The southern city of Can Tho has attracted as many as 57 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total registered capital of 879 million USD since the beginning of 2013.

According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Le Duong Cam Thuy, the encouraging results were attributed to the city’s drastic administrative reforms in license granting time and reduction in land leasing fee.

An Investment and Trade Promotion Centre was also set up to provide information and connect the enterprises with the local authorities.

Can Tho city also moved to complete its electricity, water supply and transport infrastructure, develop supporting industries, as well as provide high quality manpower to the FDI projects.

It stepped up trade promotion activities and strengthened cooperation with other provinces in the region and the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City to lure more investment to the city.

In the long term, Can Tho city will expand its four economic zones (EZs) and build drainage and water treatment systems to stop environmental pollution in its existing EZs.-VNA