A seminar took place in Da Nang on Friday to introduce the city's investment environment to businesses and investors.

Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh (standing) speaking at the seminar

In attendance at the event were municipal People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh, Indonesian Ambassador to Viet Nam Denny Abdi, Thai Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Wiraka Moodhitaporn, and representatives from many businesses.

In his opening speech delivered at the seminar, Chairman Chinh remarked that Da Nang was one of the five centrally-governed cities and played a leading role in developing the central key economic zone.

Da Nang ranked third in the country in gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth in 2022 with 14.05%. The city took a lead in terms of development speed and ranked 4^th in terms of development scale among the five centrally-governed cities.

Under the master plan for its major developments by 2030, with a vision to 2045, Da Nang will turn itself into a big, smart, liveable, coastal eco-city cum a startup and innovation hub in Asia.

Accordingly, the city focuses on developing three main pillars: tourism, high-tech industry and marine economy, and at the same time, prioritises attracting projects with new and advanced technologies, modern management, innovation capacity, and global supply chain connection.

Also, the city pays special attention to promoting the development of information technology, electronic component manufacturing, high technology, research and development, supporting industries, logistics, tourism services, high-value real estate, finance, education and sports.

Chairman Chinh hoped that more investors at both home and abroad would visit and carry out investment and business projects in the city. He pledged that the city will always create the most favourable conditions for investors to learn about the investment environment, and effectively implement projects in Da Nang.

President of the Da Nang branch of the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham Da Nang) Christopher Vanloon said that he was impressed by the city's great efforts in accompanying and facilitating the business community to develop and expand their production and business activities.

With many attractive incentives, businesses have many opportunities to connect, search and expand the investment environment in the city, he added.

The seminar in progress

Meanwhile, Ms. Michele Wee, General Director of the Standard Chartered Viet Nam, praised Da Nang for its great potential for developing the financial - banking sector in line with the market expansion plan in Viet Nam.

She, therefore, underlined a necessity for Da Nang to provide more information about the city's sustainable development plan for the Action Programme to implement the Master Strategy for Viet Nam's Service Sector Development in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Deputy Head of the Authority of the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Parks Nguyen Cong Tien said that Da Nang is developing a Hi-Tech Park with an area of more than 1,100 ha. The park’s area is expected to double by 2030.

He also informed that the city planned to develop 4 new industrial parks with a focus on biological ones towards a green economy. Currently, the occupancy rate in 6 local industrial parks is more than 90.

"The city has issued a lot of preferential policies for businesses which show their keen interest in investing in local Hi-Tech Park and industrial parks. Besides, we want enterprises to conduct research and invest in industrial park infrastructure development of new industrial parks" Mr. Tien added.

For the issue of supporting digital transformation for the business community, the city will facilitate businesses and digital transformation solution providers to join the Da Nang Software Association.

Mr. Tien said the Authority was coordinating with the city’s Investment and Development Fund to support businesses to access preferential capital to invest, upgrade equipment and innovate technology in service of digital transformation, thereby boosting production automation and transforming traditional factories into smart ones.

Ms. Wiraka Moodhitaporn, Consul General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City said Thailand and Viet Nam have a long-standing cooperative relationship. Thai businesses have invested a lot in Da Nang, mainly in the field of retail and construction.

"This week, we will work with many leading Thai businesses in Ho Chi Minh City which have plans to expand their business operations in Viet Nam in the field of logistics” she revealed.

She remarked that she would coordinate with the Da Nang Investment Promotion and Support Agency to provide the city’s investment information for Thai businesses. In addition, the Thai Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City plans to work with the University of Da Nang to solve some problems and expand cooperation with the city in the coming time.

Reporting by THANH LAN, VAN HOANG - Translating by M.DUNG