THÁI BÌNH — Industrial parks (IPs) and economic zones (EZs) in the northern province of Thái Bình are expected to attract at least VNĐ5 trillion (US$220 million) investment this year.

This was estimated by the provincial IPs and EZs Management Board.

To this end, the board will soon complete detailed plans of several zones, such as Thụy Trường, Xuân Hải and Thái Bình, in addition to urging investors to speed up infrastructure development in other zones, such as Cầu Nghìn, Sông Trà and Tiền Hải.

As of last year, the zones were home to 172 valid projects, including those involved in automobile components manufacturing, textile and garments, porcelain and mineral water.

Phạm Văn Ca, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, suggested the board to accelerate administrative procedures and speed up investment promotion to lure more investors into the provincial IZs and EZs.

In his speech at the recent conference on reviewing performance of the province-based IZs and EZs in 2017, Ca called on the board to propose mechanisms and policies to local authorities to help investors who were willing to develop the zone’s infrastructure.

According to the province’s industrial zone development plan until 2020, Thái Bình will have 50 IZs covering 2,578ha, of which 34 have been approved in terms of detailed plans. — VNS