Dong Nai sets higher standards for FDI projects

Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW, issued by the Politburo on June 8, 2026, on the development of the foreign-invested economy, has provided fresh momentum for Dong Nai City. The forward-looking resolution is expected to help Dong Nai reshape its industrial landscape while enhancing the quality of industrial development through raising the bar for higher-quality foreign direct investment (FDI).

According to Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee (CPC) Vo Tan Duc, Dong Nai not only pioneered industrial development nationwide but was also among the country's first localities to establish large-scale, centralized industrial parks and attract FDI. Decades of industrial development and foreign investment have laid the foundation for the city's economic achievements today.

No longer a destination for low-value contract manufacturing

Recognizing the need for higher-quality foreign investment, Dong Nai has in recent years consistently rejected projects proposed by foreign-invested enterprises that rely on outdated technology, labor-intensive production or pose environmental risks. More importantly, the city has made it clear that it will no longer serve merely as a destination for low-value contract manufacturing and labor-intensive industries. Officials believe that continuing to attract such projects would leave the city trapped in the low-income trap and undermine its long-term competitiveness.

Students experience a digital space at Dong Nai Technology University.

At the same time, Dong Nai has been actively restructuring its industrial development landscape. One notable example is the closure and redevelopment of Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park, one of Vietnam's oldest industrial parks. The park had long accommodated factories engaged in steel production, chemicals, garment manufacturing, textiles and wood processing, industries associated with significant environmental risks. The successful relocation of these factories underscores Dong Nai's determination not to pursue economic growth at the expense of the environment.

According to experts from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai enjoys unique competitive advantages thanks to its well-developed infrastructure system, including Long Thanh International Airport, Phuoc An Port, an expanding expressway network, and, in the future, urban rail and the North–South High-Speed Railway. These infrastructure advantages are significantly increasing the value of land designated for industrial and service development across a broad area. Their strong connectivity, including links with the Cai Mep–Thi Vai Port system, further strengthens Dong Nai's competitiveness as a destination for high-quality investment.

Truong Thi Huong Binh, Director of Department of Finance, said Dong Nai is prioritizing high-tech FDI over low-tech, labor-intensive projects that generate limited added value. The strategy has already produced encouraging results, with an increasing number of high-tech companies establishing manufacturing facilities in Dong Nai for semiconductors, integrated circuits, electronics and advanced medical equipment. High-tech FDI projects not only generate sustainable economic benefits but must also be accompanied by strong commitments to environmental protection.

Rethinking FDI attraction

During recent working sessions with departments, agencies and local authorities, particularly communes and wards serving as key industrial growth drivers, Vu Hong Van, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC and Head of the Dong Nai Delegation of National Assembly Deputies, emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in development thinking.

He said the traditional view that a large number of industrial parks and factory workers is a source of pride is no longer suited to the new development requirements. Instead, Dong Nai must prioritize attracting high-tech enterprises that require less land, energy and labor while generating higher value added and making greater contributions to the state budget.

Secretary Vu Hong Van also reaffirmed the city's strategic vision of making Long Thanh International Airport the central growth engine for municipal planning and development, including industrial development. Prime sites near the airport will be reserved for next-generation industrial parks, high-tech zones, information technology centers and logistics hubs capable of generating substantial value added. Companies investing in Dong Nai should bring not only capital but also advanced technologies and high value added. Dong Nai also plans to channel modern industrial investment toward the Northern part of the city, formerly part of Binh Phuoc province, to promote regional economic development and improve local living standards.

Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan: Dong Nai should adopt breakthrough policies to attract high-tech FDI

Several leading semiconductor companies, including ASML of the Netherlands and Coherent of the United States, are considering investing in or expanding operations in Dong Nai. However, the city proactively pursue co-investment partnerships, as several other provinces and cities have done successfully in attracting semiconductor manufacturers. Moreover, Dong Nai needs to invest in shared laboratories that meet international standards and accelerate the development of a long-term strategy for training highly skilled professionals in semiconductor design and chip manufacturing.

To turn its commitment to welcoming investors into tangible action, Dong Nai is working to build a more transparent, competitive and investor-friendly business environment, particularly for foreign investors offering advanced technologies and high value added.

The city is accelerating the development of three next-generation industrial parks, including two located adjacent to Long Thanh International Airport. Infrastructure construction is already underway in these industrial parks, alongside efforts to attract investors.

According to Nguyen Tuan Anh, Deputy General Director of KN Holdings Group, Dong Nai authorities have created highly favorable conditions for the group to develop the Bau Can–Tan Hiep and Xuan Que–Song Nhan industrial parks.

Located near Long Thanh International Airport, Phuoc An Port and the Cai Mep–Thi Vai Port system, these next-generation industrial parks are expected to become attractive destinations for leading global investors in semiconductors, chip manufacturing, electronics, medical equipment, logistics and the aviation industry.

By Cong Nghia – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha