The central province of Thua Thien-Hue attracted a total of more than2.8 trillion VND (128.4 million USD) in its industrial zones in thefirst half of 2015, equal to 112 percent of the yearly target.

So far, local industrial zones have had 97 investment projects, ofwhich 23 are FDI ones, totaling over 22 trillion VND (1.01 billion USD).

To achieve these results, the locality has carried out a lot of activities to attract investments.

In late May, the management board of industrial zones held aninvestment promotion conference in the southern region, which drewrepresentatives from 25 investors, businesses and associations in Ho ChiMinh City, and Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces.

Thanks to the event, additional eight investors signed memoranda of understanding on cooperation.

Businesses in the province have enjoyed effective operation,especially those operating in tourism, food processing, cement, andgarment and textiles.

The invested projects havehelped increase production capacity, speed up technological renovation,improve the management capacity, and reduce imported products.

According to the industrial zone management board, duringJanuary-June, the total revenue of businesses in industrial zonesreached more than 7.37 trillion VND (339 million USD), up 31.4 percentyear-on-year. Their export turnover was 238 million USD, a 30-percentrise, and State budget collection was 845 billion VND (38.87 millionUSD), up 41 percent.

The industrial zones also generated jobs for over 17,800 labourers, up 8.9 percent against the same period last year.-VNA