Hai Phong unlocks new development cycle
New development spaces are creating a stronger foundation for Hai Phong to transform its growth model and gradually realize its goal of becoming a driving force for regional and national development.
New growth spaces
18 years ago, Dinh Vu – Cat Hai, Hai Phong’s first economic zone (EZ), was established. With a wide range of preferential mechanisms and policies, the EZ became one of the key foundations supporting Hai Phong’s gradual industrialization and modernization in line with the Politburo’s Resolution No. 32-NQ/TW.
After nearly two decades, in response to new development requirements, Hai Phong is continuing to expand its development space. While the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai EZ serves as a driver of existing supply chains, leveraging the advantages of Lach Huyen international gateway port, export-oriented industries and logistics, the Southern Coastal EZ is opening up a new-generation space for the development of marine economy, centered on Nam Do Son Port and linked to international logistics infrastructure, high-tech industries, urban development, services and green growth.
Meanwhile, the Specialized EZ is expanding industrial and service space westward, prioritizing supporting industries, precision engineering, logistics and innovation while strengthening linkages with the Capital Region. In addition, the Free Trade Zone has been granted 26 special mechanisms and policies, providing a new institutional advantage while creating conditions for the EZs to be connected into a unified ecosystem.
According to Praveen Durairajan Prakash, Director of Component Quality and Global Suppliers at VinFast, Hai Phong has advantages in its industrial development orientation, strategic geographic location and logistics. The new EZs and Free Trade Zone could help turn these advantages into an integrated ecosystem with greater international competitiveness, while helping strengthen Vietnam’s position in attracting high-tech manufacturing, innovation and long-term investment, Praveen said.
Building a strategic investment ecosystem
At a recent conference announcing decisions on EZs and launching the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone, Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau emphasized that, if well organized, the new-generation EZs together with the Free Trade Zone would create a new development map, positioning Hai Phong as a strategic growth pole for the region and the country.
Following the Central government’s direction, Hai Phong is rapidly taking measures to realize these new growth drivers. The city has planned nine industrial parks with a total area of about 3,633 hectares and five industrial clusters covering about 275 hectares in the Southern Coastal EZ.
Besides, the city is focusing on developing key infrastructure, including the coastal expressway, the road behind Nam Do Son Port and roads connecting EZs with surrounding areas. The city is also coordinating the development of the Lao Cai – Ha Noi – Hai Phong railway and the construction of Nam Do Son port and logistics center.
Alongside infrastructure development, Hai Phong is also focusing on establishing operating mechanisms. The Hai Phong EZ Authority has so far completed eight of the 19 assigned tasks and is implementing the remaining 11.
From the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai EZ to the new EZs and Free Trade Zone, Hai Phong is gradually moving from simply expanding its development space to building a new economic ecosystem capable of deeper integration into global value chains. These developments are creating a stronger foundation for the city to realize its development goals in the new era and become a globally competitive coastal megacity, as well as a regional hub for trade, logistics and marine economy in East Asia.
HA MINH