Hanoi (VNA) – The northernprovince of Hai Duong has made drastic efforts to accelerate internationalintegration in recent years.

From 2014 –2018, the Red River Delta province attracted180 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, worth a total of more than 1.3billion USD.

Most of theprovince’s districts have at least an industrial park or cluster that gathers alarge number of manufacturers. A majority of FDI firms are located in Hai Duongcity, Chi Linh and Kinh Mon districts. The province has also restored andmaintained operation of 35 craft villages to create jobs for the locals.

Hai Duong hasposted annual export growth over the last six years. From 2013 – 2018, theprovince’s export revenue totalled 28.3 billion USD, representing an averagegrowth of 15.3 percent annually, while imports grew at an average pace of 16.5percent per year to total 25.6 billion USD.

Statistics from the Ministry of Planning and Investment’sForeign Investment Agency show that the province lured 450 million USD in FDI in the first half of this year,ranking 10th among the 46 localities that received FDI in the period.

Of the total, 326 million USD came from 38 newly licensed projects while theremainder was added to 14 projects already in operation.

As of June this year, Hai Duong was home to 438 foreign-invested projects withcapital totalling more than 8.15 billion USD, retaining its position as one ofthe top ten localities in the country in terms of attracting foreign capital.

Since 2013,Hai Duong has hosted 12 dialogues between the provincial government andenterprises, particularly startup businesses, to learn about and help themtackle difficulties. The province has also organised 109 trade fairs andexhibitions both at home and overseas to promote its products and services.

It has focusedmore on applying advanced techniques and technology as well as new varieties,innovative practices and preservation methods in agriculture. A number of itsagricultural products have reached international standards and been permittedto export to strict markets like the United States and Japan.

However,several challenges remain in multiple areas, hindering the province’sinternational integration efforts. Infrastructure development has failed tokeep up with local economic growth while there has been insufficient funding for expanding hi-techagriculture.

Plus, theprovince has yet to develop a college, university or an internationalcooperation model capable of providing skillful manpower that satisfiesrequirements for international integration. There has been a lack of specificand effective activities to promote export-import and trade in the agriculture sector while many local companies remaininactive in internationalintegration./.