The international cooperation has been develop in depth

The cooperative relations between the Dong Nai Province and foreign partners have been expanded and brought about the practical effects. Up to now, Dong Nai Province has established the cooperative relations with 20 foreign partners from 9 countries and territories. In particular, the province signed and promoted the cooperative relations with Japanese partners, continuously promoted the relations and deployed  the cooperation agreements with Gyeongnam Province (Korea) through the regular meeting of Dong Nai – Gyeongnam working group to discuss the cooperation contents of two localities.

The province has been interested in the tightening the friendship with neighboring countries which have traditional relations, such as Laos, Cambodia through annually sponsoring the university scholarships, the health care, developing the agriculture, etc. for neighboring provinces. In 2015, Dong Nai Province granted 21 scholarships to Laos students, 5 scholarships to Cambodian students, signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Provincial Military and the Cambodian Military (Kampong Thom Military Agency and Kampong Cham Military Agency), receiving the senior delegation of Champasak Province led by Mr. Bounthong Divixay - Secretary, Governor of Champasak Province visiting Dong Nai Province.

The foreign economic policies of Dong Nai Province always aim to the goal which creates the favorable conditions for investors. In the last 5 years, Dong Nai province has achieved high and stable economic growth rates with an average of 12% per year, reached US$2,800 GRDP per capita. At present, the province has 35 planned industrial parks in which 29 industrial parks have been in operating with an occupied area nearly 80%. Until October 31st, 2015 in the province there are 1,174 valid projects of investors from 43 countries and territories, with a total registered capital of US$23.54 billion.

 Together with the improvement of the investment environment, Dong Nai Province focuses on the take advantage of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) what signed between Vietnam and other countries. In 2015, Dong Nai Province signed a framework agreement with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Kansai Region (METI-KANSAI) of Japan on cooperation to develop the supporting industries and train, provide with manpower for the industry; signed the cooperation agreement with Arkansas State (the U.S.) about creating conditions for businesses of both sides to penetrate the markets, connected to cooperate and build partnerships with American counterparts.

In addition, in 2015 the province has organized four investment and trade promotion delegations to Arkansas (United States), India; attended the economic cooperation conference between South Korea with local governments in Asia in Gyeongnam, Korea; visited Thailand by the coastal route between Vietnam - Cambodia - Thailand (the R10) hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Thai Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

The province also organized international conferences (increase by 150% compared with the same period last year) such as Workshops on business opportunities and investment in the U.S. market; Meeting with FDI investor in 2015; Workshop on preparation of governemnt and businesses for joining the strategic partnership Agreement trans-Pacific (TPP); Seminar on implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community, Seminar on Impact Assessment of Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) - the concerned issues; Workshop on cooperation possibilities of applying high technology to develop agriculture, transportation, education and training in Dong Nai Province.

Enhancement of People-to-People Mission

People-to-people mission  on the one hand to expand and strengthen the friendly cooperative relations with the government and people of the countr ies in the world, on the other hand it contributes to boost the socio-economic development in the province in line with the Directive No. 04-CT/TW dated July 6, 2011 of the Secretariat on continuing innovate and enhance the effectiveness of the People-to-people mission in the new situation.

Identify the important role of People-to-people mission in the current integration stage, the province has expanded and developed the friendly relations and cooperation with the local people in several countries; giving the priority to development of the deep relations with neighboring countries such as Laos, Cambodia; strengthening the relations with traditional friendly countries such as Russia, Cuba; strengthening the ties with ASEAN countries; take advantage of the support of organizations and individuals and overseas Vietnamese. By 2015, Dong Nai has established 3 friendship organizations: Vietnam- Lao Friendship Organization, Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Organization, Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Organization. In addition, the province is promoting the establishment of 3 Friendship organizations of Vietnam - Korea, Vietnam - Japan and Vietnam - Russia. At the same time, the province is processing the establishment of The Dong Nai Overseas Vietnamese Contact Association.

On the missions related to foreign NGOs, by November, 2015, Dong Nai has 29 non-governmental organizations operating in the province with 40 projects and non-project aids (19 projects and 21 non-aid projects), increased 14 projects and non-project aid over the same period in 2014, with a total cost of US$1,355,479, up US$252,676 compared to the same period in 2014. These projects have helped improve the socio-economic infrastructure of the province, at the same time, contribute to poverty alleviation in Dong Nai.

After more than 20 years of international integration, the external mission of Dong Nai Province has gained many positive achievements from economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy to people-to-people diplomacy contributes to help Dong Nai Province in the economic, political and social areas. In the future, Dong Nai continued to be proactive in global integration to become an industrialized and modernized province as guided in the Resolution of Provincial Congress Party No.10 (2015- 2020).

Exciting activities of cultural diplomacy

The cultural diplomacy activities in the province took place very lively, contributing positively to the propagation and promotion, introducing and improving the image of Dong Nai to the countries in the world; it is an important catalyst to promote economic diplomacy, and political diplomacy of the province.

In 2015 alone, Dong Nai Province has organized a number of cultural diplomacy activities such as the traditional New Year Festival of Laos and Cambodia for 171 students of those countries studying in the province; develop and implement plans to organize promotional activities, promoting and launching of the ASEAN community in the province; Camping Festival “Towards the ASEAN Community 2015” for young people in Dong Nai Province, Laos, and Cambodia; The youth exchange delegation of Dong Nai going to Gyeongnam (South Korea); Sports competition for provincial FDI enterprises; television report on the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam - Cuba etc.

PHUONG NGUYEN LAN

Director of Department of External Relations​