Intensifying FDI in high-tech sectors

10:12, 24/12/2012

In 2012, HCM City and its neighboring provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai continue to hold the country’s leading position in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) capital attraction.

In 2012, HCM City and its neighboring provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai continue to hold the country’s leading position in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) capital attraction. High technology, services and research and development (R&D) are also main focus in FDI capital attraction in the coming period.

High technology, services and research and development are main focus in FDI capital attraction in the coming period
High technology, services and research and development are main focus in FDI capital attraction in the coming period

Until November 2012, HCMC had attracted over 4,402 FDI projects with a total capital of more than US$31.7 billion. In November alone, there were 278 newly-licensed FDI projects and 73 operating projects added capital, bringing the total amount of FDI capital to over US$1.15 billion. Especially, with the orientation of attracting investment in high-tech sectors, so far the Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP) has attracted 66 projects worth more than US$2.219 billion from the world leading Corporations and high-tech companies such as Intel, Jabil of the US, Nidec from Japan and Datalogic from Italy.

Associate Professor, Doctor Le Hoai Quoc, Head of the SHTP Management Board said the Government and HCMC have recently invested some important facilities in the park for R&D activities such as a laboratory for semiconductor chip technology, a laboratory for Nanotechnology, a laboratory for precise mechanical engineering and biotechnology R&D department. So far, many laboratories have become operational and shown effectiveness, attracting a lot of domestic scientists and overseas Vietnamese experts to work there. HCMC will continue to focus on promoting its advantages of a economic center in the Southern region to attract FDI in high-tech industries, contributing to create high added value.

In Dong Nai Province, FDI capital have been concentrating on high-tech projects and support industries. At the recently held press conference to sum up socioeconomic situation in 2012 and tasks for 2013, Ho Ngoc Thu, Director of the Provincial Department of Planning and Investment said in 2012 there were 32 newly-licensed FDI projects with a total capital of US$653 million and 66 operating projects added investment capital worth US$547 million, bringing the total amount of FDI capital to US$1.2 billion. Notably, the proportion of projects in high-tech and support industries are increasing. In 2013, the province will restructure its industry sectors towards increasing the proportion of high-tech and environmentally-friendly industries and gradually shift from processing and assembling to manufacturing. Dong Nai also set a target for 2013 with a particular focus on developing support industries to serve key industries such as mechanical engineering, electricity-electronics and clean food processing.

Holding the champion position in FDI attraction this year is Binh Duong Province with estimated capital amount of US$2.6 billion, far exceeding the initial target set at the early 2012 (over US$1 billion). Of this figure, US$1.58 billion was from 105 newly-licensed projects and the remaining amount was added capital from 114 operating projects of industrial and high-tech enterprises including Sun Steel producing corrugated iron and steel; Saigon Stec Co, Ltd producing electronic circuits of camera in mobile phones and Wonderful Saigon Electrics and VSIPI Industrial Park producing camera modules. Presently, the total amount of FDI projects in Binh Duong Province has reached 2,117 projects coming from 40 countries and territories with total investment capital of over US$17.3 billion.

With continuous and tireless efforts and discriminating orientation in investment attraction, three provinces and cities in the Southeastern region including HCMC, Binh Duong and Dong Nai continue to play their key and leading role in attracting foreign investors in Vietnam in 2012.

(Source: VEN)