Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh wrapped up a two-day visit to the southern province of Binh Duong Wednesday by encouraging local authorities to keep the environment clean as economic growth continues.

The zones have attracted 940 foreign investment projects capitalized at nearly US$6 billion in total. Another 277 domestic projects valued at a total of more than VND5.9 trillion ($345 million) are also being undertaken in the zones.

The provincial economy has grown at an annual rate of 15 percent over the last few years. Despite the global economic crisis, the province kept its growth rate at 7.1 percent during the first six months of 2009.

The Party chief asked local authorities to evaluate pollution and environmental impacts at ongoing projects. He also said new projects should be friendly to the environment.

Besides investment in developing factories, he also asked the province to ensure accommodation and social welfare programs for workers.

He said that being right next door to Ho Chi Minh City and not far from the Central Highlands provinces gave investors in Binh Duong a strategic advantage over other areas.

He said the province’s development strategy should focus on linking transportation infrastructure with other key economic areas.

To meet Binh Duong’s increasing demand from human resources to fill its industrial zones, Manh urged the province to focus more investment on education and training.

Manh visited several of the province’s IZs and local companies during his visit.

He also presented gifts to Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, mothers recognized by the Vietnamese government for losing family members to the wars, and paid his respects at the province’s Fallen Soldiers’ Cemetery.

Source: VNA