On the afternoon of October 24, Standing Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong City People’s Committee Le Anh Quan received and worked with a delegation from the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), led by Chairman Bruno Jaspaert, to promote cooperation and investment opportunities between Hai Phong and the European business community.
Welcoming the delegation, Standing Vice Chairman Le Anh Quan gave an overview of Hai Phong’s potential, advantages and socio-economic development achievements in recent years.
Since July 1, 2025, Hai Phong City has been established on the basis of merging Hai Duong Province and Hai Phong City, with an area of nearly 3,200 km², a population of more than 4.6 million and the country’s third-largest economy. In the new context, Hai Phong has a broad development space and outstanding advantages in integrated transport infrastructure, international seaports and key industrial parks and economic zones.
Hai Phong currently has all five modes of transport: road, rail, inland waterway, sea and air. Its deep-water port system can receive vessels of more than 200,000 tons and connect directly to European and American ports; Cat Bi International Airport can receive some of the world’s largest aircraft.
The city has identified three economic pillars: industry and high technology; seaports and logistics; and tourism and commerce. In 2024, GRDP growth reached 11%, ranking third nationwide and leading the Red River Delta, marking the tenth consecutive year of double-digit growth. Hai Phong also ranked first nationwide for the first time in all four indices—PCI, PAR Index, SIPAS and PGI—affirming an open and effective investment and business environment.
Beyond being an industrial and logistics center, Hai Phong is a land rich in cultural and historical traditions, with two UNESCO heritage sites—the Ha Long Bay–Cat Ba Archipelago and the Con Son–Vinh Nghiem–Yen Tu monument and scenic landscape complex—along with many famous tourist destinations and distinctive cuisine.
The city currently has two large economic zones (Dinh Vu–Cat Hai and the southern coastal zone), is developing a 6,300-ha Free Trade Zone with 17 special mechanisms and policies, a 5,300-ha specialized economic zone, and 43 industrial parks with a total area of more than 12,000 ha.
Hai Phong currently attracts more than 1,740 FDI projects with total registered capital exceeding USD 50 billion, including 60 European projects with total capital of USD 1.7 billion. Notable projects by Belgian, German and Dutch enterprises include DEEP C Industrial Park (USD 726 million), the Tesa adhesive-tape factory (USD 91 million) and the Damen Song Cam shipyard (USD 89 million).
Standing Vice Chairman Le Anh Quan affirmed that the city always highly values the contribution of the EuroCham business community to overall development. “We welcome European investors to Hai Phong to share opportunities for cooperation and success.”
EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert expressed his impression at Hai Phong’s socio-economic development speed, saying that Europe–Vietnam and Europe–Hai Phong cooperation relations are developing well. He said European enterprises wished to learn more about investment opportunities in Hai Phong after the merger, particularly the incentives in the Free Trade Zone being developed by the city./.