New Hai Phong city to form complete production - logistics - export chain
The merger of Hai Duong province and Hai Phong city is expected to unlock a seamless space for industrial and logistics development.
Seamless industrial space
The former Hai Phong city boasted international seaport and logistics infrastructure, while the former Hai Duong province served as a manufacturing hub with a plentiful labor force and numerous large-scale industrial parks.
However, prior to the merger, the two localities were divided by an "invisible administrative boundary" that hindered integrated planning and limited the ability of businesses to fully capitalize on regional advantages.
Foreign investors in both localities faced challenges in expanding their factories beyond phase 1 due to a lack of available industrial land, high leasing costs, administrative hurdles, limited logistics support, and distance from seaports.
According to Duong Thi Thu Ha, Deputy General Director of COMA 18 JSC., the investor behind Kim Thanh industrial park, the new Hai Phong city is poised to become a mega industrial and port city with all the factors necessary to emerge as a new growth engine in the Northern region: an international seaport, an airport, a diverse industrial park network, an abundant labor supply, and modern inter-regional infrastructure. These advantages will greatly benefit all industrial parks.
The western part of the new Hai Phong city, with industrial parks such as extended Phuc Dien, Tan Truong, and Dai An, has attracted many businesses. The Ha Noi – Hai Phong expressway, national highway 5, and the North–South railway line, which run through the area, create favorable conditions for a production and logistics chain.
Promising outlook
For both primary and secondary investors, the key concerns are not only administrative managers but also connectivity, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. Many investors are hoping the new Hai Phong city will feature an integrated "industrial corridor" with shared infrastructure and services.
A representative of a foreign enterprise in Hai Phong preparing to invest in Kim Thanh industrial park said the firm is ready to expand its factory after the merger, as procedures will become more streamlined and the investment process will be more simply.
Domestic investors have also expressed optimism about the potential for growth. With close geographical proximity, similar natural and social conditions, and shared strategic transportation routes, the Hai Duong – Hai Phong merger is seen as a "golden key" to unlocking synchronous cooperation and development in investment attraction, production, and trade.
Some logistics companies believe that if land lease policies are unified, registration procedures are simplified, and planning data is shared, this region could effectively compete with nearby localities like Bac Ninh province and Ha Noi.
According to the approved Northern Coastal Region Plan through 2030 with a vision to 2050, the former Hai Phong, Hai Duong, and Quang Ninh are designated as strategic hubs for marine economy, industry, and logistics. In this framework, Hai Duong is expected to act as a manufacturing belt and labor support zone for Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.
If well-planned and organized, this will be the first region in Northern Vietnam capable of fully integrating a domestic-to-global production – logistics – export chain within a unified economic space. This will not only position the region for rapid development but also enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global production network.
MINH NGUYEN