Lang Son: Taking proactive steps to facilitate investment connectivity

At the same time, it is the gateway for ASEAN countries to the southern Chinese market within the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area.

This province has great potential in tourism and trade, especially border trade; its favorable geographical location supports economic development as it lies on the trans-Asian economic corridor, bordering China - a dynamic economy and is just over two hours from Hanoi.

In recent times, to harness its potential and advantages and create breakthroughs, Lang Son has accelerated regional economic restructuring and shifted its growth model toward the application of science and technology, digital transformation, and innovation; developed a sustainable ecological agriculture; and transitioned its energy structure toward green growth by leveraging renewable energy in connection with forest and natural resource protection.

At the same time, it develops sectors aligned with regional and provincial socio-economic development planning while optimally mobilizing domestic resources and effectively leveraging external resources through FDI attraction.

The VSIP Lang Son industrial park will attract high-quality industrial investors, especially those in the renewable energy sector. This will both contribute to increasing industrial production value and promote the sustainable development of Lang Son's industrial sector.

Diversifying investment promotion methods

To practically and effectively promote and attract investment, unlock resources, Lang Son provincial People's Committee has issued many specific plans and action programs to implement investment attraction; strengthened communication and supported businesses in completing procedures online; and trained businesses in digital transformation skills, digital economy development, and market access. At the same time, it has implemented solutions to support business recovery after the pandemic, according to Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP.

Lang Son province focuses on administrative reform, shortening the time for business registration and investment policy decisions; enhancing IT application and digitalizing state management; improving public services; and supporting innovative startups for investment attraction.

Mr. Hoang Xuan Thuan – Director of the Lang Son Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion stated that in 2024, the center standardized documents; developed and revised promotional publications for investment promotion activities. It published 2,000 bilingual (English-Vietnamese, Chinese-Vietnamese) copies of “Lang Son – potential and investment opportunities” and “List of priority projects”; produced 2 promotional clips giving an overview of the Lang Son province and its investment environment; and coordinated with the press to introduce the local image.

The center also actively approaches investors from China, Singapore, South Korea, and others. In 2024, the Lang Son provincial People's Council organized a working trip to Guangxi, and the Lang Son provincial People's Committee participated in an exhibition in Zhejiang (China) to promote investment potential and introduce incentive policies to Chinese businesses.

Mr. Ho Tien Thieu – Deputy Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Lang Son Provincial People's Committee, and leaders of several departments worked with the delegation from Songshan Lake Group and Chinese investors.

In addition, the Center organized talks and signed cooperation deals such as announcing the opening of routes for freight transport and customs clearance at the international border gate pair of Huu Nghi (Vietnam) – Youyi Guan (China) and restoring clearance at the Binh Nghi – Ping'er Guan border gate; held exchange activities during the Pingxiang (Guangxi) border tourism week; worked with representatives of several embassies and international organizations in Vietnam; welcomed and worked with domestic investors coming to survey investment, notably including Lac Hong Phuc Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, Sovico Group, T&T Group…

Thanks to that, in 2024, Lang Son province's investment attraction achieved many outstanding results: 1,200 new businesses were established (200% of the plan, an increase of 57.5% compared to the same period), with total registered capital of VND 9,620 billion (an increase of 58%); cumulatively, the whole province has 5,208 businesses with total capital of VND 59,804 billion.

Lang Son province issued new investment policies/investment certificates for 13 projects with total investment capital of VND 6,192.2 billion; adjusted investment policies/investment certificates for 32 projects, with additional capital of VND 612.5 billion. Among these, major projects in industrial infrastructure, energy, and livestock farming have been attracted, creating a ripple effect.

Facilitating investment activities

In recent years, Lang Son province has focused on improving the business environment toward transparency, competitiveness, and suitability with integration trends. The province has changed its approach, organized investment promotion, and developed reasonable investment attraction and incentive policies to lure private invesment inflows.

The Lang Son provincial People's Committee has organized many working sessions with the Lang Son Business Association and the Lang Son Cooperative Alliance and held meetings and dialogues to promptly understand and address difficulties faced by businesses, cooperatives, and household businesses.

Recently, Deputy Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Lang Son Provincial People's Committee Ho Tien Thieu worked with the delegation from Pacific Construction Group (China).

In 2024, departments, sectors, and district-level People's Committees resolved about 400 petitions related to investment, construction, land, taxes, and more. At the same time, the province organized a conference to connect cooperative product consumption and signed 6 memoranda of understanding between cooperatives and businesses.

Along with that, the Lang Son provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 03/2024/NQ-HDND dated May 30, 2024, on support policies for small and medium enterprises for the 2024-2030 period, including support for startup training, rent subsidies at industrial parks, and support for participation in e-commerce platforms.

In addition, training activities to enhance investment promotion capacity and business support consulting have been implemented timely, basically meeting the needs of businesses. The Lang Son Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion organized training conferences on tax policies, accounting, finance, and bidding law; startup training classes; and on-site training sessions at businesses.

Currently, the Lang Son Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion continues to proactively develop investment promotion programs and plans, organizing conferences and forums to advertise and introduce the Lang Son province's potential and advantages, attract, call for, and support investors in project development. It actively accompanies and creates the most favorable conditions for businesses and investors by providing consulting, support, and guidance to overcome difficulties during the project research and implementation process in the province.

According to Lang Son provincial leaders, the province continues to strengthen the activities of the special task force to remove difficulties and obstacles in production and business activities, effectively supporting businesses, investors, and investment projects in the province. The Lang Son provincial People's Committee has assigned specialized agencies to handle and resolve petitions and remove difficulties for projects, especially in site clearance at monthly meetings, particularly for investment projects in industrial parks and industrial clusters in the province.

According to Resolution No. 135-NQ/TU dated November 9, 2023, of the Lang Son Provincial Party Standing Committee: During the 2023-2030 period, the province prioritizes attracting investors with real  capacity, modern technology, environmentally friendly practices, and green urban development associated with sustainable tourism. Each year, it aims to attract 3-5 projects with a scale of VND 500 billion or more.