Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong on September 13 attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) complex in central Quang Ngai province.

The 1,120 ha compound is the fifth VSIP in Vietnam. It is a joint venture between the province and Sembcorp Industries, a leading corporation in Singapore.
 
The first of the parks was established in the southern province of Binh Duong in 1996.

Apart from VSIP I and VISP II in Binh Duong, another two are located in the northern province of Bac Ninh and Hai Phong port city.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Dung underlined the significance of the construction of the project as it began on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Singapore.
 
He said Vietnam-Singapore relations have seen fine and effective development since the two sides established diplomatic ties in 1973, adding that based on the closer political relations, economic-trade and investment cooperation has been promoted and developed strongly.

PM Dung stressed Singapore has been one of Vietnam ’s leading trade and investment partners in recent years.
 
VSIP Binh Duong became the trade name and symbol of successful cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore , and has contributed to Vietnam ’s socio-economic development over the last 17 years, he noted.

He also affirmed that Singapore ’s investment to build the complex in Quang Ngai will contribute to attracting more domestic and foreign investment, creating development momentum as well as generating additional jobs for local people.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always creates favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Singapore , adding that Vietnam has been improving its infrastructure and completing its legal system, while reforming administrative procedures in order to facilitate investors’ activities in the country.

The Prime Minister expressed his belief that with the efforts of the two countries’ Governments and enterprises, VSIP 5 in Quang Ngai will continue to achieve successes and become a vivid example of the Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the four VSIPs of Singapore in Vietnam have operated successfully, attracting more than 6 billion USD from about 500 companies from 25 nations and territories, and generated jobs for about 140,000 workers nationwide.

The VSIPs have improved their business quality through luring high value-added and large capital sectors such as the pharmaceutical industry, precision technology, and high-grade consumer products.

Singapore ’s industrial parks have developed from traditional forms into urban complexes, creating a high-quality environment for Vietnamese people to work, live and relax, thus contributing to Vietnam ’s development and growth, PM Lee said.

He affirmed that VSIP Quang Ngai will create a new quality standard of infrastructure and environment in the country.

At the ceremony, PM Dung and the Singaporean PM witnessed the granting of investment licences for investors in the complex.-VNA