Hanoi (VNA) - In an effort to take the lead in the post-pandemic economic recoveryand development, Hanoi has stepped up investment in the development ofindustrial clusters.

The move aims to attract more domestic and foreign investment, especially FDI.

According to figures from the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, thecapital is now home to 70 industrial clusters in 17 towns and districts on atotal area of 1,686 ha.

The clusters have attracted about 3,864 production and business facilities,generated jobs for more than 60,000 workers, and contributed around 1.1trillion VND (47.6 million USD) to budget funds.

In the long term, Hanoi needs a network of industrial clusters that can supportit in building modern, competitive, and environmentally-friendly industry.

It approved a plan in 2018 on industrial cluster development to 2020 and visiontowards 2030, covering 159 industrial clusters with a combined area of over3,200 ha.

This is the legal foundation for the city to build and expand its industrialclusters, thus forming a network.

Hanoi is now speeding up construction of technical infrastructure at 19clusters on a total area of 22 ha, which was approved in 2018-2019.

There remain certain limitations in the effort, however, as this is the firsttime the capital has realised Government Decree No 68/2017/ND-CP on industrialcluster management and development, dated May 25, 2017.

Meanwhile, the majority of the 25 clusters planned for this year are beingbuilt.

Tran Thi Phuong Lan, deputy director of the department, said it will continueto review industrial clusters in the city, call for more investors, and submitprojects to the municipal People’s Committee for approval.

As of September, the department had coordinated with other departments,agencies and district People’s Committees to assess nine clusters.

The assessments revealed difficulties and bottlenecks, mostly relating topolicies on land and site clearance and requiring drastic direction fromrelevant departments and agencies as well as the involvement of districtPeople’s Committees and businesses.

According to the city People’s Committee, apart from investment incentives, itis also necessary to push ahead with building technical infrastructure inindustrial clusters.

Hanoi has therefore issued a document in this regard, under which it prioritisesclean, automated, and environmentally-friendly technologies, while movingproduction facilities and craft villages away from residential areas toconcentrated production areas.

With such efforts, the department expects that targets set for 2020 and the2021-2025 period will be reached./.