The zone, which operates as an open economic zone for heavy industries, has so far attracted more than 160 investment projects with a total registered capital of US$10.5 billion. It is expected to employ 32,000 people by 2010, 80,000 by 2015 and 100,000 by 2020, with at least 60-70 percent of them being trained as skilled workers.

Unlike Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, the central region encounters difficulties in mobilising human resources for economic zones. Dr Truong Dinh Hien, a senior researcher of the Ho Chi Minh City Physics Division, suggested that the central region gather and train human resources at the same time.

“The central region has no choice but to focus on mobilising human resources if it wants to develop. This is the decisive factor behind the success of all economic zones in the region, including the central key economic zone,” said Dr Hien. “At the same time, vocational training schools and centres should be established for trainees who will then be sent on follow-up training courses inside and outside the country. They will work together with specialists to gain experience that will enable them to replace the specialists in about 10 years.”

Reports showed that universities and colleges in Quang Ngai and neighbouring provinces only meet half the zone’s demand for skilled workers. They suggested close links among training institutions, between training institutions and businesses as well as between local and foreign training institutions.