Ninh Binh promotes investment attraction for development of Ninh Co Economic Zone

... while opening up a strong opportunity for the locality to break through to become a new coastal economic centre of the Red River Delta, contributing to the early realisation of the aspiration to turn the coastal area of ​​the Gulf of Tonkin into a region of rapid and sustainable economic growth of the whole country.

Outstanding strategic investment attraction advantages

In the context that localities in the region such as Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, and Hai Phong are gradually running out of land for industrial development, the Ninh Co EZ has emerged as an investment magnet thanks to its large area of 13,950ha. The area covers the communes of Hai Thinh, Hai Xuan, Rang Dong, Quy Nhat and coastal alluvial areas, located in the extreme south of Ninh Binh province - an important trade gateway connecting the Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh growth triangle and the economic belt of the Gulf of Tonkin.

This is a trade gateway effectively connecting with major economic centres of the country and the Northeast Asia region and China.

The outstanding strength of the EZ is the synchronous transport infrastructure system: road, waterway, sea and air, connecting with the routes: North-South expressway, Ninh Binh-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh expressway; and Lach Giang-Hanoi and Cua Day-Ninh Binh waterway transport routes and international airports such as Noi Bai and Cat Bi.

The Ninh Co EZ also has rich natural resources, including land, water, forests, sea, which are favourable for the development of high-tech agriculture, industry, aquaculture and ecotourism, sea and island tourism.

The river system is planned with special channels, opening up space for the development of comprehensive seaports to receive ships up to 300,000 DWT.

This is a solid foundation for the formation of industrial parks (IPs) for energy, processing industry, textiles, logistics and seaport services.

At the same time, the area is also rich in tourism potential with Thinh Long and Rang Dong resorts, mangrove forests, coastal alluvial plains and a rich system of historical and cultural relics.

The population of the area is about 67,000 people (2021), and is forecast to increase to 114,000-125,000 people by 2040. The rate of trained workers is expected to reach 85% by 2035, which is an important advantage in terms of human resources to welcome strategic investors in the near future. Currently, the total registered capital of projects in the Ninh Co EZ has reached about 216 trillion VND (equivalent to 9.2 billion USD).

Typical examples include Nam Dinh 1 BOT Thermal Power Plant with a total investment of 46.98 trillion VND (equivalent to more than 2 billion USD); Rang Dong Industrial Park infrastructure development project with 4.92 trillion VND (equivalent to 203 million USD) and projects of nearly 100 trillion VND of Xuan Thien Group... In particular, on June 23, Xuan Thien Green Steel Project Complex with a scale of more than 400 hectares, with a capacity of 9.5 million tons of steel/year, total capital of 98 trillion VND was kicked off by Xuan Thien Group.

More and more large, high-tech enterprises have been investing in the Rang Dong Textile Industrial Park, contributing to the formation and development of the Ninh Co EZ to make it a comprehensive, multi-industry, multi-functional coastal economic zone.

Methodical planning, ready to break through in attracting investment

According to the Prime Minister's Decision 88/QD-TTg, the development of the Ninh Co EZ is carried out in three phases: Phase I (2024-2026), completes the general planning, detailed planning 1/2000, starting construction of key infrastructure projects.

Phase II (2026-2030) focuses on developing industry, services, urban areas, and synchronizing technical-social infrastructure.

Phase III (after 2030), comprehensively develops and modernises the EZ's infrastructure. The province aims to develop into a modern multi-industry maritime EZ by 2030, focusing on construction materials industry (green steel, cement), clean energy, logistics, seaports, trade, tourism, high-tech agriculture-fishery.

In the period of 2026-2030, the EZ is expected to grow 14-15% per year, creating jobs for about 55,000 workers; budget revenue reaches about 3 trillion VND; the rate of trained workers reaches 80%. The total capital demand for the development of the Ninh Co EZ in the period of 2021-2050 is estimated at 237.87 trillion VND.

To effectively implement, the province has proactively consulted the experience of similar coastal economic zones, restructured investment resources, promoted phasing, and prioritised key projects. At the same time, it focuses on improving the investment environment, reforming administrative procedures, strengthening investment promotion, establishing relations with international organisations and strategic investors, and expanding cooperation under the PPP and ODA methods.

Head of the provincial Management Board of Economic Zones and Industrial Parks Nguyen Hoang Anh said after the Prime Minister decided to establish the EZ, the number of investors coming to learn about and promote investment has increased, especially in fields such as processing industry, supporting industry, logistics and resort tourism.

Currently, departments, branches and localities are also focusing on closely following the roadmap and plan to develop the EZ urgently, synchronously and effectively.

In the immediate future, priority is given to completing the master plan and 1/2000 construction plan of functional subdivisions; speeding up the construction progress of key infrastructure: coastal roads, provincial roads, seaports; completing key projects such as the Green Steel Complex and the first phase of the general seaport. They are focusing on attracting investment, especially into the Rang Dong Textile Industrial Park, prepare clean land and resettlement areas and provide the best support for businesses.

Localities within the Ninh Co EZ have been closely coordinating, actively preparing the best infrastructure, land areas and policy mechanisms, actively supporting businesses to access investment procedures conveniently and quickly.

With clear planning, gradually completed infrastructure, open and transparent investment attraction policies, with the synchronous participation of authorities at all levels and strong commitment from strategic investors, the Ninh Co EZ is gradually realising the goal of becoming a new coastal economic centre of the Red River Delta, creating a strong momentum to bring Ninh Binh into a new era of growth./.