The Journey of Nghi Son: Aspiring to Become a Key Urban-Industrial Hub

After four years of implementing the Resolution, there have been many innovations in mechanisms and policies. However, to realize the goals, Nghi Son needs an enormous investment of resources.

“In 2024, up to October 31, the Nghi Son Port Customs Branch collected 17,500 billion VND in budget revenue, exceeding the assigned budget revenue target for 2024 by 31%. To achieve this result, we have closely monitored and managed import and export activities in the managed area. Secondly, we have effectively implemented the guidelines and plans for administrative reform, simplifying customs procedures, and moving towards a digital and smart customs model. The purpose is to reduce costs and clearance time, facilitating import and export activities.”

According to the leader of the Nghi Son Port Customs Branch, in 2024, budget revenue from import and export activities is estimated to reach 19 trillion VND. This means that Thanh Hoa province will benefit from about 3-4 trillion VND according to the specific mechanism of the National Assembly’s Resolution 37. The entire amount will be used to invest in developing the infrastructure of Nghi Son Economic Zone. Previously, in 2022, the central budget re-allocated 3,000 billion VND to Thanh Hoa province from the policy of increasing revenue from export and import activities through Nghi Son Port. This amount has been allocated by Thanh Hoa province to implement 23 projects to invest in developing technical infrastructure, relocating and resettling people in Nghi Son Economic Zone.

Mr. Pham Nhat Tan, Head of the Construction Division of Nghi Son Economic Zone Management Board, said that the invested projects would contribute to speeding up the completion of synchronous infrastructure development in the Economic Zone: “The Board has advised and been assigned to be the investor of projects with a total investment of 700 billion VND to complete the transport system in the Economic Zone. Up to now, we have completed the approval of feasibility study reports and technical designs for the projects. According to our assessment, we are focusing on human resources to complete the projects on schedule and ensure quality.”

Nghi Son is one of the eight largest coastal economic zones in the country and one of the four development pillars of Thanh Hoa province. It is located in the province’s key economic development corridor. Investing in and developing Nghi Son town and Nghi Son Economic Zone will create a driving force for the province’s economic development, especially in heavy industry, processing, manufacturing, logistics services, and tourism.

With its important role and position, Nghi Son has been and is being paid special attention by the Central Government and Thanh Hoa province in terms of investment and development. In the term of 2020 – 2025, taking advantage of its potential and strengths, with activeness, creativity, and efforts, Nghi Son town has achieved important and comprehensive results in all fields, with 24/27 targets meeting and exceeding the plan. The average annual growth rate of production value is estimated at 29.9%, exceeding the Congress target (27.34%), the highest among the districts, towns, and cities in the province. Notably, the Nghi Son Economic Zone has been expanded to 106,000 hectares according to Decision 1699/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister.

With great opportunities and potential, Nghi Son is also facing challenges. Notably, to become a city and a key coastal urban and service-industrial center of the country, Nghi Son needs a substantial amount of resources to complete the planning and invest in infrastructure development. In recent years, FDI attraction to Nghi Son Economic Zone has slowed down, and one of the reasons is the difficulty in investing in infrastructure and clearing land, leading to a lack of clean land…

Mr. Truong Ba Duyen, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Nghi Son Town Party Committee, said that the increased revenue enjoyed from the National Assembly’s Resolution 37 is also being paid attention to by Thanh Hoa province, focusing on investing in completing infrastructure, clearing land, and resettling people in the area of Nghi Son town: “Identifying the Nghi Son Economic Zone as the driving force for the province’s economic development, in the term of 2020-2025, there are four key programs, of which Nghi Son town determines that the program of land clearance and resettlement of the population is a very important task to call for investment projects, filling the industrial park in the Nghi Son Economic Zone. The most important thing is land clearance, and we also determine the development of the marine economy, the system of seaports in the Economic Zone is very large, focusing on necessary marine services, sea tourism…”

The goal set for Nghi Son is very high, and there is a solid basis for us to expect that this place will not only be the economic and urban center of Thanh Hoa and the region but also become a key industrial center of the country in the future. Knowing that the Central Government and the province have had specific mechanisms and policies to prioritize this potential land, but that is not enough, even too little compared to the actual investment needs in Nghi Son, including transportation, technical infrastructure, seaports, and logistics. In particular, planning, land clearance, and resettlement need to be one step ahead. Thanh Hoa needs to soon materialize the disbursement of 11,300 billion VND from the project on land clearance, investment in construction of resettlement areas, and land clearance for industrial parks in Nghi Son Economic Zone. This will be an important premise for Nghi Son to take the next steps on the path to becoming a key industrial center of the country.