Bac Ninh: Government–Business dialogue to drive sustainable investment

In the competition to attract next-generation FDI, beyond incentives, what investors need is a government that listens, responds quickly, acts with clear accountability, and stays engaged through to the end.

The organization of dialogue between businesses and government in Bac Ninh is being transformed into a development governance approach, reflecting the innovative mindset of a modern administration. This bridge of dialogue is laying the foundation for a transparent, professional, and sustainable investment environment.

No Longer a Formality

According to the business community, in modern industrial development, dialogue between government and enterprises cannot stop at periodic conferences or petition channels. Dialogue only becomes meaningful when it is translated into concrete management actions with accountability, timelines, and measurable outcomes.

This is also a notable feature in how Bac Ninh is supporting investors, particularly the FDI business community in industrial parks.

Speaking to Business Forum Magazine, Mr. Tran Son Tung, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Bac Ninh Industrial Parks, said that in implementing directives from the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Committee, and the Government’s requirements to improve the business environment, the Board has identified two key priorities: infrastructure development and administrative reform, alongside close support for investors. These are seen as the two pillars of a new governance mindset, where the government does not stand outside business operations but participates as an enabler, supporter, and problem-solver.

In practice, the Management Board has proactively supported investors through enterprise support teams working directly with individual companies in industrial parks, advising on competitive incentive mechanisms, promptly resolving difficulties, and facilitating investment expansion.

Another highlight is the “24-hour fast track” and “60% fast track” mechanisms for key projects. Under the “24-hour fast track,” many procedures are processed within a single day; under the “60% fast track,” processing time can be reduced by up to 60% compared to previous regulations. Some projects that previously required around 60 days now take just over 20 days. This is a clear metric of an administration that delivers results through dialogue.

However, Bac Ninh’s distinction also lies in how it organizes direct, flexible, and more substantive dialogues.

Direct visits and working sessions by provincial leaders with major corporations such as Samsung, Amkor, and Luxshare have become a particularly effective form of engagement. Here, issues are raised without intermediaries, challenges are reported directly, and many obstacles are addressed immediately during the meeting.

This is not merely business outreach, but a form of “on-site dialogue,” clearly demonstrating the local government’s openness, attentiveness, and swift action.

It is evident that in Bac Ninh, dialogue is no longer a formal activity but has become an operational mechanism of a modern governance system.

Driving Sustainable Investment

If Bac Ninh only attracts capital, it has succeeded only at the first step. More importantly, it must retain investors, promote reinvestment, and foster long-term commitment from FDI enterprises. To achieve this, dialogue must go beyond procedural problem-solving and become a foundation for sustainable development.

The Management Board of Bac Ninh Industrial Parks has organized meetings, dialogues, and business connection events to facilitate cooperation among enterprises within the same sector, between firms inside and outside industrial parks, and between domestic and FDI enterprises. This enables sharing of experience and technology, forming sustainable supply chains. This is a strategic direction, as sustainable investment lies not in individual projects but in the ability to build an industrial ecosystem with spillover effects.

Through dialogue activities, enterprises are also updated on state policies, including tax incentives for projects involving technological innovation, clean production, and emission reduction.

In its 2025–2030 orientation, Bac Ninh aims to attract selective investment based on the principle of “1 no – 2 less – 3 high”: no pollution; less land use and less labor; high technology, high investment capital, and high economic efficiency.

To improve the quality of business support, the Management Board will continue maintaining regular dialogue forums and conferences between government, the Board, and enterprises; assign officials to monitor and promptly grasp production and business conditions; and strengthen enterprise support teams. At the same time, the province will intensify dialogue to listen to businesses, resolve difficulties, retain investors, and accompany them over the long term.

Results show that investor confidence is not built on promises, but on implementation effectiveness. In Q1 2026, the Management Board of Bac Ninh Industrial Parks granted 43 new FDI projects with a total registered capital of USD 327.32 million and 20 domestic projects with total capital of VND 2,544.3 billion, bringing total newly registered capital to USD 429.09 million.

At the same time, 230 project adjustments were recorded, including 58 capital increases totaling USD 681.4 million. As a result, total newly registered and adjusted investment capital reached USD 1.11 billion. Bac Ninh currently ranks fourth nationwide in FDI attraction (according to the Foreign Investment Agency).

“These figures do not merely reflect investment attractiveness. They reflect a deeper reality: when the government engages in substantive dialogue, businesses gain the confidence to expand; when procedures are transparent, investors have the motivation to commit; when infrastructure, human resources, and policies move in sync, FDI flows gain a foundation for sustainable development,” said Mr. Tran Son Tung.

On this point, Mr. Andy Lin, Vice President of Cooler Master Group (investor of the Cooler Master factory project in Bac Ninh), noted that the dialogue mechanism between the provincial government and FDI enterprises is one of the factors that differentiates the local investment environment.

According to Mr. Lin, meetings are not formalities but focus directly on the issues enterprises face, with the participation of decision-making authorities. As a result, many bottlenecks are resolved quickly, enabling businesses to confidently expand investment and develop long-term plans in Bac Ninh.