Representatives of Đà Nẵng and partners in the UAE meet at the 'Invest Đà Nẵng' dialogue in Dubai. The central city has called for investment from the UAE. Photo courtesy of Đà Nẳng Investment Promotion Agency

ĐÀ NẴNG — A call for investment has been made to businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to develop several key sectors at a dialogue in Dubai attended by the Chairman of Đà Nẵng's People's Committee, Lê Trung Chinh.

The ambitious plan proposed at the 'Invest in Đà Nẵng' dialogue includes establishing a free-duty zone, an international finance centre, a seaport, and the growth of logistics, tourism, hi-tech industries and information technology.

The launch of a direct air route between Dubai and Đà Nẵng is also being proposed in the near future. This move represents a significant step towards strengthening economic ties between the two nations and is expected to create a range of opportunities for investors and residents alike.

Chinh said the city has been in discussions with Emirates Airlines on opening a route connecting Đà Nẵng and Dubai to boost tourism, trade and business.

He also called investors from Dubai to review the development of the key Liên Chiểu seaport that began construction last December with an investment of US$137 million.

He said the port would play as one of the key gateways to the East Sea, ASEAN, and northeast Asia and a rendezvous of the national multi-traffic system, including road, railway and airway.

The city said the zone would be a magnet for global trade, service providers, and developers.

He added that the city expects exports to the Middle East and African markets via Dubai to grow.

At the dialogue, representatives of Lulu supermarket chains said it would plan a survey in building logistics centres in central Việt Nam and Đà Nẵng.

Businesses from the UAE and Vietnamese partners at a roundtable to seek investment opportunities in Đà Nẵng and central Việt Nam. Photo courtesy of Đà Nẵng Investment Promotion Agency

Desert Harbour, a tourism company, suggested Đà Nẵng open a representative office in the UAE for trade and tourism promotions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as exchanging culture, tourism and friendships with cities in the Middle East.

According to Việt Nam-Dubai Tradehub (Vietgate) company, Vietnamese farm produce, seafood, footwear and garments, electronics, confectionary, fruits and vegetables and foodstuffs were favoured by customers in Dubai, though not many made-in-Việt Nam brands or business links were built in the market.

Series investment and tourism promotions were held in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, India, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore between 2021-23.

Malaysia Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, Bangkok Airways, and Vietnam Airlines have rescheduled their services from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hong Kong (China), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Narita (Japan) and Bangkok (Thailand) to Đà Nẵng between 2022-23.

Six IZs and a high-tech park have attracted 503 projects, including 130 FDI worth $1.8 billion and VNĐ27.56 trillion ($1.2 billion) from domestic investors. — VNS