VietNamNet Bridge – In 2013, the provinces in the central region attracted 66 foreign-invested projects worth $1.5 billion, bringing the total foreign capital invested in this region to nearly $25.5 billion, said Mr. Trinh Minh Van, Director of the Central Region Investment Promotion Center.

Dung Quat oil refinery.

Notably, Binh Dinh province attracted a $1 billion project to build a bus component manufacturing plant of the Bus Industrial Center Co., Ltd. from Russia. The $125 million project to build the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park was launched in Quang Ngai province.

In addition, the Vung Ro oil refinery project in Phu Yen raised its capital from $1.7 billion to $3.2 billion. The $30 billion Nhon Hoi refinery project of the Thailand Petroleum Corporation was also launched in Binh Dinh.

Mr. Le Huu Loc, Binh Dinh Chair said that many investors from Russia, Japan and South Korea wanted to join the Nhon Hoi oil refinery project.

"Along with the Nhon Hoi refinery project, in 2014 Japanese investors will build a number of seafood processing plants, a textile and garment center and the Hai Giang resort with a 1.5km sea-crossing cable car system. These projects will surely create breakthrough developments for Binh Dinh," Loc said.

Quang Ngai province hopes that the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park will create powerful attraction of the FDI inflows into the province next year. Mr. Cao Khoa, Quang Ngai Chair said that after three months of construction, this IP has attracted five foreign-invested projects, totaling $115 million.

So far, the Dung Quat Economic Zone has attracted more than $10 billion, with over $5 billion disbursed, contributing 80-90 percent of Quang Ngai’s industrial output, export revenue and budget revenue. Quang Ngai expects to attract $15 billion into this zone by 2015.

Quang Ngai authorities have asked the Government’s approval for the model of Dung Quat City to better manage and develop the Dung Quang Economic Zone.

Mr. Le Van Dung, deputy head of the Management Board of the Dung Quat Economic Zone said that the Ministry of Planning and Investment is about to submit to the Prime Minister the $4.5 billion steel rolling project invested by the JFE Steel Corporation (Japan) and the E-United in the Dung Quat Economic Zone.

"If this large-scale project is approved by the Prime Minister in December, I hope that this steel rolling plant and the Dooosan petrochemical and heavy industry complex will blow new vitality to Dung Quat," Dung said.

Na Son