Four directions, thousands of miles, one home
In recent years, Nghe An province has strived to innovate its methods for attracting investment. The figure of over 1.6 billion USD in foreign direct investment into Nghe An in 2023 is the most vivid evidence of the province's effectiveness in attracting investment.
Recently, a working delegation led by Mr. Thai Thanh Quy, Member of the Central Party Committee and Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, has visited and worked with embassies, several corporations and businesses in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the Federal Republic of Germany.
The trip has brought about positive signals regarding investment attraction, broadening vision, and opportunities for connection and cooperation based on trust, proactive integration and sustainable development.
Proactively approaching reputable investors
Working with the Vietnamese Embassies in Amsterdam, London, Berlin, and major corporations such as AkzoNobel (Netherlands), West London Chamber of Commerce, German Asia-Pacific Business Association, etc., Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, Thai Thanh Quy, discussed the socio-economic situation, initial results of investment attraction in recent years, and the “five readiness” spirit in the province’s investment attraction.
To achieve the trip’s objectives, Secretary of the Nghe A Provincial Party Committee, Thai Thanh Quy, instructed members of the delegation in their respective fields to thoroughly study the content and understand the partners.
Therefore, during the meetings, both sides focused on discussing specific issues. Always listening and meticulously addressing the concerns that partners care about and need clarification on, he also shared his thoughts on opinions on some difficulties in investment and business legal frameworks and policies, administrative procedure delays, and even inconvenient aspects such as like the bureaucracy within some public officials.
In his capacity as a Party Central Committee Member and the highest provincial leader, Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy commits to working with the leadership of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee and authorities, to create the most favorable conditions possible for both foreign investors and Vietnamese enterprises investing in Nghe An.
In light of the straightforward and sincere spirit of the highest provincial leader of Nghe An, Mr. Vincent Mol, Strategic Director of AkzoNobel, a company which has invested in over 100 countries including Vietnam, expressed his desire to soon visit and conduct market surveys and research in Vietnam’s North Central region connected to the markets of Laos and Northeast Thailand.
Based on this, there is potential to build an additional paint manufacturing plant in Nghe An, following the suggestion from Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy.
Ms. Almut Rosne, a member of the Board of Directors of the German Asia-Pacific Business Association based in Hamburg, Germany, affirmed that next year a delegation of enterprises will visit Nghe An to explore investment opportunities in sectors such as electronics, digital transformation, and electric cable production.
Ms. Lile, representing the Vietnamese Business Association in the UK, also proposed exploring and increasing opportunities to import OCOP products from Nghe An into supermarket chains in the UK.
Focusing on in-depth research into certain fields
During this trip, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy and the working delegation spent time conducting surveys and deep research on the operations of some seaports.
Visiting Rotterdam Port (Netherlands) and Hamburg Port (Germany), they explored in-depth the development planning, investment mechanisms, and state management with enterprises, as well as the operation, exploitation, and logistics connectivity of seaports regionally and internationally.
During the meeting, the leadership of Hamburg Port expressed readiness to effectively assume the role of an international consultant for the investment, construction, and operation of Nghe An's international seaport. This is also one of the province’s future investment focuses under the Nghe An development plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 recently approved by the Prime Minister of Vietnam.
Cooperation in training and utilizing human resources was also a focal point ofthe trip. Visiting the vocational training center for automobile and electrical machinery repairs in Erfurt (Germany), Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, Thai Thanh Quy, conducted detailed inquiries into investment entities, management practices, recruitment priorities, training duration, and costs, as well as post-training employment.
The delegation members were truly impressed by the infrastructure, vocational training equipment, the integration of theory with practical training on modern models, and the alignment of training with the needs of businesses to ensure employment and income stability for laborers during and after training.
Mr. Thai Thanh Quy proposed the center study feasible cooperation plans for vocational training and utilizing Nghe An's abundant labor force for the German market.
Currently, countries like the Federal Republic of Germany face an annual shortage of over 600,000 workers, particularly in core technology, engineering, construction, and nursing sectors. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Vietnamese laborers going to Germany for university and vocational education. In fact, approximately 7,400 individuals are studying at various universities and vocational schools in Germany.
Ambassador Vu Quang Minh noted that Germany has 435 institutions specializing in science and applied sciences, the majority of which are public institutions with very low tuition.
Based on the province's proposal, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany will continue to connect some German universities to cooperate in training, student exchange programs, and scientific research between the two sides.
Within the framework of meetings with the embassies of various countries as well as organizations and businesses in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany, Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, Thai Thanh Quy, and the delegation also focused on several key areas such as renewable energy development, agricultural production, waste and wastewater treatment technologies, cultural exchange cooperation, etc.
Mr. Thai Thanh Quy emphasized the proposal for the ambassadors to assist in connecting Nghe An with relevant parties to enable direct collaboration with provinces that have similar conditions to Nghe An.
Ambassadors Ngo Huong Nam, Vu Quang Minhand Chargé d'Affaires To Minh Thu acknowledged this proposal and promised to give it due consideration.
Immediately after each meeting with the ambassadors, foreign organizations and businesses, Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy directed the relevant department heads to proactively connect, discuss with partners, and quickly develop plans to be submitted to the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee.
The Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee also instructed his aide to draft notifications assigning tasks to relevant departments for immediate issuance upon the conclusion of the working trip.
Four directions, thousands of miles, one home
Working with the Vietnamese embassies in various countries, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy and the Nghe An delegation paid close attention to understanding the lives of the Vietnamese and Nghe An community abroad.
The ambassadors noted that the Vietnamese community is playing an increasingly positive and influential role. A significant number of people from Nghe An are making notable contributions to activities initiated by the embassies.
Mr. Thai Thanh Quy hoped that the Vietnamese embassies would continue to support and create favorable conditions for the Nghe An community and the Vietnamese diaspora in general, enabling them to live, study, and work conveniently.
The Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, Thai Thanh Quy, supports and agrees with the proposals put forward by the Nghe An Homeland Association in Germany to create even more favorable conditions for businesses to invest in their homeland, and to organize activities commemorating the 135th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh in Germany next year.
Mr. Thai Thanh Quy suggested that the Nghe An Homeland Association in Berlin expand the scope of this event to include the Vietnamese and Nghe An communities in several European countries, focusing on preserving and promoting Nghe An cultural heritage, especially among the youth.
An impressive destination was Newhaven town (UK) - home to Newhaven Port, where young patriot Nguyen Tat Thanh first set foot in 1913. Mayor Pinky McLean-Knight shared that for many years, the Newhaven government and residents have collected and preserved artifacts and documents related to President Ho Chi Minh during his time in the UK, with deep respect and honor for hosting one of the world's greatest leaders.
Upon hearing about the visit of the delegation from Nghe An, artist Jo Lamb awaited to share her efforts in painting images of President Ho Chi Minh during various historical periods, especially his time in the UK, to participate in an exhibition about him organized by the Newhaven government next year.
Moved by the sentiment of the local government and people of Newhaven, on behalf of the leadership of Nghe An province, Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy discussed with the Mayor of Newhaven regarding the province's plan to collaborate with the local government to upgrade the Ho Chi Minh space at the Newhaven museum.
This collaboration aims to provide additional digitized materials about President Ho Chi Minh and facilitate some artists to work with artist Jo Lamb to recreate images of President Ho Chi Minh through paintings as proposed by artist Jo Lamb.
Working with the British Communist Party leaders and several political, economic, and social organizations abroad, meeting with many Europeans, the delegation has come to appreciate more deeply the stature, depth, and influence of Ho Chi Minh's thought, culture and morality among peace-loving and prosperous nations, especially in the current international context.
Through various channels, many Nghe An natives in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands warmly welcomed and enthusiastically supported activities of the delegation.
Many have lived and worked there for decades, while some have recently arrived for study or work; they meet each other with warm, familiar Nghe accents. Many have strived and succeeded, now willing to assist newcomers.
Engaging with the second generation individuals now working in local government agencies, international organizations or businesses, the delegation felt their confidence, integration, and sense of preserving Vietnamese cultural traditions.
The heartfelt encounters showed that geographical distance is no longer an obstacle, as in each person's heart there resides the image of their homeland and nation. The world no longer seems vast when nations, organizations, businesses, and individuals increasingly understand each other,fostering unity and cooperation based on equality, harmony, and mutual benefit, for the prosperity, happiness, and sustainable development of our shared home, the Earth.
Leaving Europe in the cool, refreshing early summer weather, admiring the blend of ancient and modern cities, and gazing over the lush green plains, the delegation cannot help but feel a deep affection and love for their homeland, enduring many hardships amidst scorching days.
They realized that, to foster development in Nghe An, unity, concerted efforts and internal strength must be maximized, alongside expanding our vision and seizing extensive opportunities for cooperation with close and distant friends and partners.
This working trip is one of many efforts aimed at seeking solutions to develop our province by 2030, with a vision towards 2045, in accordance with the spirit of Resolution No. 39 by the Politburo.