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$50bil pledge to build dynamic region
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a master plan that will have the economy of the northern coastal region from Quang Ninh Province to Hai Phong City provide 6.5-7 per cent of Viet Nam’s Gross Domestic Production within 11 years.
Prime Ministerial Decision 34/ 2009/QD-TTg approving the plan was signed on March 2 and its estimated cost is more than US$50 billion.
Its objective is to develop a dynamic Bac Bo Gulf coastal economy linked with that of southern China.
Development of the Quang Ninh-Hai Phong economic region will help expand economic development and trade between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, with China while raising the yearly per capita income of the region’s almost 2.9 million people to $3,500-4,000.
Major arterial roads will be built along the coast of Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong-Ninh Binh to facilitate transport within and beyond the region.
An express linking Quang Ninh-Hai Phong-Ninh Binh will also be built to link the region with China’s southern coastal and southern provinces.
The prime minister has asked the administrators of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh to focus on the development of several key economic sectors, including industrial parks, to serve as the driving force for their development.
Quang Ninh Province’s Van Don Economic Zone will become a marine-island eco-tourism reserve for the region and the world.
Dinh Vu-Cat Hai, Hai Phong, will become an international port and a trading hub.
The plan will have Quang Ninh Province’s Hai Ha industrial park become both a manufacturing centre and major port while Hai Phong port will be made a service centre and domestic and international transit facility.
The prime minister has asked administrators of Viet Nam’s northernmost coastal city town, Mong Cai, to make Mong Cai into a modern border gate, tourism centre and industrial park for exports.
The first phase of the plan’s implementation, 2009-10, will have a budget of $5-7 billion.
Most of the work will be development of infrastructure and the promotion of investment as the basis for the rapid development of the second phase.
he second phase, 2011-20, will cost an estimated $40 billion.
The plan envisages the economic development of Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province will increase to 1.4-1.5 per cent above that of the rest of the country by 2020.
Key industries
Industrial growth for the Bac Bo Gulf Economic region has been set at 18-19 per cent between now and 2020 with the focus on coal mining, thermo-power generation, ship building and manufacturing.
The region now hosts the major shipbuilding yards of Pha Rung-Bach Dang, Nam Trieu, Cai Lan and Ha Hong.
The plan has the Cai Lan and Ha Long shipyards developing the capacity to service 80-85 per cent of inland vessels as well as ships from Bac Bo Gulf and 40-50 per cent of ships from elsewhere.
The target for the increase of trade and services revenue from 2011-20 is 20 per cent with revenue for aqua-produce of $600-700 million next year.
The region has been set the target of receiving 7.5 million visitors by the end of next year.
VietNamNet/Viet Nam News
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