Maximizing effectiveness of new development spaces

Hai Phong city has recently held a conference to announce the Prime Minister's decisions on economic zones (EZ) and launch the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone (FTZ). The event marked not only a new milestone in spatial and institutional development but also opened up opportunities for Hai Phong to create new growth drivers and achieve the development goals oriented by the Politburo.

In this new phase, Hai Phong will have three strategic development spaces with complementary functions, namely the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai EZ, the Southern Hai Phong Coastal EZ and the Hai Phong Specialized EZ. At the same time, the FTZ will serve as an institutional catalyst, linking the EZs into a unified development ecosystem.

Combined with its advantages of geographic location, infrastructure, one of the country's largest economies, and the special mechanisms and policies granted by the Central bodies, Hai Phong has greater potential to attract high-quality investment, develop industry, logistics and international trade, and gradually shift its competitive advantage from location and infrastructure to governance quality and competitiveness.

However, advantages alone do not create momentum, nor do the size and number of EZs automatically guarantee development. What matters is not how many EZs the city has or how much investment it attracts, but its ability to organize development space scientifically, make effective use of resources and build an investment environment that is competitive regionally and internationally. In other words, the newly announced decisions will only be meaningful if they are translated into concrete projects, infrastructure, products and economic growth.

That is also the requirement set out by Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau for Hai Phong at the conference, and one that the city needs to turn into concrete actions during this new stage of development.

The priority is not simply to expand EZs and industrial parks, but to build a unified development ecosystem in which EZs, industrial parks and the FTZ are clearly planned, assigned distinct functions, priority sectors and coordinated mechanisms that complement rather than compete with one another. The city also needs to establish a unified investment promotion and coordination mechanism, while supporting existing investors as the most effective form of investment promotion.

In practice, Hai Phong is already accelerating the implementation of these development priorities. As institutions are strengthened, policy mechanisms are put into operation and resources are effectively integrated, the city's EZs and FTZ will serve as new engines of growth. They will help realize the objective of transforming Vietnam's growth model in line with Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW, further consolidate Hai Phong's position as a growth pole of the Red River Delta and make an even greater contribution to national development.

NGUYEN HA

NGUYEN HA