Thanks to its increased support policies, Da Nang has been quite successful in attracting foreign organizations, individuals and experts to invest, live and work, thereby contributing to building a more productive economy and diverse culture for the city.

Over the past 2 years, Mr. Gentzsch Andre Piere has witnessed strong bounce back of Da Nang's tourism industry after the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby contributing to improving service quality, and creating world-class experiences for international tourists. Photo: T.Y

Improving the quality of human resources

Coming from a country with advanced education and science and technology, Dr. Kasia Weina, a US nationality, who is a co-founder of Evergreen Labs (EGL) located in Ngu Hanh Son District, revealed that the reason why she chose Da Nang to deploy EGL's projects is that the city has issued many preferential policies for foreign investors. Included are reducing taxes on corporate income, simplifying administrative procedures, and creating favorable conditions for foreign investors to develop their projects.

Furthermore, Da Nang boasts a young, dynamic, and well-trained human resource that are ready to participate in community projects.

Holding the PhD degree in Biochemistry, Ms. Kasia Weina is qualified to work for large chemical companies in the US with a high salary but she still chose Da Nang to pursue a career in protecting the environment. She has become one of the few foreigners who encourage active participation of Da Nang’s young people in environmental protection. During her journey to protect the environment in Viet Nam, she considered Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, as her second hometown.

Apart from deploying EGL’s projects, she focuses on researching and finding sustainable solutions to environmental problems, such as waste minimization at source through offering glass bottling service to such vacation properties as the Hyatt and the Premier Village Danang resorts and Novotel Hotel in a bid to reduce their single-use plastic waste. These solutions can be referred as a domino effect to reduce plastic waste. Hence, the US female doctorate has created a circular economy in the tourism sector, and a comprehensive supply chain, as well as provided sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic waste.

According to Ms. Weina, travellers can collaborate with service providers to offer biodegradable or reusable items that help them reduce reliance on plastic during their stay in Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole. Currently, EGL's filling production line can fill 5 million bottles per year, equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by 1,044 tons per manufacturing plant.

In addition, the establishment of the Collector Network to provide Da Nang with EGL’s methods and skills for sustainable waste management is considered as thanks for Da Nang - an eco-friendly city which has a living environment in harmony with nature and rich resources.

Meanwhile, Mr. Gentzsch Andre Piere, the General Director of Furama - Ariyana Da Nang Tourism Complex, chose Da Nang to work and live due to its beautiful beaches, mild climate, safe and healthy living environment, and impressive tourist attractions.

After more than 2 years working for the tourism sector, he has witnessed strong bounce back of Da Nang's tourism industry after the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby contributing to improving service quality, and creating world-class experiences for international tourists.

According to him, Da Nang has a stable economic growth rate, and is an economic and tourism hub in Central Viet Nam, opening up opportunities for business projects and sustainable development.

The city’s promotion tourism programmes, along with cultural and food festivals, for foreigners have created conditions for tourism businesses, including the Bac My An Tourist Area JSC, to attract more international visitors.

During his management process of the Furama - Ariyana Da Nang, he realised that the municipal government and local relevant agencies have given his resort a favor as Ariyana has been chosen to host international seminars and investment promotion events.

“This choice not only reflects the quality of our services and infrastructure but also demonstrates the trust and support of the municipal government for us. Thanks to our close cooperation with local relevant agencies and the city’s favorable business environment, we can contribute more to the city’s sustainable development, and help the city shine in the global tourism map," Mr. Pierre emphasised.

Attracting foreigners with preferential policies

Da Nang is now home to 30,000 foreigners, most of whom are from Asian and European countries. It can be said that the presence of foreigners in Da Nang has created a multicultural environment where there is culture, customs and cuisines interference between countries around the world, thereby helping Da Nang become a dynamic city and attractive destination for foreigners.

In addition to the city’s favourable natural and human conditions, its leaders always give high priority to issuing support policies in an attempt to attract more foreign organizations and individuals, experts, and overseas Vietnamese to invest or live in Da Nang.

Notably, the corporate income tax incentive policy from 15 to 30 years for foreign investors, in which, corporate income tax exemption in the first years and 50% reduction of the tax for subsequent years are applied to them. In addition, exemption of import tax is applied to some goods, machinery and equipment that cannot be produced domestically. The initiatives aim to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) projects.

Most recently, in an effort to welcome a new wave of foreign investment, the Da Nang Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence Center for Research and Training (DSAC) has been established in the city. The intention is to develop high-quality human resources, as well as create a clean land fund, support mechanism, and an open and favorable investment environment for foreign investors.

Mr. Piere assessed that as soon as he decided to come to Da Nang to work, he was helped with visa and work permit grants. Along with that, the coordination mechanism in the management of residence and activities of foreigners between the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Public Security and competent agencies in Da Nang helps him feel happy to stick to the city’s tourism sector.

In recent years, the strong bounce back of the tourism sector and foreign investment attraction have simultaneously promoted the development of such related sectors as real estate, commerce, and services, thereby creating more job opportunities for locals, and enhancing the attractiveness of Da Nang in the international arena.

For example, in the first quarter of 2024, international arrivals in Da Nang reached nearly 636,000, an increase of 21.6% over the same period last year.

By the end of 2023, the city attracted 1,017 new FDI projects, totalling more than USD 4.25 billion, contributing to creating structural change for sustainable development in local economy.

Director of the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Xuan Binh affirmed that Da Nang highly appreciated the contributions of foreign organizations and individuals to the city in the aspects of economy, tourism, and services, along with their projects that bring benefits to local communities, children, and vulnerable people.

As a thank you for their contributions to the city, with the approval from the municipal government, the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs organizes an annual gathering for foreign ex-pats living and working in the city on the occasion of the Lunar New Year in order to honour foreign organizations and individuals with Certificates of Merit for their dedication to the city’s growth.

“In the coming time, I believe that Da Nang will continue to be an attractive destination for foreign investors or organizations and individuals due to its preferential policies to attract investments and boost tourism, as well as its piloted specific mechanisms and policies to promote the development of its economy," Mr. Binh said.

Reporting by TIEU YEN - Translating by CHAU NGAN