Officials said the province’s natural resources, good economy and airport and road infrastructure would attract more investors in the near future.

The area’s Tho Xuan Airport, Nghi Son Deepwater Port and a modern road system that connects to other provinces and roads in Laos and Thailand would all help to lure more investment.

The chairman of Thanh Hoa, Trinh Van Chien, said the province had a skillful labour force of 2.1 million. Every year, the province supplies 2,000 technicians and economic graduates as well as 14,000 trained workers.

Moreover, the province had favourable conditions for developing high-tech agriculture and aquaculture, he said.

All of the province’s economic and industrial zones including Nghi Son, Lam Son Sao Vang, Hoang Long and Bim Son were ready to welcome domestic and foreign investors.

The province also announced that it was calling for investors in 15 projects, mostly in tourism and infrastructure.

Chien said that, as of September, the province had attracted 50 foreign-direct-investment projects with a total capital of over US$16 billion. It is ranked eighth out of 63 provinces in FDI.

Tourism is expected to become a key economic sector by 2020, according to Chien.

In another development, the province has announced that it will strengthen co-operation with HCM City to develop tourism and trade.

Nguyen Thi Hong, deputy chairwoman of HCM City, said the city and province would work together to help businesses solve difficulties while they are operating in Thanh Hoa.