GE opens wind-turbine plant

Aerial view of GE manufacturing facility in Nomura Industrial Zone in Hai Phong. — VNS Photo

HAI PHONG — In response to growing global demand for clean energy, General Electric officially inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in the northern port city of Hai Phong yesterday.

The factory, which has a total investment of more than US$61 million, will manufacture wind turbine components. Parts will be shipped to GE wind turbine manufacturing factories worldwide.

The plant occupies a 8.4ha in Nomura-Hai Phong Industrial Zone and has a designed capacity of 1,500 products per year. It expected to generate 400 jobs.

Initially, the facility will produce generators for 1.5MW wind turbines.

John Krenicki, GE vice chairman and CEO of GE Energy, said: "Viet Nam is an ideal place for GE to invest and expand our manufacturing capability because it has a skilled work force and a bright future in its energy sector."

"With demand for electricity, fuel, and water continuing to rise around the world we believe that building in Viet Nam is a great investment," he added.

Over the past few years, GE has invested in a number of activities in Viet Nam, ranging from clean energy and health care to aviation.

Tran Tuan Anh, deputy minister of Industry and Trade, said he hoped GE would expand its production base in Hai Phong to include other wind turbine components.

"Wind power is a completely new sector in Viet Nam. Demand is increasing and fossil energy resources are exhausted. Thus, recycled energy development will play an important role in ensuring national energy security," he said.

GE and the Ministry of Industry and Trade signed a strategic partnership agreement on Thursday in Ha Noi.

GE will continue investing in the hi-tech clean energy sector in the country, focusing on the manufacture of gas turbines and development of support industries, the deputy minister said.

GE launched in Viet Nam in 1993, one of the very first American companies to do so after the US lifted its trade embargo.

The company later set up a representative office in HCM City in 2001. In 2003, GE established the 100 per cent foreign-invested GE Viet Nam Co Ltd in Viet Nam.

GE is a global infrastructure, finance and media company, operating in the energy, water, transportation, health, oil and gas, finance and information sectors. It reaped a revenue of $40 billion last year. — VNS

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Work starts on industrial zone in Long An

HCMC - Dang Huynh Industrial Zone Development and Management JSC on Wednesday broke ground for an industrial zone development project in Can Giuoc District in the Mekong Delta province of Long An.

The affiliate of Saigon Thuong Tin Real Estate JSC, better known as Sacomreal, has earmarked some VND500 billion to develop the Tan Kim Industrial Zone covering 80 hectares near Can Giuoc Town in proximity with Hiep Phuoc Industrial Zone in Nha Be District and Phu My Hung new urban town in HCMC.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Thai Van Chuyen, general director of the company, said the industrial zone would serve companies active in garment, wood processing, household and cosmetics industries.

Chuyen said companies would be offered favorable conditions in terms of procedure and services such as legal and investment consulting as well as booking and auditing services when they set up shop there.

In addition, a residential project named Tan Phuoc is to be developed in the industrial zone.

The developer says some 20 hectares in the project will be used for the development of villas, row houses and apartments for future residents and for the relocation program in the province. Besides, the project includes schools, a clinic, shopping center and park.

Tan Kim Industrial Zone is scheduled for technical and infrastructure completion by late 2012.

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Industrial zones set for completion in 2020

VINH LONG — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the Cuu Long (Mekong Delta) province of Vinh Long's proposal to establish three new industrial zones by 2020.

"The Binh Tan and Dong Binh zones will be constructed in 2011-15 while the An Dinh zone will be built in 2016-20," said Vu Ngoc Tung, deputy director of the provincial Industrial Zones' Management Board.

The management board announced that Binh Tan Industrial Zone was planned to be built in Binh Tan District's Thanh Loi Commune.

"It has an advantageous location because it is near to the highway," said Tung.

"This zone will partner Can Tho industrial zone, providing it with ample opportunity for development," he added.

When finished, the zone will be an ideal location for garments, fine arts, consumer goods, packing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, construction material, agricultural and aquaculture producers.

The VND1 trillion (US$52 million) Dong Binh Industrial Zone will be located in Binh Minh District, with a focus on hosting agriculture, aquaculture and food processors. It will also welcome companies specialising in packing and chemical industries. — VNS

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