BinhDuong (VNA) - The southern province of Binh Duong is expected to makea breakthrough progress in socio-economic development in 2019 thanks to itsrecent strong growth.

Speaking at the meeting of the provincial People’s Council recently, ViceChairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Hung Dung affirmed that thelocality has continued to record positive changes in almost all fields in 2018.

Binh Duong’s gross regional domesticproduct (GRDP) is estimated to increase 9.01 percent, compared to thetarget of 8.5 percent, while GRDP per capita reached 130.8 million VND per year.

Export-import activities maintained a high growth, resulting in a trade surplus ofover 4.7 billion USD.

By November 15, Binh Duong attracted over 52.8 trillion VND (over 2.26 billionUSD) of domestic investment, and 1.69 billion USD of foreign investment, representingrespective increases of 25.3 percent and 20.9 percent compared to the plan setfor the year.

The province is now home to 3,478 foreign-invested projects with totalregistered capital of 31.8 billion USD.

Binh Duong is the first locality of Vietnam becoming amember of the world’s Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), contributing toimproving its position, boosting economic cooperation and attracting investment.

Dung said the hosting of international-level events in 2018 was good opportunitiesfor Binh Duong to promote its image to domestic and foreign enterprises, and learnfrom international experience in developing technology 4.0 and smart city.

The locality is working hard to seek development partners, attract investment andenhance cooperation in research, aiming to create a foundation for developingsmart urban areas and making socio-economic breakthroughs, and building modernand hi-tech industries.

Binh Duong plans to restructure the economy in the direction of increasing theproportion of services, while improving the investment and business environmentand encouraging innovation in enterprises.

It will also calling for investment in high-quality service sectors, logistics,industrial and urban development and sectors using environmentally friendly technologies.

Attentionwill be paid to promoting administrative reform, innovation and creativity, start-up,business development and taking measures to support small and-medium-sizedenterprises and remove difficulties in terms of public investment.

Binh Duong will alsowork to improve the effectiveness of diplomatic work and international cooperation,contributing to fostering trade promotion and tourism.-VNA