HCM City seeking ways to attract more FDI

The country’s biggest economic hub received US$3.25 billion worth of FDI in the first nine months of the year, a 28 % decrease year-on-year, according to the city's Statistics Office.

There were 719 new projects worth US$407.4 million, 23.6 % and 57.1 % down.

Nguyen Anh Thi, head of management of District 9’s Saigon Hi-tech Park, said the park has been discussing with 15 potential foreign investors since the beginning of this year, but only issued a permit for one project worth US$3 million.

The number of projects with investment of above US$100 million is reducing while investors are increasingly moving away from HCM City and to other provinces.

Many investors have complained that traffic infrastructure and administrative procedures have not improved much.

In face of the situation, the city is speeding up work on infrastructure projects such as the metro line No 1 and Thu Thiem Bridge No 2.

It is also focusing on streamlining procedures involved in licensing permit, as well as further utilising information technology to reduce time spent on the procedures, and expanding online public services.

The city is also pushing up the construction of more industrial parks. It has recently proposed setting up of a new 280 hectares hi-tech industrial park in Binh Chanh District.

Meanwhile, industrial production is showing signs of recovery in HCM City post-COVID, benefiting from support policies.

Its Index of Industrial Production was 9.6 % up in September, and 2.2 % higher year-on-year, according to the Department of Industry and Trade.

The policies include deferment of tax and land rent payment, loans on easy terms from banks and consultancy.

Several industries have seen production rise since last month, food processing by 10.2 %, chemicals by 33.4 %, and rubber and plastic by 2.8 %.