In 2025, amid an economic context still fraught with potential difficulties and challenges, Son La province investment identified attraction as one of the key pillars for sustaining growth momentum. The province directed departments, agencies, and localities to synchronously implement solutions to improve the investment and business environment. In addition to the 39 newly approved investment project proposals, the province also appraised and submitted for approval adjustments to 21 existing projects, with an additional capital increase of more than 1.03 trillion VND. These projects focus on sectors in which the province holds advantages, such as agro-processing, industrial manufacturing, footwear, and trade-services, ensuring alignment with planning, considerations of implementation, and socio-economic efficiency.

According to Hoang Van Van, Director of the Department of Finance, in 2025 the province placed strong emphasis on reviewing, adjusting, and supplementing planning schemes, strengthening coordination in handling administrative procedures, and promptly removing obstacles for enterprises. Investment, land, construction, and environmental procedures were reviewed and prepared. Through meetings aimed at resolving difficulties, many business proposals were received and addressed, clearly demonstrating the provincial government’s companionship and support for enterprises.

The effectiveness of investment attraction in 2025 is reflected not only in the number of approved projects, but also in the actual production and business performance of many projects. In Muong Bu commune, the banana processing plant of Musa Green Joint Stock Company began operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, forming value-chain linkages with local raw material areas. The plant creates jobs for 30-40 workers, with an average income of 6 million VND per person per month. Nguyen Van Tien, Director of the company, shared that during the project implementation process, the enterprise received strong support from provincial authorities in completing investment procedures and connecting raw material zones, enabling the company to operate.

At the Mai Son Industrial Park, the cassava starch processing plant of BHL Son La Food Raw Materials Processing Joint Stock Company has been completed and put into operation, with a capacity of 300 tonnes per day. The project has helped enhance the value of cassava, expand domestic and international markets, and create stable livelihoods for farmers.

In labor-intensive sectors, the shoe factory of Yen Chau Shoes Joint Stock Company in Yen Chau commune has demonstrated the effectiveness of investment attraction associated with job creation. With a capacity of nearly one million products per year, the factory employs hundreds of local workers. Lo Thi Kim Khanh, head of the sewing team, said that workers' initial average income reaches 5-7 million VND per month, with full insurance coverage and benefits provided.

In addition to projects already in operation, the province has granted investment policy and investor approvals for the Dream Plastic Mai Son Factory project of Dream Plastic Co., Ltd. (an FDI project), with a total investment of approximately 181 billion VND. The project aims to manufacture and process children's toys and plastic products, with a designed capacity of 20 million products per year, and is scheduled to commence operations in March 2026.

The province has also approved the Son La Cascara Instant Coffee Factory project of Son La Cascara Coffee Joint Stock Company, with a total investment of approximately 103 billion VND. According to its design, the factory will annually produce around 200 tonnes of Cascara tea, 500 tonnes of roasted and ground Cascara coffee, 3,000 tonnes of Cascara (dried coffee husks), and 300 tonnes of roasted and ground coffee.

The breakthrough in investment attraction in 2025 has confirmed Son La province’s position and innovative mindset. Newly approved projects and those already demonstrating effectiveness have helped expand development space and establish a solid foundation for Son La to attract further capital and promote sustainable economic growth in the years ahead.