In its sustainable development strategy, along with attracting investment into modern industries and advanced manufacturing, Binh Duong is actively promoting investment in urban infrastructure development. Priority is given to traffic infrastructure under the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model and high-tech service sectors.
Enhancing connectivity with Ho Chi Minh city
Binh Duong plans to invest tens of trillions of dong in various traffic projects to improve connectivity with Ho Chi Minh city. Key projects include the expansion of National Highway 13, the road connecting to the Ho Chi Minh City – Thu Dau Mot – Chon Thanh expressway, belt roads 3 and 4 of Ho Chi Minh city and the extension of Metro Line 1, helping strengthen links between Ho Chi Minh city and Binh Duong.
Recent investment in Binh Duong’s traffic infrastructure have improved connectivity among industrial parks, facilitated the movement of goods, reduced transportation costs and enhanced regional traffic flow within the Southeastern region while improving links to the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands regions, boosting the region’s overall socio-economic development.
According to economic expert Dr. Tran Du Lich, with pioneering and breakthrough policies in traffic infrastructure development, Binh Duong has achieved significant milestones in its socio-economic progress in recent years. The province has actively mobilized various resources to invest in a more complete and efficient traffic network, better serving the travel, goods transportation and trade needs of both residents and businesses. In addition to the regional road transport projects currently being implemented across the province, the master plan includes 12 urban railway lines connecting Binh Duong with Ho Chi Minh city and Dong Nai. Among these planned routes, priority should be given to the immediate development of the urban railway line connecting Binh Duong New City in Thu Dau Mot city to Suoi Tien station in Ho Chi Minh city. This line, spanning over 30 kilometers, is proposed to follow the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model.
Effectively tapping advantages
After nearly 30 years of investment attraction and industrial development, Binh Duong has achieved remarkable success, notably ranking second in the country in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction. However, experts suggest that for sustainable growth and a socio-economic breakthrough in the new phase, the province must also develop its urban and service sectors through major projects. Binh Duong holds a strategic advantage as its Smart Region has been named among the world's Smart21 Communities by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) for five consecutive years. In the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, Binh Duong was listed among the Top 7 Communities with Exemplary Smart City Development Strategies. Notably, Binh Duong's Innovation Region was honored by the ICF as the Community with the Most Exemplary Smart Development Strategy of 2023 (Top 1 ICF 2023).
The A1 Roundabout Complex (WTC Gateway) currently under development in Binh Duong New City is expected to domestically and internationally attract more investment, business and technology into Binh Duong. "Covering an area of 168,000 square meters, WTC Gateway comprises a shopping mall, a center for arts, culture, sports and an exhibition center. This is also the first urban development model in Binh Duong under the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) concept, located near major traffic routes and has received significant attention from the province. Binh Duong’s traffic infrastructure continues being developed to meet the growing demands of the socio-economic development of the province and the Southern Key Economic Region. Along with transportation, the province’s industrial infrastructure represents another key advantage. Nearly 30 modern industrial parks have been established across Binh Duong, offering seamless connections to roadways and waterways, enabling efficient access to airports and seaports for both imports and exports. In addition to the existing industrial parks that are effectively meeting the production and business needs of investors, a new 7-hectare central terminal is under development, providing direct connections to Thu Duc city and the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien Metro Line in Ho Chi Minh city.
"Many potential investors have expressed strong interest in partnering with Binh Duong to develop a modern, civilized urban environment. Jung Wonju, Chairman of South Korea’s Daewoo E&C shared that Daewoo E&C wishes to collaborate with Becamex IDC to invest in urban development projects in Binh Duong. Accordingly, the group will conduct market research and feasibility studies for potential real estate and urban development projects while exploring investment opportunities in other sectors such as construction, infrastructure and transportation. Meanwhile, representatives from Japan’s IHI Corporation expressed their desire to contribute to Binh Duong’s dynamic development, with a particular focus on traffic infrastructure and high technology. Similarly, Japan’s Tokyu Corporation has expressed interest in investing in the development of a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Binh Duong to support the province’s Metro Line 1 and Line 2 projects in the future.
According to provincial leaders, focusing on industrial development causes an imbalance in creating a sustainable living environment, thereby creating a number of problems and challenges on health care, education, service systems... not being on par with the province's development. To address these issues, provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee have initiated breakthrough programs to develop services and urban areas in a civilized, modern and sustainable manner. These include integrating industrial development with science and technology, linking manufacturing with R&D and high-quality education, expanding trade, services and urban areas through international collaboration. This strategy aims at supporting the current ecosystem and narrow the gap between the industrial and service sectors in the province’s economic structure.
With a high rate of urbanization, Binh Duong has continued unlocking significant potential and opportunities for breakthroughs in commercial, service and urban development. In this context, BInh Duong New City will maintain its role as a central hub. The emerging World Trade Center in Binh Duong New City is poised to become a highlight. National and international-level events have been successfully hosted in the province while strategic investment in core technical infrastructure projects has created a strong ripple effect at the growing needs of investors in new sectors, contributing to accelerating the local urbanization process in a civilized and modern direction.
Reported by Ngoc Thanh-Translated by Kim Tin
