban area with 2,500 social houses having 30m2 each and price of VND100-140 million each to accommodate poor workers and low-income people. In the future, Becamex IDC will construct to have 64,700 houses for nearly 140,000 people. Roads, like: Pham Ngoc Thach, 7A, bus shuttle Becamex - Tokyu, 7 roads connecting Binh Duong New City with TDM City, will increase happiness. In the near future, modern transport network of Binh Duong will connect with HCM City, facilitating and attracting students to Eastern International University, Vietnam - Germany University, 1,500-sickbed hospital, My Phuoc hospital…
In celebration of the 40th Southern Liberation, National Reunification anniversary, we were more proud of changes of poor revolutionary land of the past. There were so many persons that deceased for the great victory, for Binh Duong. Binh Duong province is in its ripe fruit season. That is a pride, an inevitable result of the consistent struggle, a breakthrough thinking and strategy to develop Binh Duong province.
Reported by L.Nga – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
