Bac Ninh rolls out red carpet for high-tech agriculture investors

Practical policies

In recent years, Bac Ninh has made significant strides in improving its investment climate, with a particular focus on newly established enterprises.

During the 2020-2024 period, the number of new enterprises established in Bac Ninh averaged nearly 3,000 per year, a rate 2.5 times higher than the national average. In the first six months of 2025 alone, the province recorded 2,011 newly registered enterprises with a total registered capital of over 29,420 billion VND, marking a 9.3% increase in quantity and a 22.2% increase in capital compared to the same period in 2024. The average registered capital for a new enterprise reached 16.6 billion VND.

This is the result of decisive administrative reforms and the synchronized implementation of business support policies from the provincial to the communal level. Accordingly, Bac Ninh province has promoted the application of information technology (IT) in processing administrative procedures, launching online public services for most procedures related to business registration, investment certificates, tax registration, and social insurance. Processing times have been significantly reduced, with many procedures completed within 1-2 working days, helping businesses save time and costs and quickly become operational.

Furthermore, Bac Ninh implements a policy of waiving the business license fee for the first year of operation (under Circular No. 65/2020/TT-BTC) and supports access to preferential loans through joint programs with commercial banks and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund. Notably, the leadership of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee has consistently shown a proactive and responsible spirit, remaining ready to listen and engage in dialogue with the business community when difficulties or obstacles arise during investment and production.

Fostering a startup ecosystem for high-tech agriculture

Beyond just policies, Bac Ninh has also invested heavily in infrastructure and startup spaces to create favorable conditions for new businesses. The province's infrastructure has been comprehensively upgraded, offering convenient connections to the national transportation system, including National Highway 1A, the Hanoi - Bac Giang Expressway, Ring Road 4, and the international railway line.

The province has also planned small-scale industrial clusters to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups access production land at reasonable costs. Co-working spaces and startup support centers have also been established to create an environment for networking, sharing, and developing business ideas.

Notably, Bac Ninh is gradually expanding its support policies into agriculture, particularly high-tech agriculture and the rural economy. To date, 51 of the province's 66 communes have met new-style rural area standards, with many hamlets recognized as "model" new-style rural areas. The value of high-tech agricultural production now accounts for over 30% of the entire sector. The "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) program has grown robustly, with 773 products achieving 3-star status or higher, enabling business households and cooperatives to access domestic and foreign markets.

Concurrently, the province has proactively converted over 10,000 hectares of inefficient rice-growing land to fruit and vegetable cultivation, yielding higher economic value. Many large-scale, centralized commodity agricultural production zones have been formed, including nearly 30,000 hectares for lychee, 5,400 hectares for pomelo, and over 30,800 hectares for various vegetables. The total pig herd stands at nearly 1.2 million, with a poultry flock of over 26 million. These figures contribute to making Bac Ninh one of the country's leaders in large-scale commodity agriculture development.

In parallel with production zone planning, Bac Ninh is promoting the application of science and technology in agriculture. Advanced production processes adhering to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, along with high-tech applications such as greenhouses, net houses, automated irrigation systems, sensors, and production management software, have been implemented in districts like Luc Ngan, Chu, Gia Binh, Luong Tai, Yen Phong, and Que Vo. The province has also implemented innovative agricultural extension models, developed longan growing areas for export to the Australian market, and organized training courses for cooperative officials on economic management and production techniques.

Currently, the province has over 1,600 production facilities applying high technology, accounting for over 30% of the total agricultural production value. As a result, product value has increased by 17-30% compared to traditional farming methods, and the rate of agricultural and aquatic products produced under good practices exceeds 60%. The average annual growth rate of added value for the entire agricultural sector has reached 2.06%. These activities not only promote agricultural restructuring but also open opportunities for new enterprises in agro-processing, agricultural logistics, and rural e-commerce.

In particular, to create favorable conditions for business operations, the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee issued Guideline No. 343/HD-UBND in 2024. This guideline clearly stipulates the process and mechanism for handling obstacles that arise during the enforcement of investment and business laws for enterprises, cooperatives, and business households. This guideline is designed with five specific steps: information reception, classification, assignment of handling responsibility, result inspection, and consolidated reporting.

The issuance of this guideline is considered an innovative and breakthrough step. It demonstrates the strong determination of provincial leaders to direct departments, agencies, and localities to proactively identify and promptly resolve the difficulties and obstacles faced by businesses. This approach not only enhances state management effectiveness but also strengthens the business community's confidence in Bac Ninh's transparent, supportive, and responsible investment environment.

This serves not only as a driving force for local economic development but also contributes to realizing the goal of transforming Bac Ninh into a regional and national growth pole, built on a green, clean, and modern industrial, service, and agricultural economy.

With synchronized efforts spanning from policy to infrastructure, especially its expansion into high-tech agriculture, Bac Ninh is progressively building a favorable, transparent, and dynamic investment environment.