The Dung Quat economic zone is considered a bright spot in the local industrial sector, that has attracted a lot of foreign and domestic investors to Quang Ngai and the central region as a whole.

During the anti-US resistance war, the communes of Binh Son district were the scene of heavy fighting soon after liberation, local people engaged in a new fight to combat poverty. Living on an arid sandy land as they had been caught in a vicious cycle of poverty for years. However, the Government’s decision to build the Dung Quat economic zone in the area has helped improve their living standards remarkably, becoming a great source of pride for the province.

With a capacity of 6.5 million tonnes/ year, once completed, the Dung Quat oil refinery will be able to meet 30 percent of domestic petrol demand. On February 22, 2009, the refinery produced its first products, marking a new milestone in the development of the Vietnamese oil and gas sector.

One of the wholly foreign-invested projects is the Doosan heavy industry. With a total investment of nearly US$300 million, it specializes in the design and production of heavy industry products. Currently, Doosan Vina employs approximately 3,000 workers, mostly locals. In 2009, Doosan Vina’s production value reached US$200 million and since early this year, the plant has exported seven cranes worth more than US$7.5 million to Indonesia. Along with Doosan Vina, the Dung Quat Shipping Industry Company- one of the largest companies of the Vietnam Ship Building Industry Corporation (VINASHIN) recently launched a ship with a capacity of 104,000 tonnes.

The establishment of the Dung Quat economic zone has offered a good opportunity for local people to enjoy a better life. Nguyen Van Bon, a resident in Binh Dong resettlement area in Binh Son district says, “My three children have found good jobs at the plants in the economic zone,”

The Dung Quat IZ provides youths with a number of opportunities, including a chance to access modern technology, according to Tran Quang Tuan, who is working for the IZ.

The establishment of the Dung Quat IZ has helped develop from an agricultural into a key industrial province in the central region. It is one of the top seven provinces contributing the most to the State budget.

The IZ has so far granted investment licenses to 112 projects worth approximately US$10.6 billion, more than US$4 billion of which has been disbursed. Currently, 51 percent projects are being put into operation, generating more than 12,000 jobs. The Prime Minister has agreed to expand the IZ from 10,300ha to 45,000ha.

35 years after its liberation, Dung Quat IZ has transformed the province and its once barren landscape is now covered with signs of properity.

35 years ago

On March 24, 1975, Tam Ky was liberated.

There has been a major military base for American troops stationed there with a strong defence system, meant to hold off any attacks by Vietnamese soldiers.

On March 23, Ba Gia regiment was provided with two additional battalions and 10 tanks and amoured vehicles to push the enemy back from the Da stream to the north bank of the Tam Ky River. From key positions, our soldiers continue advancing to liberate Tam Ky and Gia Nghia towns on the following day (March 24).

On the morning of March 25, Regiment 576 opened fire on the enemy. Two commando battalions, 403 and 406 attacked other enemy positions in the surrounding areas.

In the north, regiment 94 and district armed forces attacked the enemy’s offensive stations to block their withdrawal. More than 4,000 enemy soldiers attempted to flee Quang Ngai town on more than 200 military vehicles but ran into an ambush on the way. 3,500 of them were taken prisoners and 550 others killed in action.

From different directions, our soldiers moved and held targets in the town.

On the afternoon and evening of March 24 and the morning of March 25, soldiers and people in all districts carried out simultaneous attacks and uprisings to take over the town.