Since the first days of 2014, the southern province of Binh Duong has seen positive growth in wood processing, garment and textiles, footwear and ceramic industries.

These are the province’s key sectors and they contribute more than 4.5 billion USD each year to its export value.

On these days, many businesses under the Binh Duong Furniture Association (BIFA) received orders from their US, European and Japanese partners.

Director General of Sao Nam Limited Company, Do Thi Kim Loan, said that her company has received orders to provide products for the US market until September.

She attributed this to the connectivity between the BIFA and several hardwood processors’ associations from the US and Europe.

Meanwhile, the province’s ceramic producers also signed contracts with many foreign companies.

Director of Cuong Phat Ceramic Company, Ly Ngoc Bach, said that his firm has enough orders to keep it busy until the end of the second quarter of this year.

The sector still remains prestigious in the eyes of foreign distributors and consumers, as Vietnamese businesses often change their techniques and designs to meet foreigners’ taste, Bach said.

According to Le Thanh Cung, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, these positive signals will provide motivation to further develop Binh Duong’s economy in 2014.

The province will focus all resources to develop its economy stably, curbing inflation, improving investment environment and addressing difficulties for businesses, he said.

In the first 20 days of this year alone, the province attracted 300 million USD of foreign direct investment, three times higher than that of the same period last year, Cung said.-VNA