In recent years the value addition to its high-tech products has gradually increased, going up from 15 per cent in 2010 to 20 per cent last year and 25 per cent this year.—Photo aspa2012.hcm.gov.vn

HCM CITY (Biz Hub)— The Saigon Hi-tech Park (SHTP) will offer incentives to attract support industries as it seeks to achieve the city's target of 40 per cent value addition to products made locally, according to its deputy head.

Le Thi Bich Loan said products manufactured in the park account for over 90 per cent of the city's total export value.

In recent years the value addition to its high-tech products has gradually increased, going up from 15 per cent in 2010 to 20 per cent last year and 25 per cent this year.

But to realise the 40 per cent target, she said the park has rolled out several policies, one of which is to give preference to firms in support industries that provide goods and services for the technology industry.

In particular, enterprises in support industries which want to be located in areas without infrastructure would be offered with the cheaper land rental of between VND12,300 and 18,500 per square meter per year.

Meanwhile, those in areas with infrastructure facilities would have to pay only VND17,200 and 26,000 per square meter for land rent.

If support industry enterprises want to lease workshops in the SHTP they would have to pay between US$4 or 5 per square meter per year, depending on their locations, Loan said.

Support industry enterprises would also receive loan subsidy as investing into the SHTP, she added.

The park would also subsidise training costs for companies in supporting industries for the semi-conductor, information, and bio-technology sectors by 10-50 per cent, she said.

It includes training in soft skills like communication, negotiation, English as well as labour safety and corporate management, she said.

The park would create a website for support industries to enable firms to find buyers, she said.

Firms would be provided assistance with completing paperwork to obtain licences, she added.

The SHTP is one of Viet Nam's three national technology parks and one of the city's five focal economic projects.

It has received exceptional support from both the central and local governments in attracting foreign investment in hi-tech manufacturing and services, research and development, training, and incubation. —VNS