Fifty years after the country's complete liberation, Binh Duong has transformed from a poor province into one of Vietnam’s leading industrial hubs. Today, Binh Duong ranks first nationwide in per capita income, second in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction and is among the top localities in social welfare, especially in caring for policy beneficiaries and those who rendered service to the nation. This success is attributed to generations of provincial leaders who have wisely leveraged local advantages, remained united and steadfastly worked to build up a prosperous, civilized and affectionate Binh Duong.
For many years, Binh Duong has consistently ranked among the top provinces in investment attraction. Analyzing the necessary and sufficient conditions for Binh Duong to strongly attract both domestic and foreign investment, policy makers believe that the province has possessed all the key factors: favorable timing, advantageous geography and above all, its people who are united and willing to sacrifice personal interests for the common ones of the province. In evaluating the effectiveness of Binh Duong's FDI attraction, even the UK-based Financial Times recognized that Binh Duong is part of the Southern Key Economic Quadrangle, located near major cities, with advantages in land availability and open investment attraction policies.
Phrases such as “unity and willingness to sacrifice personal interests for collective ones” or “open investment policies” ultimately point to a crucial factor—people. To attract investment, it is essential to have consistent guidelines, open and transparent policies. Therefore, human factors remain the most important. To achieve these results, generations of provincial leaders over periods have consistently implemented the local policy on investment promotion, together with the unity and consensus of people from all strata in the province. For those who have long been attached to the land of Song Be, they would surely remember that from the early days of industrialization, leaders of Song Be province introduced policies on “Rolling out the floral mat to welcome investors” and “Laying down the red carpet to attract talents”. After Song Be was divided, leaders of Binh Duong province have persistently continued implementing the “floral mat” policy to attract both domestic and foreign investors.
To make this “floral mat” truly appealing to investors, both leaders and citizens of the province have worked hand in hand. Local people voluntarily relocated their houses to make way for industrial parks and traffic infrastructure facilities. The local authorities implemented open policies and quickly resolved investors’obstacles…They were concrete actions done by the local authorities and people. Thanks to the persistent application of this “floral mat” policy, Binh Duong has known as an attractive destination on Vietnam’s investment map.
Overcoming the difficult early days of building together, the "floral mat" of that day created a miracle, helping Binh Duong rise up, becoming a bright spot of the whole country in the process of industrialization and modernization during the period of national renovation.
Reported by Le Quang-Translated by Kim Tin
