HCM CITY — The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai sought investors for 22 projects at an investment promotion conference it held in HCM City yesterday.

The projects are in various sectors, including infrastructure, agro-forestry processing, building materials, consumer goods, education, culture, sport, tourism, and renewable energy.

Spread over an area of 15,500 sq.km, Gia Lai is the country’s second largest province and has a population of more than 1.4 million including 14 ethnic groups.

It grows a lot of major cash crops such as coffee, rubber and pepper, and so investment in processing of agricultural products is required, according to Hồ Phước Thành, director of the province Department of Planning and Investment.

The province’s favourable geographic location in the central coast –Central Highlands region and the development triangle of Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam, including the Lệ Thanh international border gate adjoining Cambodia’s Ratanakiri Province makes it very convenient for trading goods not only within the country but also with other countries in the region, he said.

It has three industrial parks: Trà Đa, one belonging to the Lệ Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone and the South Pleiku Industrial Park.

The 621.95ha South Pleiku is in the process of building infrastructure.

The province has excellent potential in renewable energy such as solar and wind power, which has recently attracted interest from many investors, he said.

Võ Ngọc Thành, deputy secretary and chairman of the province People’s Committee, said: “This conference is organised with huge support from Tôn Đức Thắng University to connect Gia Lai Province with scientists, businesses and local and foreign investors and introduce the potential and strengths of the province and call for investment.

“I hope participants in the conference will share helpful experiences with us, help us with new ideas for collaboration for integrating Gia Lai in the new era.”

In recent years the province had reformed administrative procedures and public services to create the best conditions for investors, he said.

Besides the Government’s mechanisms and policies, the province also had its own policies and mechanisms to create favourable conditions for investors and businesses to make long-term investment, he said.

“We always see the success of investors as the province’s success.”

At the conference, the province issued licences to seven projects with a total registered capital of over VNĐ3.3 trillion (US$141.3 million).

The province also signed memorandums of understanding with seven investors for investment of more than VNĐ5.5 trillion ($235.67 million).

Organised by the province and Tôn Đức Thắng University, the conference attracted more than 200 local and foreign businesses, representatives of foreign business groups and foreign affairs agencies from Việt Nam and elsewhere. — VNS