Boosting Free Trade Zone through special mechanisms
Hai Phong is refining the operational model and accelerating administrative reform to bring into play special mechanisms for its Free Trade Zone, enhance its investment appeal, and promote industrial and logistics development.
From investment promotion to operational preparations
Hai Phong's special mechanisms for its Free Trade Zone (FTZ) are being introduced by city leaders to international partners to attract investment. During a working visit to Russia in September 2026, Le Ngoc Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee and Head of the City National Assembly Delegation, called on energy corporation Novatek to explore opportunities to leverage the preferential policies to invest in energy infrastructure and warehousing and logistics facilities. Novatek expressed interest and said it would continue studying potential cooperation.
Alongside the investment promotion activities led by the Secretary of the City Party Committee, during recent meetings with the Ambassadors of the Netherlands and the US on October 29, Do Thanh Trung, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the City People's Committee, also introduced the special mechanisms for the FTZ. Several Dutch businesses were exploring investment opportunities in the zone, while US Ambassador Jennifer Wicks requested further information about policies and development orientations for the FTZ.
The interest shown by the international partners underscores the need to finalize operational conditions so businesses can proceed with their projects. Following the launch conference in late July 2026, the city has focused on preparing a legal framework, infrastructure and a management model for the FTZ at three locations within the Dinh Vu - Cat Hai Economic Zone and the Southern Hai Phong Coastal Economic Zone.
In October 2026, the City People's Committee issued Decision No. 4279/QD-UBND, announcing 711 administrative procedures applicable to the FTZ. Of these, 116 fall under the authority of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, while 595 are handled by six specialized departments, covering investment, land, construction, environment, trade and labor.
Under the decision, relevant agencies are responsible for publicly disclosing processes, reviewing procedures, strengthening inter-agency coordination and providing online public services. The City Public Administration Service Center provides guidance, receives applications, delivers results and monitors the processing of applications. With 711 procedures handled by seven different agencies, clearly defining their respective responsibilities must go hand in hand with inter-agency coordination to shorten investment preparation time.
Alongside the completion of the management model, industrial park infrastructure, seaport connectivity, logistics facilities and human resources must be developed in a coordinated manner to meet businesses' needs in investment, production, import and export activities.
Streamlining procedures, enhancing competitiveness
The FTZ's investment appeal depends not only on preferential policies but also on the quality and efficiency of administrative services. The city has called for the special policies to be put into practice in 2026, while reducing the time required to process applications related to investment, production and business.
Hai Phong's administrative reform efforts provide a foundation for implementing the special mechanisms. By early October 2026, the city had shortened processing time for nearly 1,900 administrative procedures, accounting for nearly 95% of all procedures, with processing time reduced by approximately 39.4%. This achievement provides a basis for further refining administrative processes within the FTZ.
In import and export activities, coordination among businesses, seaports, customs authorities and specialized regulatory agencies plays an important role in reducing cargo transit time and logistics costs. The effectiveness of the special mechanisms depends not only on licensing procedures but also on the conditions of services for businesses throughout their operations.
At the regular meeting of the City People's Committee on October 30, Chairman of the City People's Committee Do Thanh Trung called on departments and agencies to proactively resolve obstacles in production and business and accelerate efforts to meet the city's 2026 targets. For the FTZ, this requirement needs to be translated into concrete action by addressing bottlenecks related to procedures, land, infrastructure and project implementation conditions.
The announcement of the 711 administrative procedures, completion of the operational scheme and introduction of coordinated inter-agency processes are important preparatory steps toward putting the special mechanisms into practice. Together with synchronized infrastructure and a stable investment environment, shorter application processing time and improved business services will help the FTZ attract high-tech projects, develop logistics and expand international trade.
HA KIEN