Many textile and garment businesses have poured more money into their business activities in the central province of Quang Binh as the local authority has upgraded its infrastructure, offered investment incentives and paid attention to improving the quality of its labourforce, the Vietnam Investment Review reported on April 7.

Ten years ago, Garment 10 Corporation (Garco 10) invested 35 billion VND (1.6 million USD) to open Ha Quang Garment Enterprise, specialising in the production of shirts in the province’s Dong Hoi Industrial Zone.

Last year Garco 10 advanced the project to the second phase with a 120 billion VND (5.7 million USD) investment which increased output from 4.8 million to 8 million shirts per year.

After the second production line was in full swing, Ha Quang generates 2,000 jobs with average per capita income of 5 million VND (240 USD) a month.

According to Garco 10 General Director Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, the enterprise has shown solid growth amid recent economic challenges.

Last year, Ha Quang Enterprise reported 80 billion VND (3.8 million USD) in total revenue.

“In late April, we will again invest in the Ha Quang production line with the aim of making it a major producer of shirts in the area,” Huyen said, adding that the company may consider opening new production facilities in the province as demand rises.

Last February, state-owned Vietnam National Textile & Garment Group (Vinatex) conducted a field survey and met with the provincial People’s Committee, paving the way to open a fibre-weaving-dyeing garment complex in the province.

“If everything goes according to plan, we will start work on the complex later this year,” said a Vinatex source.

According to Vinatex management, the province has strategic value for their operations as it has different firms making up a production-chain from growing and spinning cotton to weaving, dyeing and garment production.

In a recent meeting with potential investors in Hanoi on March 19, out of a list of 40 projects currently sourcing investment, two were in the textile and garment sector and looking at potentially building a series of plants.

The province, aware of this growing interest, is actively promoting itself to potential investors to further develop the area and provide jobs to local people.

One major factor Quang Binh has toward wooing investors is its transport infrastructure such as the Dong Hoi airport, Hon La port and connection to national highway 1A as well as border gates to Laos and Thailand.-VNA