Staff of the Agro-Forestry Production and Science Centre in northern Quang Ninh Province check plant breeds. The province is seeking to attract investment in the agricultural sector. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Quyet

QUANG NINH (Biz Hub) — The northern province of Quang Ninh will continue to improve the investment climate and sharpen competition in a move to facilitate investment in the agricultural sector, said the provincial People's Committee chairman Nguyen Duc Long.

During an investment promotion conference held in Quang Ninh late last week, Long encouraged domestic and foreign enterprises to study investment opportunities in the locality, especially in animal husbandry, seafood farming and processing. He vowed that local authorities would create the most favourable conditions for these firms in implementing their projects here.

In his speech, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ha Cong Tuan, suggested the province concentrate on three pillars of agriculture; value-added production, new-style rural areas, and infrastructure and capacity to mitigate natural disasters and protect natural resources.

Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development agreed that there remained untapped investment opportunities waiting for investors in Quang Ninh, especially when the province's demand for agricultural products was huge.

Currently, Quang Ninh had to import up to 60 per cent of agricultural products from other provinces, and the price of the farm produce in the province was much higher than that of others. That was not to mention incentives that investors would be offered to invest in the agricultural sector, Tuan said.

Participation at the event heard that Quang Ninh has built a chain of products for agriculture, including the one commune one product (OCOP) programme, which aimed to promote local farm produce.

The province has also planned to develop several hi-tech agriculture parks such as Dong Trieu, Dam Ha and Van Don.

Thanks to its efforts, Quang Ninh attracted some large projects including a VND650 billion (US$29 million) hi-tech agriculture centre being developed by Vingroup in Dong Trieu Commune, and a cattle farming project, worth over VND2.25 trillion ($100.4 million).

Financed by Phu Lam Co, the large-scale farming project covers 1,000ha in Mong Cai City.

At the conference, the provincial People's Committee granted investment licences to two projects, including the Viet Nam-Australia Seafood Co's shrimp breeding project which would use greenhouse technology in Dam Ha District, and a hi-tech farming project, invested by the Vingroup's Vineco Co.

The two projects had a total investment capital of over VND628 billion ($28 million).

The event also saw the memoranda of understanding inked among local authorities and research institutes and strategic partners in pig farming and hi-tech application in agriculture. — VNS