The private sector currently contributes more than 80% of Gia Lai’s GRDP and employs 94% of the local workforce, supported by 17,500 enterprises and about 66,000 household businesses. Annual new business registrations jumped from roughly 585 per year in 2016-2020 to 1,575 per year in the 2021-2025 period.
Despite this momentum, most enterprises remain small or micro in scale, constrained by limited financial capacity, weak management and innovation capabilities, and persistent difficulties accessing land, credit and skilled labour. Provincial leaders say these structural barriers require comprehensive institutional reforms, improved resource access, and stronger adoption of technology and innovation.
To address bottlenecks, the Provincial People’s Committee has directed all departments to accelerate administrative reforms, transition toward a service-oriented governance model, strengthen land and credit access, build a startup ecosystem, develop value chains for key industries, and support firms in expanding exports and entering global markets.
By 2030, the province aims to grow the number of active businesses to 60,000-65,000, with the private sector achieving annual growth of 9.5%-11.5%, contributing 55%-60% of local GRDP, 35%-40% of budget revenue, and employing 80%-85% of the workforce.
One major improvement has been the reduction of business registration processing time from three days to about three working hours through expanded digital procedures. The Finance Department issued 3,185 new business registration certificates in 2025, up 47% from 2024.
Inter-agency coordination has also shortened approval timelines for investment projects. Processing time for projects outside economic and industrial zones dropped from 242 days to 60 days, while projects inside zones saw reductions from 145 days to 38 days.
Nhon Hoi Economic Zone and other industrial parks host 344 operating businesses, generating total revenue of VND 98,601 billion (USD 3.78 billion) in 2025, exceeding the provincial target by 149%. Export turnover reached USD 1.7 billion, or 208.6% of the plan, while tax payments totaled VND 1,404 billion (USD 53.8 million).
Financial measures have also supported business expansion. As of December 31, 2025, outstanding loans in the province reached VND 251,943 billion (USD 9.65 billion), up VND 15,495 billion (USD 593.6 million) or 6.5% from the start of the year.
Banks have restructured repayment schedules and reduced interest rates for 3,416 customers affected by storms and floods, supporting a total of VND 5.5 billion (USD 0.21 million) in existing loans. New preferential loans totaling VND 632 billion (USD 24.2 million) were extended to 308 customers at rates 1–2 percentage points lower than prevailing levels.
The provincial Tax Department extended payment deadlines for land rent, value-added tax and environmental protection tax, totaling VND 1,520 billion (USD 58.2 million). It also processed 392 VAT refund applications amounting to VND 2,031 billion (USD 77.8 million).
These reforms helped Gia Lai achieve a Public Service Satisfaction Index score of 96.63 in 2025, ranking second among 34 provinces and cities, an outcome provincial officials describe as evidence of a government increasingly responsive to citizens and businesses.
