Sponsored by the Vietnam Development Investment Bank, the forum “Central Highlands – Awakening the Potential” will open tomorrow, September 5, in Đắk Lắk.
This investment–promotion event is jointly organized by the Central Highlands Steering Committee, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the People’s Committees of the provinces of Lâm Đồng, Đắk Nông, Đắk Lắk, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum. It will take place in Buôn Ma Thuột City.
According to the organizers, about 500 delegates—including government representatives, economic agencies, investors, and businesses from inside and outside Vietnam—are expected to attend to discuss and explore opportunities for investment and business cooperation across the five Central Highlands provinces. Around 120 projects, with a total capital demand of more than 100 trillion VND, will be presented for investment.
Despite its great potential, the region still faces difficulties in attracting investment. From 2001 to now, the five provinces have drawn only about 110 trillion VND in development capital—roughly 4% of the total investment nationwide. The Steering Committee notes that the forum will provide systematic information on projects, priority sectors, and investment policies to help domestic and international investors understand and decide on opportunities in the Central Highlands.
Covering 54,700 km² (about 16.5% of Vietnam’s total area) and home to nearly 5 million people (about 5.8% of the national population), the Central Highlands boasts fertile over 2 million hectares of basalt soil—ideal for developing industrial crops such as coffee, tea, and pepper. The region is also rich in mineral resources, a key competitive advantage.
Among the five provinces, Lâm Đồng stands out: though it proposes fewer projects, it accounts for the largest share of capital—about 85 trillion VND of the total 100 trillion VND. Notably, one highlight is the planned Lien Khuong–Prenn Gateway New Urban Area, spanning two communes (Hiệp An and Hiệp Thạnh) and Liên Khương town in Đức Trọng District. This project alone is expected to require around USD 3 billion in investment and will cover 3,500 hectares.