Delegates participating in the discussion session themed "Strengthening international trade and investment cooperation between Da Nang and partners" held in the city on Wednesday afternoon expressed their hope that Da Nang would create more favourable conditions for trade and investment cooperation between Da Nang and partners. The discussion session was part of the framework of the "Meeting ASEAN in Da Nang in 2025" event.

Mr. Sidharto R. Suryodipuro, Director General of ASEAN Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia cum Head of SOM ASEAN Indonesia spoke at the discussion session.

Expanding investment aspects

Ms. Urawadee Sriphiromya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Thailand to Viet Nam, expressed his delight at the increasingly close cooperation between Da Nang and Thai localities.

She also praised the great potential of Da Nang thanks to its strategical position of being located on the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) route, helping Da Nang become the centre of internal trade and commerce in the region. Additionally, the city boasts a modern and synchronous infrastructure with international airport and seaports, promising potential for the development of maritime trade and logistics.

Ms. Urawadee Sriphiromya added that Thai localities were eager to cooperate with Da Nang in effectively exploiting the EWEC. She informed that many leading enterprises in her country were looking for more investment opportunities in the central coastal city.

Mr. Sidharto R. Suryodipuro, Director General of ASEAN Cooperation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, and Head of ASEAN SOM Indonesia, said that Da Nang was one of the major cities in Viet Nam and the gateway to the central region.

Tourism is a key spearhead sector for the development of Da Nang, as evidenced by the fact that the city has become a favorite destination for Indonesian travellers. In 2024, an estimate of 42,000 Indonesian tourists visited Da Nang, a figure that will be further boosted by the introduction of direct flights to the city.

With these achievements in tourism, Mr. Sidharto R. Suryodipuro believed that the two localities will continue to strengthen tourism cooperation in the future, while also expanding collaborative efforts into other aspects such as trade, industry, and education.

Mr. Khor Kar Buan, General Director of Massda Land Company Limited, spoke at the discussion session.

Improved investment environment

After nearly 20 years of investing and doing business in Da Nang’s industrial parks, Mr. Khor Kar Buan, General Director of Massda Land Company Limited, expressed his impression of the city’s rapid growth in recent times. He affirmed that his enterprise always took people as the center for all business and development activities.

Mr. Khor Kar Buan voiced his hope that the municipal authorities will remove difficulties, increase interaction with and support for foreign partners and investors, and facilitate for businesses to speed up investment activities in the city.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ho Ky Minh affirmed that over the past years, Da Nang has always strived to enhance the investment environment and has gradually affirmed its position as an attractive, safe and sustainable investment destination in Viet Nam. The city’s initiatives focused on applying the model of "e-government - digital government" to assist investors with shortening the time to handle administrative procedures; developing modern infrastructure for local industrial parks and high-tech parks in order to meet the requirements of strategic investors; supporting human resource training, and connecting with educational - training institutions and on-site internship programmes.

Mr. Minh noted Da Nang is the first locality in Viet Nam to be allowed to pilot the implementation of the free trade zone project associated with Lien Chieu Seaport and the establishment of a regional financial centre.

He shared Da Nang eyed becoming a major socio-economic centre of the Central Highlands and ASEAN region; an international, smart, ecological and livable city; and a centre for innovation, high technology, logistics and finance in the region.

With the orientation, Da Nang will attach special importance to cooperating with partners in ASEAN, not only in trade and investment activities, but also in the fields of culture, education, environment and sustainable development.

Da Nang commits to always accompany and support investors throughout the implementation of their projects as well as ensure a transparent, equitable and long-term stable investment environment for investors.

Reporting by M.QUE, X.HAU, Q.CUONG - Translating by M.DUNG