Hai Phong (VNA) – The Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority (HEZA)൩ is setting its sights high for 2025, aiming to attract 3-3.5 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI), according to its head Le Trung Kien.

To that end, Kien asked HEZA units to give advice to city leaders to draw FDI from countries and territories, focusing on creating a pro-business environment that streamlines administrative procedures and facilitates labour recruitment for investors.

This proactive approach is designed to ensure that potential investors feel supported from the very first sta🍬ges of exploration through to the successful implementation of their projects.

According to Kien, HEZA will prioritise several key tasks this year, including drafting a masterplan for the southern coastal economic zone, alongside launching new industrial and eco-industrial parks designed to capitalise on emerging investment trends in semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence. HEZA reported that in 2024, FDI inflows into industrial and economic zones soared to 4.35 billion USD, or 242% of the target. Cumulatively, total FDI in these zones now stands at 30.3 billion USD, with over 77% of projects concentrated in high-tech, manufacturing, processing, and logistics. Notably, Korean group LG alone has channelled 10.59 billion USD into Hai Phong so far. This success could be attributed to HEZA's selective investment strategy, which prioritises enterprises that are not just financially robust but also environmentally conscious and high-tech, contributing significantly to local growth. This aligns perfectly with the city’s strategic pillars: industry and high-tech, seaports and logistics, and tourism and trade. Investment promotion programmes and conferences at home and abroad were also instrumental in this success, with HEZA hosting nine major events in Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea, Japan, and China. These gatherings have fostered connections with industry leaders, particularly those in the semiconductor and AI sectors. Last year, firms operating in local industrial and economic zones generated a total revenue of 33.5 billion USD, equivalent to 105% of the target. Their exports were estimated at 28.5 billion USD, or 109% of the yearly target while imports totalled 22.8 billion USD, achieving 107%. Their tax contributions to the state budget amounted to 12.35 trillion VND (494 million USD), meeting 104% of the target. Currently, 210,182 workers are employed in these zones, each earning a monthly average of 11.52 million VND./.