Long An province in the key southern economic zone presented a list of its advantages and made offers to Japanese businesses at a meeting with the Outward mission on August 23.

Pham Van Ranh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said like other parts of the country, Long An has emerged as a destination for foreign investors, citing advantages of political stability, steady economic growth and an industrious workforce.

“The province has a good land reserve for industrial and urban development and infrastructure construction,” Ranh said.

Long An authorities confirmed that labour strikes in foreign companies did not make any impact on the province. They also presented a new model for small investors who may rent a lot of just 100 sq. m. of land in the Long Hau industrial zone. Japanese investors were also assured of administrative reforms with very simple paper work.

Licences will be issued in 24 hours after all forms are filled, authorities emphasised.

The Mekong Delta province has so far granted licences for 328 foreign investment projects capitalised at almost 3.18 billion USD, including the 11 projects by Japanese investors with a combined investment of 188 million USD. One of the 11 Japanese-invested projects was licensed in 2010 with a capital of 100 million USD.

The Japanese business mission, led by Sato Shi Abe, Director of the ASEAN investment sharing sector under the Japan centre, was shown around several industrial zones. The guests also visited the Vina Eco Board Limited Liability Company under the Sumitomo Group and the Kaiyo Seafood Processing Company./.