A new Investment Promotion and Business Support Centre will be set up in Ca Mau Province, the provincial People’s Committee has announced.

Though the province has taken steps to enhance trade, investment and tourism, more efforts are needed, according to Lam Van Bi, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee.

Aside from providing consultancy and support for investment, business development and startups, the centre will also promote investment, trade and tourism in the area.

Bi said the centre would allow for better co-operation between departments and districts, which will then be able to give advice on investment, trade and tourism events.

The centre, which will assist in developing startup and investment policies, will have to cover part of its own operation costs.

The centre will be run by Quach Van An, director of Ca Mau’s Information and Technology Application Centre under the Department of Science and Technology.

Last year, Ca Mau ranked 49th in the Provincial Competitiveness Index, two ranks higher than in 2017, according to the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The establishment of the centre is expected to improve the province’s ranking.

Within the first quarter of 2019, 106 new businesses registered in the province with a total of VND665 billion (US$28.7 million), which was slightly lower than last year during the same period, with 112 new businesses.

However, the province in the first quarter attracted 12 investment projects worth a total of VND19.06 trillion, which was VND16 trillion more than the same period last year. — VNS