Quang Tri: Impetus for breakthroughs in the strategic investment promotion

Located at the geographical center of Vietnam, along the vital North–South traffic corridor and the East–West Economic Corridor, Quang Tri enjoys favorable conditions for international trade via road, rail, and sea routes. The Lao Bao International Border Gate serves as a strategic hub linking Vietnam with Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.

Infrastructure Development and Business Environment Reform

In recent years, Quang Tri has focused on enhancing infrastructure and developing industry, services, and tourism. The province has issued various directives and implemented policies to support enterprise development and improve the investment environment. These include establishing steering committees and working groups to assist businesses and accelerate project approvals; forming a Provincial Administrative Reform Steering Committee; and creating a Special Task Force to resolve challenges and support investors and investment projects in accordance with Government Resolution No. 50/NQ-CP.

Under the Investment Attraction Orientation Plan for the 2023–2025 period, with a vision to 2030, Quang Tri aims to attract investments along three main pillars: industry-construction, agriculture, and services-tourism. Key focus areas include energy industries, supporting industries, high-tech agriculture, marine economy, urban development, and logistics infrastructure. These priorities are designed to meet the socio-economic development targets set out in the province’s 17th Party Congress Resolution for the 2021–2025 period.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Tan, Director of the Quang Tri Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Agency (IPA Quang Tri), emphasized that the province is open-minded and committed to improving its investment climate. It is also working to develop infrastructure and allocate clean land for projects to become a compelling investment destination. IPA Quang Tri has prioritized building a skilled investment promotion team, coordinating with departments and localities to implement on-site promotion activities, expand regional linkages, and promote international cooperation—attracting major investors to explore and launch projects.

To align with the province’s socio-economic development goals, IPA Quang Tri has implemented structured and strategic investment promotion activities based on Party resolutions, state laws, and approved sectoral development plans. These efforts include both on-site promotion and outreach across the country and internationally.

In 2023, Quang Tri promoted investment through major events such as the Vietnam–Japan Business Exchange in Vinh Phuc, investment exhibitions in Binh Dinh, and joint promotion programs with Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Tinh, and Japan. These efforts helped widely promote the province's image and attracted significant investor interest.

Strategic Events and International Cooperation

A key milestone in 2024 was the announcement of Quang Tri’s Provincial Planning for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050—seen as a crucial opportunity to attract new investments. Additional trade-investment-tourism events such as the “Reunification Festival,” “Trans-Asia Trade and Tourism Fair – Quang Tri,” exhibitions in Savannakhet (Laos), and Vietnam Expo 2024, have boosted the province's regional influence.

In April 2024, IPA Quang Tri advised the Provincial People's Committee in organizing an investment and trade promotion program in South Korea. This included participation by senior officials from the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Foreign Investment Agency), the signing of trade and investment agreements with Changwon City, and a joint seminar in Seoul with the Embassy of Vietnam and the Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ). These efforts aimed to highlight Quang Tri’s advantages and incentives to Korean investors.

Thanks to these initiatives, major corporations such as Hoa Phat, Central Group, ENI Vietnam, Intracom, T&T Group, various Korean conglomerates, Viet Phuong Group, and affiliated companies have visited Quang Tri for investment exploration.

As of the end of 2024, Quang Tri had received 441 investment-related applications, with 53 projects approved or granted investment registration certificates, totaling over VND 14.37 trillion in committed capital.

Partnering with Businesses for Sustainable Development

According to Mr. Hoang Nam, Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Quang Tri views businesses as the economic backbone and is committed to providing a transparent and competitive investment environment. The province does not differentiate between large or small enterprises, local or foreign, state-owned or private. Departments and localities have been instructed to improve service quality, especially for SMEs and startups.

Efforts are being made to improve investment promotion quality in parallel with reforms to enhance the business environment. IPA Quang Tri focuses on on-site support to accelerate project implementation and ensure smooth operations—viewing this as the most effective investment promotion strategy. As a bridge between investors and government agencies, IPA Quang Tri actively collaborates with stakeholders to help investors resolve issues and implement projects.

Recently, IPA Quang Tri has organized multiple programs to help businesses expand markets both domestically and internationally, contributing significantly to the local socio-economic development. The agency has focused on connecting with major corporations and industry leaders to attract priority investment projects. Promotion efforts have also been expanded via digital platforms, using IT and e-commerce to advertise business opportunities and products—enhancing investment cooperation and product sales.

On the trade promotion front, IPA Quang Tri has supported the organization of trade and tourism fairs, business matchmaking events, OCOP product exhibitions, and international trade missions—especially to neighboring markets like Laos and Thailand. These initiatives facilitate market insights, business networking, and distribution system development.

Over 35,000 people attended the "Trans-Asia Trade and Tourism Fair," which Quang Tri successfully hosted in 2024 and generated over VND 20 billion in sales. Notably, participating companies signed more than 70 memorandums of understanding and contracts for economic cooperation, including dealership, distribution, and collaboration agreements.

Additionally, the province is supporting digital transformation for businesses and cooperatives, diversifying promotion and sales on e-commerce platforms through digital sales training programs.

Looking ahead to 2025, alongside continued business support, Quang Tri will focus on attracting high-quality investments in key sectors. The province will review and update its list of priority projects, selectively seeking modern, sustainable technologies while rejecting outdated and environmentally harmful proposals.

With a strategy rooted in sustainability, investor respect, and proactive issue resolution, Quang Tri is steadily reinforcing its position as an appealing investment destination in Central Vietnam and along the East–West Economic Corridor.