(VOVworld) - The Ministry of Planning and Investment on Friday met to review the development of the industrial, export processing and economic zones in Vietnam over the past 20 years.

There are now 267 industrial and processing zones in Vietnam, attracting around 40 percent of total FDI capital and employing more than 1.6 million workers. The sector also helps improve local infrastructure especially in rural areas, create jobs and raise income for locals. Coastal and border zones contribute to safeguarding national sovereignty and security. At the conference, delegates discussed ways to develop the industrial and processing zones including more application of technology and environmental protection. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai stressed the importance of improving infrastructure, human resource training and legal reforms: "The Ministry of Planning and Investment needs to do more to manage industrial and processing zones effectively and overcome shortcomings especially in cooperation between ministries, localities and economic zones".

The Deputy Prime Minister urged for the attraction of between 2.5 and 3 billion USD in Vietnam’s industrial zones by 2015.