Apart from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang remained the preferred destination for both domestic and foreign investment in 2019 thanks to its favourable geographical position with beautiful mountains, romantic rivers and amazing beaches, along with its open and transparent investment environment.

General Director of Mikazuki Group Yoshimune Odaka said he decided to choose Da Nang to develop the Group’s projects because he was impressed with the beauty of the Xuan Thieu beach which featured the harmonious beauty of picturesque mountains and sea with clear blue water.

He added Da Nang, and Japan’s Katsuura Province where the headquarters of Mikazuki Group is located, shared many similarities in geographical position. Besides, Da Nang has great potential for economic development, especially the tourism industry. Most notably, the city hosts over 50 tourism events every year.

“To me, Da Nang is in line with Mikazuki Group's business philosophy of development of international-standard tourism projects” Mr Odaka emphasised.

The Japanese investor remarked work started on his group’s tourism project in the city thanks to the active support from the municipal leaders and relevant local agencies.

General Director Odaka hoped that the local authorities would continue creating very favourable conditions for his group to effectively operate in the city in the year ahead.

Mr Kevin Loebbaka, Chief Operating Officer for Universal Alloy Corporation (UAC), said his corporation had sought investment opportunities in many countries worldwide, and then decided to choose Da Nang to set up the 172 million US$ Sunshine aerospace components factory.

He said that he personally have much sympathy with Vietnamese people. He revealed a large number of exceptionally talented Vietnamese people are working at UAC in California. They were very proficient in Maths, science and outsourcing. Also, he has made very good friendships with Vietnamese people.

“As we decided to invest in Da Nang, we received special support from the city government from granting investment permits, and issuing preferential policies for investment projects in the city’s Hi-Tech Park”, Mr Kevin Loebbaka said gratefully.

He hoped that, during the year, the municipal authorities would facilitate his group to connect with potential Vietnamese partners in order to effectively implement their project in the city.

Mr Vuong Ngoc Hoang, Director of the East Sea Technology Engineering Electrical Automation Company (ESTEC), affirmed Da Nang is one of the country’s creative and innovative startup hubs with the 3^rd largest Hi-Tech Park. It also played a vital role in promoting the central region’s economic growth.

“Therefore, Da Nang is very attractive to us to develop our business activities, boost technology transfer, and build a team of technological experts.” Hoang remarked.

Director Hoang said the his company’s ESTEC Automation and Digitalisation Factory project was granted an investment permit from the Authority of the Da Nang Hi-tech Park and Industrial Zones in January 2018. The construction of the nearly 1ha project will cost around 8 million USD in total.

In recent years, Da Nang has emerged as a magnet for domestic and foreign investment thanks to its suitable development orientations, its open investment environment, and its preferential mechanisms and policies.

Mr Hoang added “In 2020, we will focus on promoting the development of digital solutions to create high-quality products, thereby partly helping to boost the progress of the Hi-Tech Park, and Da Nang as a whole”.

Mr Satoru Takizawa, the General Director of Daiwa Viet Nam Co., Ltd, based in the Hoa Khanh Industrial Park cum Chairman of the Japanese Business Association in Da Nang (JCCID), underscored that over the past two decades, the Japanese business community has always joined forces the city’s authorities for the city’s progress. Specially, many Japanese investors have considered Da Nang as their second home.

The Japanese national said the city leaders have always listened to all JCCID-suggested matters relating to infrastructure development, investment environment and human resources, and done their utmost to resolve them. This has demonstrated the city’s great efforts in helping domestic and foreign investors overcome their difficulties to operate effectively in the city.

Mr Takizawa wished that the city’s plans and goals will bear fruit in 2020. He also hoped that the municipal government would continue to facilitate the Japanese business community in the year ahead.

He pledged that all JCCID member companies would make greater efforts for the growth of Da Nang in particular, and Viet Nam in general.

According to Long Hau JSC Director Bui Le Anh Hieu, in the eyes of investors, Da Nang is really great place that converges the most favorable and most developed socio-economic conditions in Viet Nam.

The central coastal city boasts its attractive investment environment, its clean, modern and healthy living environment, and well-trained human resources from prestigious educational institutes.

Also, the city has paid special attention to accelerating administrative reforms, thereby shortening time for handling investment procedures.

The municipal authorities are willing to help investors overcome their difficulties relating to investment procedures, and production and business activities.

His main reason to build the first hi-tech factory cluster for lease in the Da Nang-based Hi-tech Park is that the park has the most preferential incentive policy in the country and low investment costs.

In addition, Da Nang is less susceptible to such natural disasters as storms and flood. It boasts modern traffic infrastructure systems, with convenient transportation via roads, railways, airways, and waterways.

Director Hieu said covering a total of over 29.6 ha of land, the 1.050 billion VND cluster project, once completed, will provide ready-built factories, with an area of 500 - 3,300 m² each, for investors, alongside 170 m² offices. Mr Hieu said his company is planning to offer its property for lease to about 120 enterprises involved in hi-tech support industry which together will create job opportunities for around 8,000 job seekers.

By KHANH HOA - Translated by MAI DUNG