On February 23, 2023, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting between provincial leaders and diplomatic agencies, associations and businesses. This is an opportunity for provincial leaders to strengthen their cooperation and friendship between the province and foreign diplomatic missions; encourage enterprises to actively develop production and business.
Long An - A friendly investment destination
Long An is considered as a potential locality for investment and development, as a gateway from Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region to the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta region. With many reasonable policies and strategies to attract investment and synchronously build infrastructure, Long An becomes an attractive investment destination.
Over the past time, provincial leaders have strengthened ties with the business community and diplomatic agencies to promote the image of Long An and attract investment.
In addition, the provincial government also identifies economic diplomacy as a fundamental task, an important driving force for rapid and sustainable development. Over the past time, provincial leaders have strengthened their connection with many foreign diplomatic agencies, organizations and associations in Vietnam such as the Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City, the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City, Japan Business Association (JCCH) in Ho Chi Minh City, Japan Trade Promotion Organization (JETRO) in Ho Chi Minh City, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Ho Chi Minh City, Trade Association and Korean Industry in Ho Chi Minh City (KOCHAM), Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City, European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam - Australia Entrepreneurs Association, Vietnam Business Association in Japan;etc. Through these diplomatic relationships, the image of Long An is widespread, as one of the friendly investment destinations with favorable conditions for enterprises to invest in production and business.
Long An currently has nearly 40 countries and territories investing, operating in production and business with 1,162 projects, total investment capital reached nearly 10.1 billion USD. Currently, FDI inflows are concentrated in industrial zones and clusters in the province. In addition to FDI enterprises, enterprises with domestic investment capital also effectively accompany the province in economic development. Up to now, the province has 15,374 businesses registered to operate with a total registered capital of 364,347 billion VND. In addition, the province also has 2,167 domestic investment projects with registered capital of 218,881 billion VND.
In 2022, Long An successfully implemented the set goals, targets and tasks. 19/19 targets of the Resolution of Provincial Party Committee were achieved and exceeded. Notably, the economic growth rate reached 8.46%; per capita income was over 90 million VND; disbursement of public investment reached 100% of the plan; investment capital attracting in the top 10 in the country and leading the Mekong Delta region in attracting FDI.
A dynamic economic development center
Long An has carried out the preparation of the Provincial Planning for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, which has been highly appreciated by the Appraisal Council and is being submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. The general view of the planning is that Long An develops in accordance with the socio-economic development strategies and plans of the region and the country. The core ideas of the provincial plan are based on the main economic corridors linking with Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta region and local development conditions, in which, ensuring inheritance and development. This is expected to be a strategic plan to create a solid foundation associated with outstanding socio-economic development goals and serve as a basis for attracting investment in the coming time.The provincial planning has set out the goal of building "Long An to become a vibrant and sustainable economic development center of the Mekong Delta region based on green industry, automation, innovative and creative sci-tech". Accordingly, Long An has determined specific goals for the period 2021-2030, in which the growth rate will be about 9%/year; economic structure to shift towards industrialization, the proportion of contribution of agriculture, industry - construction and service sectors to the added value of the economy to be 7%, 64% and 29%, respectively; create an average of 30,000-35,000 jobs/year in the period 2021-2030, mainly in the processing, manufacturing and service industries; per capita income reached 180 million VND/person/year. Striving to make Long An the center of dynamic and sustainable economic development of the Mekong Delta region, in the group of 10 localities with the largest economic scale of the country based on green industry, automation, science, technology and innovation in 2030.
Always accompanying the businesses
Long An is in the process of strengthening investment and trade cooperation between the province and agencies, organizations, enterprises, domestic and foreign investors through meeting, exchanging and introducing the investment environment. Thereby, Long An wishes to tighten the friendship between the province and the diplomatic missions of countries, domestic and foreign associations; at the same time, showing the province's interest and companionship for domestic and foreign investors and businesses operating in the province.
In particular, in order to successfully implement the Provincial Plan for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the provincial government hopes that businessmen, enterprises that are producing and doing business in the area will continue to promote their active role at the forefront of economic development. To accompany businesses, the provincial government continues to make strong changes in administrative reform, improve the investment and business environment and the quality of service to the people. Currently, Long An is implementing a project to evaluate the competitiveness index at departmental, sectoral and local levels (Department and District Competitiveness Index - DDCI).
Accordingly, Long An is building a toolkit to survey and evaluate the directing and operating capacity of provincial-level departments and branches and district-level People's Committees; assess the attitude, quality of guidance and resolution of officials, civil servants and public employees towards people and businesses; assess the level of interest of people and businesses in undertakings and policies related to all socio-economic fields, thereby promoting emulation and improving the quality of economic administration for provincial-level departments and branches and district-level People's Committees.
In addition, the provincial government has drastically proposed solutions to improve the PCI index in 2022. The Provincial People's Committee has directed the heads of provincial departments, branches and localities to organize the synchronous and close implementation measures to detect, prevent and promptly handle acts of harassment, abuse of positions and powers, causing troubles and difficulties for businesses and people when carrying out administrative procedures as well as other duties performed by their units.
On the other hand, the Provincial People's Committee directs all levels and branches to focus on solving outstanding problems in handling problems and recommendations of enterprises and investors; increase publicity and transparency, especially land use master plans, socio-economic development plans,etc; drasticly implement administrative reform, focusing on overcoming the delay in administrative procedures, proactively reviewing and advising on the reduction or annulment of business licenses and certificates that are not needed.
The evaluation of the departmental, sectoral and local competitiveness index (DDCI) and the implementation of PCI improvement solutions is expected to be a dual set of indicators for the province to continue administrative reform in the spirit of serving people and businesses as well as improving economic management capacity. With that spirit, the provincial leaders will join forces, unite, and resolve to renew thinking, change the working style of the whole political system, with a consistent, cross-cutting point of view "always accompanying enterprises". The provincial government respects, is always ready to welcome and create all the most favorable conditions for investors and businesses to cooperate, develop, and succeed in Long An.
Provincial leaders will meet and listen to suggestions and recommendations of businesses operating in the province to share and solve difficulties; encouraging enterprises to actively develop production and business activities, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province./.
Source: https://news.baolongan.vn/accompanying-business-community-and-diplomatic-agencies-a150207.html