A plant at Tân Phú Trung Industrial Park in Củ Chi District, HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Đạt

HCM CITY — The management board of the Hồ Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (Hepza) has set a target to attract US$550 million in investment capital this year, averaging $8.5 million per ha.

Concurrently, the board aims to finalise the pilot conversion project for Tân Thuận Export Processing Zone, along with Tân Bình, Cát Lái, Hiệp Phước, and Bình Chiểu Industrial Parks (IPs); and build 25,000sq.m of high-rise workshop space.

To draw more capital, Hepza will work more closely with the municipal Department of Planning and Investment to propose investment criteria for approval by the municipal People's Council, specifically tailored for export processing zones and IPs. It will also undertake a project outlining development orientations for these zones and IPs in HCM City for the 2023-30 period, with a vision extending to 2045.

Hepza Director Hứa Quốc Hưng emphasised the focus on administrative reform, aiming to improve the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX), the Departmental, Sectoral and Local Competitiveness Index (DDCI), and the Digital Transformation Index (DTI).

The board is committed to intensifying efforts in electronic payment, document digitisation, and ensuring that at least 70 per cent of all administrative procedures are conducted online.

Special attention will be given to supporting firms in line with the city's regulations on interest rates, especially for projects in priority sectors. Businesses within export processing zones and IPs will be linked with industry associations, and regular dialogues between the board and firms conducted to address any challenges they encounter, Hưng said.

According to him, social resources will be pooled to provide care for workers and maintain security and order in export processing zones and IPs, making them attractive to more investors. — VNS