A production line at the Jasan Vietnam company  at VSIP Hải Phòng. The northern port city of Hải Phòng targets US$1.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the second quarter of 2021. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

HẢI PHÒNG — The northern port city of Hải Phòng is targeting US$1.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the second quarter of 2021, according to head of the Management Board of Hải Phòng Economic Zones Lê Trung Kiên.

Kiên said the city will increase discussions to explore obstacles facing businesses, while enhancing the efficiency of investment promotion activities, while prioritising investors with high capacity and advanced, environmentally-friendly technologies.

Along with speeding up administrative reforms, the board will coordinate closely with the local police force to ensure order and security in economic zones and industrial parks, creating a safe environment for enterprises, Kiên said.

He said Hải Phòng currently has 12 industrial parks. As of March 31, 2021, the local industrial parks and economic zones had lured 406 FDI projects worth $17.15 billion.

The average occupancy rate in the local industrial park has reached 62.5 per cent and there are 154,100 labourers working in Hải Phòng’s industrial parks and economic zones.

In the 2021-2025 period, Hải Phòng plans to construct 15 new industrial parks covering a total area of more than 6,200 hectares.

Last year, the city ranked seventh out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide in the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), and second out of 11 provinces and cities in the Red River Delta region. — VNS