Wishing Nghe An will be the capital of high-tech agriculture

(Baonghean.vn)- On the sidelines of the Spring Meeting with Investors 2014, a number of policy makers and investors gave their heartfelt opinions to help Nghe An break through and grow.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ngoc– Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Enterprises Bloc:

For many years now, the Party Committee of the bloc has coordinated with Nghe An to organize the Investment Conference. The results show that investment efficiency has increased significantly with more and more projects. Nghe An is still an ideal destination, with a large land area and rich natural resources. In particular, we have a great advantage in abundant labor with more than 3 million people, well-educated, hard-working, diligent and very open and friendly. With the determination and responsibility of the provincial leaders in developing Nghe An, the province's administrative mechanisms and procedures are increasingly open, which is really a very good opportunity for businesses.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ngoc

Currently, the Party Committee of the Central Enterprises Bloc has 32 corporations operating nationwide and abroad. Of which, 22 enterprises are investing in the province with large capital and highly effective projects. A number of other social security programs have made significant contributions to Nghe An, especially the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV). With its responsibility, the Party Committee of the Central Enterprises Bloc will continue to accompany and well implement the Investment Conferences and will continue to call on enterprises in the bloc to increase investment in Nghe An while supporting the province with new opportunities to build a strong and stable province.

Mr. Vu Tien Loc - Chairman of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry:

Currently, we are building special economic zones with incentives for industrial, service and tourism development. However, we hope that we will advocate building high-tech agricultural economic zones associated with comprehensive economic and social development. This is a great advantage for Vietnam in particular and Nghe An in general. Currently, many provinces are pursuing the development of economic zones, export processing zones and tourist areas, but I hope that Nghe An will soon pilot the construction of high-tech agricultural and rural economic zones. If we can access high-tech agriculture like that of Japan and Israel, we can completely create great value, even greater than the industries that many localities are pursuing.

Mr. Vu Tien Loc

Nghe An is a province with full potential and advantages to become the capital of high-tech agriculture. The development direction of Nghe An is to combine industry and high-tech agriculture. Focus on developing supporting industries for two petrochemical industrial centers in Nghi Son and metallurgy industry in Vung Ang Economic Zone.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hua Na Hydropower Company:

When investing in Nghe An, we see that the mechanisms, policies and investment environment are all very favorable. For example, the Ban Ve Hydropower Project, without the solidarity and consensus of the entire political system, it is impossible to solve the resettlement problem. Or like the Hua Na Hydropower Project, without the solidarity and consensus of leaders at all levels, local authorities and people, we cannot complete the water storage and power generation on schedule. As a successful investor in Nghe An, I call on investors to be enthusiastic and consider this a very good opportunity to invest.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung.

In Nghe An, at present, the authorities at all levels are very professional. When you first start working and negotiating, it seems difficult, but when you actually invest, everything is very smooth and professional. All difficulties are quickly resolved by the provincial leaders and local authorities at all levels. Besides, I hope that Nghe An must have a different direction, it cannot just focus on industry because it is also related to many environmental issues. We can develop services with all the conditions to develop this industry. Besides, we need to find Nghe An's own unique values ​​to leverage for development.

Mr. Tran Dinh Thien - Director of Vietnam Economic Institute:

Nghe An is very famous for its intellectual and educational capacity, however, many Nghe An people go abroad, especially those who are successful, both in politics and business. Therefore, attracting this resource is extremely important in the development stage.

Dr. Tran Dinh Thien

To attract Nghe An resources, Nghe An's development vision must be convincing enough for Nghe An's people, giving them confidence to return to invest; and having consistent, guaranteed policies to reassure investors.

Nghe An has now made many changes in its policies and regimes. I believe that in the coming period, Nghe An's new vision and strategy will be clearer, and the people of Nghe An will return to invest and then convince other investors. I believe this year will be a strong start for Nghe An's investment environment.

Mr. Tran Bac Ha - Chairman of the Board of Directors of BIDV Vietnam Bank: 6 solutions for Nghe An to develop

In 2009, BIDV initiated and proposed to the People's Committee of Nghe An province, in coordination with the Party Committee of the Central Enterprises to innovate the way of organizing the Conference, with the initial name of "Investment Promotion Conference". Up to now, after 5 years of organization, the Conference has truly become a big festival for many enterprises that have, are and will invest in Nghe An, an important economic event of Nghe An province, creating trust and satisfaction with great influence on domestic and foreign investors.

Mr. Tran Bac Ha - BIDV Vietnam

After 5 years of organization, the Conference to meet investors in Nghe An province has achieved important successes. Investment certificates have been granted and 47 investment projects with registered capital of 61,649 billion VND have been signed. Typical projects have been put into effective operation such as: TH True Milk dairy cow farming and milk processing project; Saigon - Song Lam Brewery; Hanoi - Nghe An Beer, Sabeco Packaging; Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, Hua Na Hydropower Plant; Muong Thanh Song Lam 5-star Hotel, etc.

In addition to initiating, BIDV also advised the Provincial People's Committee to accelerate administrative procedure reform, shortening the time for projects/agreements signed at the conference such as shortening the time for project planning and approval; establishing a steering committee for site clearance and compensation; organizing regular meetings every 6 months with investors, listening to investors' opinions and removing obstacles...

In particular, BIDV's proposal to open an air route in Vinh has so far brought about practical results. Currently, there are 5 domestic routes and 1 international route. VNA has been operating effectively on these routes without sponsorship.

As a commercial bank that has been operating in Nghe An province for nearly 55 years, BIDV has always paid special attention to the construction, innovation and integration of the province. Currently, BIDV's network accounts for 11% of the market share of credit institutions in the area, including 3 branches, 20 transaction offices, and is a pioneering credit institution in providing credit for many key and important projects, contributing to the economic growth of Nghe An province. In addition, BIDV has always been a pioneer in supporting social security activities for Nghe An province. Since 2009, BIDV has implemented social security programs in Nghe An province with a total value of nearly 90 billion VND, accounting for over 50% of the total social security funding of enterprises for Nghe An. BIDV's activities focus mainly on the following areas: supporting the poor, healthcare, education, cultural and spiritual works, supporting the development of new rural construction programs...

Nghe An has a great advantage in economic development compared to the two neighboring provinces of Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh.To promote the advantages, potentials and strengths of the province, BIDV has the following proposals and recommendations:

Firstly, Nghe An needs to have large, important, breakthrough projects to turn the province into the economic and cultural center of the North Central region by 2020 in the spirit of Resolution No. 26 dated July 30, 2013 of the Politburo. To do this, in addition to the province's efforts, it is necessary to have the support and backing of leaders at all levels in terms of policies and orientations. BIDV proposes that the National Assembly and the Government consider supporting the transfer of large, important projects to Nghe An, especially the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park project.

Second, it is recommended that the province consider implementing the province's planning in the overall planning relationship of the North Central region, ensuring regional connectivity in developing common potential strengths such as: Early creation of horizontal and vertical linkages, especially assignment and cooperation in developing high technology, supporting industries, promoting training of high-quality human resources for the region, providing for Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh; Developing the marine economy and tourism by creating a cultural and spiritual tourism strip from Hue to Thanh Hoa, in which the center is the relics of cultural celebrities, leader Ho Chi Minh...

Third, regarding the issue of developing deep-water seaports in Nghe An: the province needs to have a specific assessment and make recommendations to the Government on whether or not to invest in deep-water seaports in Nghe An province because currently Ha Tinh and Thanh Hoa have invested in deep-water seaports. It is necessary to create a division of labor and cooperation in developing ports in the areas of Nghi Xuan, Cua Lo, Vung Ang, and Hon La.

Fourth, Nghe An has Thanh Thuy border gate with many geographical advantages such as: being the trading center between Nghe An province (Vietnam) and Bolykhamxay, Khammouane provinces, Vientiane Capital (Laos), Northeastern provinces of Thailand, Myanmar... Therefore, Nghe An needs to speed up the progress of upgrading Thanh Thuy border gate into an international border gate, at the same time, complete the infrastructure connecting Cao Veu and Thong Thu border gates with trans-Asia routes from Myanmar, Thailand, Laos to Cua Lo Port, thereby facilitating trade between Vietnam and other countries, especially connecting Vietnamese enterprises investing in the Central and Southern provinces of Laos, Northeastern provinces of Thailand, Myanmar and vice versa...

Fifth, Nghe An must have solutions to narrow the development gap between urban and rural areas, mountainous areas, accelerate the completion of the project on socio-economic development in Western Nghe An until 2020, in which special attention must be paid to the TH True Milk milk production project in Phu Quy district, support the project's successful implementation and consider it a key project to create a driving force to promote the economy of the whole region.

Sixth, Nghe An province needs to summarize the implementation of the 10th Central Resolution 7 on rural and agricultural development, continue to promote the implementation of the Agricultural Restructuring Project towards increasing added value, sustainable development associated with new rural construction, and give incentives to enterprises investing in agriculture and rural areas.

Ms. Thai Huong - TH Group: Hope Nghe An can maintain the planning of the Western region

Mrs. Thai Huong

As an investor in the field of high-tech agriculture, as an investment consultant of Bac A Bank, we have invested in TH Group and shown that our 1.2 billion USD project has successfully completed phase 1 with 350 million USD. We have used high technology to control weather risks to achieve the results we have today, a brand of TH Group and TH milk is increasingly dominating the market. With carefulness, plus the determination and perseverance of Nghe An people, we have succeeded. It is expected that by 2017, TH will account for 50% of fresh milk production nationwide.

In September 2014, TH Group's pharmaceutical factory will be established. We also invested in an MDF wood factory with a capacity of 120,000m²/ year in Nghia Dan, implementing a clean vegetable project in greenhouses. I have my own path, based on the potential and advantages of my hometown. BIDV and the State Bank have always accompanied and supported us. In my opinion, calling for investment is necessary, but maintaining investment, making "old" investors feel secure in investing in science, technology, capital, and effort to make the project effective and expand is even more necessary. Entrepreneurs have enough heart, mind, and strength. The role of local leaders is very important. I hope Nghe An authorities maintain the approved Western planning so that investors have enough land and can confidently invest in completing the country's key project in the field of agricultural and rural industry.

Mr. Luong Quang Khai - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (Vicm):

Mr. Luong Quang Khai - Vicem Vietnam

Our corporation currently has a total capacity of 21 million tons of cement/year, accounting for 37% of the country's cement market share, with total annual revenue reaching 30,000 billion VND. We have invested in Nghe An for a long time. In Nghe An, we received Vicem Hoang Mai, with a capacity of 1.4 million tons/year, currently operating effectively, contributing over 70 billion VND to the budget of Nghe An province each year. If operating at full capacity and selling out, the budget contribution in the coming years is expected to reach 100 billion VND/year. The project contributes to the development of Hoang Mai urban area, creating jobs for thousands of workers. Currently, we are investing in expanding the Hoang Mai 2 line, with a capacity of 4.5 million tons/year. To do this, it is necessary to synchronize infrastructure factors such as: ports, transportation, alternative fuels... We are also preparing to invest in a non-burnt material factory to meet the needs of the whole region. Thus, Nghe An is a strategic development point in our entire industry. We appreciate the will, determination and spirit of the provincial leaders and affirm that we are a responsible investor.

PV Group