The Chu Lai Open Economic Zone attracted 23 projects in 2017. Three were foreign investment projects worth US$16 million.
Total investment of US$1.4 billion was made during the year, 13.5 times as much as the year before. Director of the Economic Zone Authority (EZA), Do Xuan Dien, said this was the biggest growth in investment since the economic zone opened in 2003.
He said business promotions and forums were held in the province, HCM City, Macau-China and this year’s APEC meeting in Quang Nam. Dien said infrastructure and administrative reforms had been promoted to smooth the way for investors.
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He said the zone had attracted 138 projects, of which 34 were FDI projects worth US$1 billion involving total investment of US$3.68 billion since 2003. Eighty-eight projects worth more than US$1.3 billion, are in operation, including 24 FDI projects worth US$227 million.
At an investment promotion conference in June, the province presented investment licences to 32 projects with a total registered capital of US$15.8 billion. The biggest licence was a US$10 billion framework agreement signed between Exxon Mobil and the State oil and gas giant PetroVietnam (PVN) to develop a power plant using natural gas from the Blue Whale field off the coast of Quang Nam.
A series of huge tourism property projects also began construction in 2017, including Vinpearl South Hoi An worth US$213 million; An Thinh resort complex (US$191 million); beach resort Opal Ocean View (US$205 million); Binh Duong resort complex (US$206 million) and an infrastructure project at Tam Thang Industrial Park (US$220 million).
Last year, Japan’s Mazda Motor Corporation, in co-operation with local Truong Hai Automobile Joint-Stock company (Thaco), started construction of a new Mazda plant at a total investment of US$380 million.
The 32,400ha zone has invested US$39 million to dredge the main ports of Tam Hiep and Ky Ha for ships with a capacity of 10,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) and 20,000 DWT.
Direct sea routes were launched from Chu Lai to Incheon in Korea, and Fangcheng in China for hosting textiles, automobiles, logistics experts, exports and investment flows from Korea and Japan.
According to Nguyen Hong Quang, head of the provincial secretariat, the budget carrier VietJetAir and US partner Parsons Brinckerhoff have proposed a master plan for development of Chu Lai airport as an international airport in 2020-25.
It will host in host 2.3 million passengers and handle 1.5 million tonnes of cargo per year.
Analysts noted that Vietnam-Singapore ties are increasingly moving beyond traditional goods trade towards green growth, innovation and high-quality supply chains, laying a stronger foundation for more substantive and sustainable cooperation in the years ahead.
International visitors expressed positive impressions of Vietnamese products displayed at the fair. Nelma Sanjines, senior supervisor at ESP Catering in Sydney, praised the flavour of Vietnamese chilli sauce and soy sauce as well as the attractive packaging of confectionery products.
Experts noted that supply chain optimisation and risk management are no longer isolated tasks for individual companies but a requirement for the entire export ecosystem. With guidance from regulators, support from industry experts and their own efforts, Vietnamese exporters are expected to enhance their competitiveness and turn technical barriers and market volatility into opportunities for sustainable growth in global markets.
In April, Vietnam’s crude steel output was estimated at 2.1 million tonnes, up 4% year-on-year. With this result, Vietnam surpassed Italy to secure a place among the top 10 global producers.
Power companies must carry out regular grid inspections and maintenance to keep operations safe and efficient, minimise localised overloads and reduce the risk of supply disrupting incidents.
He stressed that domestic firms must proactively improve corporate governance, technological capabilities and workforce quality in order to participate more deeply in global supply chains. “Vietnamese enterprises cannot enter the supply chains of multinational corporations unless they meet required standards,” Cuong said.
Vietnam has kept inflation below 4% since 2015, and maintaining macroeconomic stability while effective inflation control in 2026 will be crucial to supporting the country’s goal of achieving double-digit GDP growth.
To ensure safer use of E10 fuel, consumers are advised to regularly maintain fuel systems, replace deteriorated rubber components and refuel at reputable petrol stations to ensure ethanol blending quality meets standards.
The article described Vietnam as strategically positioned along major regional maritime routes, including the East – West corridor linking the Americas, the Middle East, India and Europe, and the North – South corridor connecting China and Southeast Asia, helping make the country a gateway for international trade.
Work starts on 600-million-USD electronic components plant in Ninh Binh
The eco-industrial park model will help Vietnam meet international environmental standards while creating opportunities to improve growth quality and economic competitiveness. Many multinational corporations now view green standards, emissions reduction and energy efficiency as key conditions when selecting investment destinations.
Alongside exhibition activities, trade promotion, and business networking programs, the “Gwangju Global Food Fair 2026” also witnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Vietnam–Korea Businessmen & Investment Association (VKBIA) and the Gwangju Tourism Organization of South Korea.
Green transition is increasingly viewed as essential to preserving the city’s status as Vietnam’s economic locomotive.
With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,392 VND/USD, and the floor rate 23,878 VND/USD.
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Under a draft resolution currently open for public feedback by the municipal People’s Committee, residents with permanent or temporary residence registration in Hanoi for at least two consecutive years, who own petrol-powered motorbikes registered before the resolution takes effect, will be eligible for support when purchasing electric motorbikes priced at 10 million VND or more.
Vietnam values and places great importance on support from international partners, including the US, which it considers a leading strategic partner.
More than a year after the Politburo's Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private sector development came into effect, expectations now extend beyond increasing the number of enterprises. The goal is to build a stronger business community with greater resilience, larger ambitions and the capacity to compete in global supply chains.
Vietnam is expected to remain one of ASEAN’s fastest-growing economies in 2026, supported by resilient exports, strong investment inflows and an ambitious reform agenda, despite mounting global uncertainties, according to the World Bank’s latest Vietnam Economic Update released on May 15.
Under a new circular, the exchange of greenhouse gas emission quotas and carbon credits is conducted on the domestic carbon credit exchange through the carbon trading system, which is interconnected with the national registration system.