Components are produced at Japanese Ishigaki Viet Nam Co in Dong Van II Industrial Zone, Ha Nam Province. — Photo vov.vn

Foreign-invested businesses made great contributions to speeding up the socio-economic development of northern Ha Nam province in 2019, the provincial People's Committee chairman Nguyen Xuan Dong said.

During a meeting with nearly 300 foreign-invested firms in the locality on Thursday, Dong said the province's gross regional domestic product grew 10.5 per cent, industrial production value increased 14.9 per cent and exports rose 13.5 per cent.

Notably, FDI attraction improved greatly in terms of both quantity and quality, he said.

Last year, the province lured nearly US$830 million in foreign direct investment (FDI), the biggest capital value attracted in a year so far.

The latest addition brought FDI in the province up to almost $3.6 billion, he said.

During the meeting, foreign-invested businesses called for more support from local authorities in building housing for workers, training human resources, ensuring traffic safety and electricity supply, improving water quality and treating wastewater.

Dong pledged provincial authorities will step up support policies to create the best possible conditions for enterprises to accelerate investment projects and develop production and business activities, helping enhance the province’s competitiveness. — VNS