Binh Duong (VNA) – The People’s Committee of the southern Binh Duong province on December 9 held a conference to promote investment from Europe in the context of the "new normal" situation.

At the event, Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Hung Dung said as of mid-December, Binh Duong had drawn 2 billion USD in foreign direct investment, ranking second nationwide.

Specifically, the province recorded 64 new projects, 24 others with capital adjustment and 161 investment projects in the form of capital contribution and share purchase. So far, Binh Duong has been home to 4,011 foreign-invested projects with a total registered capital of 37 billion USD from 65 countries and territories.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic this year, the province's industrial production index rose by an estimated 4.5 percent annually. Exports and imports surged by 13.5 percent and 14.7 percent, respectively to 31.5 billion USD and 24.6 billion USD, resulting in a trade surplus of 6.8 billion USD.

Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam Alain Cany said European firms have chosen Binh Duong as one of the top three destinations given its favourable geographical location, complete transport infrastructure and friendly business climate.

Also according to him, Binh Duong is one of the leading localities in Vietnam in flexibly adapting to and quickly controlling COVID-19 for economic restoration.

Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Toan said Binh Duong has embarked on a new period of prioritising investment in hi-tech, eco-friendly, less labour intensive sectors, financial and logistics services, support industry and hi-tech agriculture, and particularly in Binh Duong Science and Technology Industrial Park, from developed nations and promising partners worldwide.

Dung pledged that the provincial authorities will always accompany and offer all possible support to foreign investors, including those from Europe./.