Part 2: Daring think, knowing how to do
When entering its process of construction and development, Binh Duong has inherited achievements from Song Be, especially the thinking of "Rolling out the flowered mat to call for investment". The formation and development of concentrated industrial parks (Ips) is a cross-cutting and extremely important goal on the local development way. The local Party, government and people have mobilized all resources on implementing the policy of industrialization and modernization.
Industry as the center
In an interview with Binh Duong Newspaper about the event of splitting Song Be province into two provinces Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc, comrade Ho Minh Phuong, former Chairman of provincial People's Committee said that: "When being separated, Binh Duong got more favorable conditions because its area is smaller while some regions in the South already had the germ of industrial and service development. When being separated, Binh Duong had the opportunity to participate in the southern key economic region in a worthy way.
.jpg)
Following the success of Song Than I Industrial Park, Binh Duong has focused on developing many other IPs, strengthening reform on administrative procedures to attract investment, creating a breakthrough in socio-economic development
Then, at the end of 1997, the 6th Binh Duong provincial Party Congress determined the goals and requirements for industrialization and modernization, continuing maintaining the momentum of economic growth at a high and stable level, creating positive conditions for economic restructuring and well solving the society’s pressing problems. In particular, the resolution of the congress determined: "Industry is a central stage, playing an important role in socio-economic development of the province and the southern key economic region".
Based on the guidelines and policies of the Party and State, provincial leaders have researched and set up a plan to develop concentrated IPs. The success of the first IPs such as Song Than I (established in 1995) has paved the way for the formation and development of more IPs. The province has planned 13 concentrated IPs with a total area of 6,200 hectares. When entering the process of construction and development, Binh Duong has had a total of 7 Ips, including Song Than I, Song Than II, Dong An, Binh Duong, Viet Huong, Tan Dong Hiep and VSIPs with a total area of 1,500 hectares.
The formation of the IPs has brought about very encouraging results. At this time, the amount of domestic and foreign investment in Binh Duong has begun increasing sharply. In particular, investment projects in the IPs have actively contributed to the shift of the province's economic structure towards industrialization and modernization. On the other hand, the formation of the IPs has promoted various services, gradually forming up new urban areas. The obvious effect of the IPs is a great contribution to economic growth, rapidly changing the local socio-economic face. The results from the development of the Ips have shown the sound leadership of the local Party and government, winning people’s faith.
Maintaining the spirit of renewal
At that time, along with advantages, Binh Duong also faced many difficulties, especially in terms of traffic infrastructure and human resources. This required an innovative spirit of daring think, knowing how to do. Despite having a favorable geographical position in the southern key economic region, Binh Duong then had a low starting point compared to neighboring localities. Moreover, Binh Duong does not have a seaport or airport, which is also a difficulty in the process of "rolling out flowered mats to call for investment".
Mr. Phuong shared that there is no seaport or airport, but if knowing how to develop, we can still turn these difficulties into advantages. This is because Binh Duong to seaports, the airport is not too far. Hence, the roads must be widened, which are strategic roads like National Highway 13…”. At that time, Binh Duong continued carrying out the slogan of "rolling out the flowered mat to call for investment", then the slogan of "rolling out the red carpet to attract talents". Binh Duong has always proactively set out policies in advance, especially in treating investors…"
From that point of view, the province focused on investing in key projects, specifically the decision of building National Highway 13, considering this an important traffic life-line for industrial development. “If we can do this, new investors will come to IPs like VSIP 1, My Phuoc Ips 1, 2, 3. If we don't build the National Highway 13, we can't solve the problem of investment attraction. At that time, Binh Duong decided to do such several key projects to pave the way for development …”, said Mr. Phuong.
Along with investing in key projects, Binh Duong stepped up administrative reform, creating the most favorable conditions for investors. The "one-stop shop” mechanism at that time brought the province to the top position in the provincial competitiveness index (PCI). Talking about this, Mr. Phuong said: "Before that, investors had to go to all functional departments and sectors to do relevant administrative procedures, making enterprises face difficulties. I did not agree with that so that provincial Department of Planning and Investment was assigned to take full responsibility. Every Thursday, provincial Department of Planning and Investment and relevant agencies reported to provincial People's Committee on administrative procedures work…”
With the spirit of dynamism and creativity, the Party, government and people of Binh Duong made great efforts to overcome challenges, successfully implementing the Resolution of the 6th provincial Party Congress. These achievements are the important premise, creating a new position and force for Binh Duong to stand firmly and continue advancing rapidly on the way of industrialization and modernization... (to be continued)
In the period of 1997-2000, the province's gross domestic product maintained an average growth rate of 14% per year; State budget revenue increased by 9% per year; the per capita income of the local people increased by 10.4% per year. The province's economic structure until 2000 was industry - service - agriculture with the corresponding proportion: 58% - 25.1% - 16.9%. In particular, the province’s industrial production maintained an average growth rate of 32.4%. Of these, the State economic sector grew by 9% while the non-State economic sector increased by 27%, the foreign investment sector by 46%...
When Binh Duong was separated, it was very determined, setting the goal of not letting be inferior to any other locality in the region. What was the specific problem at the moment? Previously, the old Song Be had a number of IPs in the southern region. In 1995 and 1996, the province also deliberated construction of VSIP I. Since then, the province has focused on developing a number of Ips, identifying key tasks…”. (Comrade Ho Minh Phuong, former Chairman of provincial People's Committee)
Reported by Dam Thanh-Translated by Kim Tin
