GiaLai (VNA) – The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai has workedhard to improve its investment environment and competitiveness in a bid toattract more domestic and foreign investors.

GiaLai has implemented a socio-economic development cooperation programme with HoChi Minh City to optimise their potential and support legal corridors for a healthierinvestment environment for common growth.

After15 years of cooperation, 26 enterprises of Ho Chi Minh City have invested in 27projects worth over 6.3 trillion VND (269.6 million USD) in Gia Lai, while GiaLai businesses have run 22 projects in Ho Chi Minh City with total investmentof 30 trillion VND (1.28 billion USD).

Alongside,Gia Lai is hosting four foreign-invested projects and many other projectsfunded by investors both in and outside the province.

Aspart of its efforts to support enterprises, Gia Lai has made its administrativeprocedures more open and transparent through the launching of a publicadministrative centre.

In2017, Gia Lai leaped three positions in the provincial competitiveness index (PCI)compared to 2016, ranking 43rd out of 63 provinces and citiesnationwide, and 3rd in the Central Highlands region.

NguyenTruong Hung, director of the ACOM Gia Lai coffee processing factory under theAtlantic Vietnam Company - one of the four foreign-invested projects in Gia Laiwith an investment of 2 million USD and export revenue of over 50 million USD,said that after six years of operation, the plant has enjoyed many preferentialpolicies, including land rent exemption in 10 years and tax reduction.

Hungexpressed his hope that with the support from the province, the firm willexpand its business in the coming time.

Sofar this year, Gia Lai has attracted 11 projects with total investment of 500billion VND (21.4 million USD), raising the total projects accommodated by theprovince so far to 80. Of the total projects, 46 have become operational with totalexport revenue of nearly 220 million USD.

PhamVan Binh, head of the Gia Lai Economic Zone Management Board, said that theprovince has focused on reforming its administrative procedures towards one-stop-shopservices.

Meanwhile,investors will receive specific guidelines during their investment process and assistancein removing obstacles.

Binhsaid that Gia Lai is currently building a project to construct the SouthernPleiku Industrial Park, which is scheduled to be approved by the Prime Ministerin November, giving more spaces to host investors.-VNA