The first product is manufactured by the Đà Nẵng-based surface-mount technology (SMT) factory at the city's Hi-tech Park. — Photo courtesy Trung Nam Group

ĐÀ NẴNG — Despite attracting 341 investment projects with US$847.3 million in 2018-20, Đà Nẵng City has to cope with poor development of supportive industries and the skilled labour force for high-tech industries in its efforts to build the city into an investment hub in central Việt Nam.

Land-use, administrative procedures and investment papers were reviewed at a conference on 2016-20 investment attraction in Đà Nẵng on Friday.

The event was a chance for the city to review its five-year development policy and plan for the future.

The Honorary Deputy Consul of Spain in Đà Nẵng, Jose Sanchez Barroso Gonzalez, said the city needed to improve transparency in land-use, administrative procedures and investment licences for investors.

He said many companies from Europe wish to invest in waste treatment, education and tourism in Đà Nẵng.

He said Eurocham would act as a bridge to build business links between Đà Nẵng and Europe.

General Director of Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Đà Nẵng, Lee Sung-nyung said: "Việt Nam has built an image of a ‘stable country’ by effectively controlling the first and second waves of the coronavirus pandemic, and the good image will provide a huge opportunity to attract investment in Việt Nam and Đà Nẵng in the post-COVID-19 era.”

He added that Đà Nẵng has most of the fundamental conditions including location, abundant well-trained workforce, competitive investment costs and safe living conditions that may lure foreign investment.

“It was appreciative that Đà Nẵng held a webinar early this month for Korean companies. It is the time to focus on encouraging existing investment companies to expand their investment by aftercare management including collecting and solving their difficulties.”

Logistics at Hòa Cầm Industrial Zone in Đà Nẵng. The city has improved investment conditions to host new investment waves in the coming years. — VNS Photo Công Thành

Lee also recommended that the local government create more platforms to listen to businesses and investors, improving in procedure processing time and faster administrative procedures related to investment.

He said many Korean companies still face invisible barriers and delays in the investment process.

General manager of the Universal Alloy Corporation – a leading global manufacturer of aircraft components for aerospace companies – from the US, Liviu Lese said: "After two years investing into Đà Nẵng City, we recognise that our decision on choosing Đà Nẵng as an investment destination is the right choice with multiple advantages.”

“It’s the transparency, professional and enthusiastic support from Đà Nẵng authority and Hi-tech Park, and relevant departments. High-quality workforce meeting the company hiring demand and recruited from famous universities, colleges in the city,” Lese added.

“The infrastructure system and global logistics solutions from Đà Nẵng allow UAC to easily reach a global aerospace industry. So, we completed the first phase ahead of committed schedule, receive the international aerospace certifications, and ensure products to be exported to our customers on time and with top quality,” he said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has a global impact on the economy and companies in general. In order to attract more investment and support the enterprises for future development, we are looking forward to a new 2021 with the international air travel open, hoping that this pandemic will soon be controlled all over the world, and Đà Nẵng will be able to welcome even more investors to this beautiful and potential city in the future.”

Ikeda Naoatsu, general director of Daiwa Việt Nam, said Đà Nẵng has advantages of human resources and close distance from the airport to industrial zones, but the city should improve education for high-quality labour for the future.

He also suggested the city offer cheap apartments for rent for labourers working and living in Đà Nẵng.

The Japanese director warned about the lack of water and power supply at the IZs as well as the legal system among companies.

Daiwa has just opened its third factory in Đà Nẵng after a 15-year investment course in the city, worth a total $90 million.  

Nguyễn Trung Chính, chairman of CMC Corporation, the second-largest information and communications technology (ICT) group in Việt Nam, praised Đà Nẵng for quick investment licence and planning grants.

He said the Đà Nẵng-based CMC creative space – a digital hub in the Asia-Pacific region – would be built with an estimated investment of $522 million.

Trần Hồng Sơn, from Long Hậu Corporation, said the city should reserve space for supportive industries companies to serve key high-tech investors in the coming years.

To date, Đà Nẵng has 876 foreign direct investment projects worth a total of $3.52 billion. — VNS