Moving closer to the goal of changing the function of the oldest industrial park

With more than 96% of the land area already cleared, Dong Nai province has moved closer to the goal of converting the function of Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park into a modern, ecological and environmentally friendly urban area.

Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park at the initial phase of functional conversion. Photo: Pham Tung

Not only giving a “facelift” to a land area, this conversion also shows the province’s strategic vision in sustainable urban development and industrial space restructuring.

Most factories relocated

Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park was once the largest industrial center in the South. However, after more than half a century of operation, much of its infrastructure has deteriorated, the risk of pollution to Dong Nai river water source has been ever-present and more importantly, it is no longer suitable with the new development orientation of the province. After being approved in principle by the Government, the province built a project and implemented land recovery steps in accordance with regulations.

Completing site clearance of Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park is the current key task. When having clean land fund, the province will prioritize developing park systems, transport infrastructure and public buildings and housing to create new momentum for socio-economic growth.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Ut

Deputy Director of the Provincial Land Fund Development Center Le Thanh Dien said: Up to now, compensation and site clearance have reached about 96% of the land area subject to recovery. Regarding the remaining part, functional agencies are actively coordinating propaganda and mobilization for enterprises to urgently dismantle works and hand over clean land to the State.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Tran Trong Toan said: Most production facilities here were built many years ago, using outdated technology and the industrial park does not have an on-site standard wastewater treatment system. Therefore, relocating production facilities not only creates a foundation to implement the functional conversion project but also contributes to significantly reducing waste discharged into the environment, protecting water source of Dong Nai river.

Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Ho Van Ha expressed: The fact that many enterprises proactively relocated and handed over land shows their sense of responsibility and companionship with the province’s development orientation. Also according to the provincial leader, over the last years, Dong Nai has always created favorable conditions for production and business activities at Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park, but in the face of new development requirements and environmental pressure, enterprises’ consensus has become a key factor, showing the spirit of “harmonized interests, shared risks”. This is both an opportunity for enterprises to restructure, innovate technology, improve productivity, and help the province restructure industrial and urban space in a more sustainable direction. The province accompanies and creates the most favorable conditions for enterprises to stabilize production at new locations in accordance with planning.

Building an ecological urban area

Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park is considered the “cradle” of the national industry. After completing land recovery, this area will be restructured into a civilized, modern and sustainable urban – service – commercial area, in which the new provincial political – administrative center will be a highlight. The project is expected to become a typical architectural landscape mark for Dong Nai, while improving the environment and reducing the risk of water source pollution.

Perspective of Dong Nai provincial political - administrative center at Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park after functional conversion.

Doctor Nguyen Bao Long, Deputy Director of Partnership of the Ho Chi Minh City-based Boston Consulting Group Company Limited assessed: Dong Nai now possesses a vast development space with many new advantages. Selecting the right areas with outstanding potential to create breakthrough development steps is extremely important. In the process of preparing the provincial planning adjustment dossier for the period 2021–2030, vision to 2050, the consulting team included Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park and the Dong Nai riverfront space into the cluster of improving quality of life and sustainable development, aiming to maximize landscape advantages and urbanization momentum.

At the appraisal meeting of the provincial planning adjustment dossier on February 12, Doctor - Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City-based NgoViet Architects & Planners also emphasized that the area along Dong Nai river, including Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park under the ongoing  process of functional conversion, has great potential to form a chain of modern riverside urban areas. According to the architect, this is a strategic orientation because it not only expands urban space but also creates a living environment harmonious with nature. Exploiting water surface advantages and organizing new urban spatial axes will improve people’s quality of life and create a distinctive landscape identity for Dong Nai.

Dong Nai sets the goal of developing the urban system that is sustainable, smart, green and adaptable to climate change. Exploiting the ecological spatial axis along Dong Nai river to develop urban, tourism, service – cultural – entertainment, in parallel with ecosystem protection, is an orientation identified in the province’s resolutions and plans. With more than 96% of site clearance completed, the province is moving closer to its goal of transforming the old industrial park, which carries a high risk of environmental pollution, into a green, modern urban space. This is considered an important stepping stone for the province to continue implementing functional conversion models and developing more sustainable industrial parks in the future, contributing to elevating urban areas and creating new development momentum.

By Hoang Loc - Translated by Diec Quyen, Thu Ha