Lâm Đồng discusses ways to attract FDI

Lâm Đồng Province leads the country in high-tech agriculture. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Dũng

LÂM ĐỒNG — The Central Highlands Province of Lâm Đồng organised a seminar to discuss ways to achieve its economic potential and attract investment in Đà Lạt City on yesterday.

It was held on the sidelines of the seventh Đà Lạt Festival (December  二 三- 二 七).

It was attended by local scientists and foreign experts, relevant authorities and executives from  五0 local agricultural firms.

Deputy Chairman of the province People’s Co妹妹ittee, Nguyễn Văn Yên, said Lâm Đồng had advantages in areas like agricultural technology and high-quality tourism.

It has the largest areas under vegetables, flowers and tea in the country, he said.

High-tech agriculture is practised on nearly  五 一, 八00ha, or  二0 per cent of all the province’s farmlands, he said.

The province farms cashew, mulberry, cocoa, pepper, fruits, and cold-water fish (sturgeon and salmon).

The Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng organised a seminar to discuss ways to achieve its economic potential and attract investment in Đà Lạt City on Tuesday. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp

Lâm Đồng received  五. 九 million visitors this year, including over  四00,000 foreigners, an increase of  八. 七 per cent year-on-year.

But Yên said the province was yet to do justice to its potential and strengths, and the seminar hoped to find ways to mitigate that.

Trần Đình Thiên, director of the Việt Nam Institute of Economics, said the province should develop its image through the media to attract more foreign investment.

He praised its achievements in developing transportation, saying that for instance Liên Khương had become an international airport that helped increase exports.

Đặng Kim Sơn, former head of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development, said Lâm Đồng imported  九0 per cent of all the seeds it needs, a high-risk strategy because of possible market volatility.

The province should produce its own high-quality seeds and upgrade its electricity, water, drainage, transportation and weather forecast systems, he said.

Robert Hejzak, an investment expert from the International Finance Corporation, said FDI often helped improve labour productivity and would help Việt Nam become competitive in the ASEAN Free Trade Area.

The province should focus on investment promotion and create favourable conditions for potential investors, he added. — VNS