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Plans to more effectively develop marine economy
The Deputy Head of the Vietnamese Administration of Seas and Islands, Assoc Prof Nguyen Chu Hoi, spoke with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about the nation's marine economy.
Many experts have called for a breakthrough in development of the marine economy. What is your view of this issue?
It is clear that Viet Nam's marine economy has yet to contribute much to the economy. Efficiency gained from exploiting and using ocean resources remains far too low when compared with other countries. Backward science and technology have contributed to the problem. Many people used to say that no one could go offshore in just a basket boat. So if we changed those thoughts we could change our approach to reorganise the ocean economy and production activities.
Viet Nam has developed a Marine Development Strategy by 2020 but it has not yet solidified specific planning. For this reason, many ministries, cities and provinces have not put much focus on the ocean economy in their own development strategies.
Will Viet Nam have to change its approach to developing various aspects of the ocean economy?
We must use all of the country's advantages, including its geographical position near the sea and its islands, to create regional development centres. We should not continue to invest haphazardly as we do at present as it has resulted in many incomplete projects scattered here and there.
There is a global trend to gradually reduce the exploitation of raw resources. Instead, there has been a movement to exploit non-material values, such as ecological values and the service values of ocean resources. We will be indebted in the future if we continue to exploit as we are at present and do not invest in ecology and the environment. Looking at immediate efficiency gives us the feeling that we are developing the marine economy effectively. But in fact, we are not taking environmental, ecological and natural resources losses over the long term into account.
What is your assessment of the priority level given to development of the marine economy?
Marine resources are shared between concerned parties. The world today approaches interests harmoniously and minimises conflicts of interest by managing seas depending on space and implementing synthetic and united management of seas, coastal areas and islands. By doing so, it distributes resources for each period in a reasonable way.
The Viet Nam Marine Development Strategy by 2020 has defined petrol and gas, the marine sector, aquatic products and tourism as the four major pillars of development. About 20 services will serve the key areas above. From now till 2020, priority will be given to investments in petrol and gas while putting the marine sector as a number one priority by 2020.
In my opinion, we must change and need to invest more in maritime and aquatic products because people have no alternative for survival other than to cling to the sea for exploitation. Policies relevant to these areas must be completed to encourage them to develop.
Will the change help the marine economy sector to achieve its goal of contributing between 53 and 55 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product by 2020?
I only see that figure as a specific target, maybe it will be achieved and maybe it won't. What I am more interested in is the long term goals which mean to strive for a strong and wealthy marine-based country. Wealth and strength are two sides of an issue, and they are also strategic ideas. It will be easy to achieve specific goals if the two main sides are resolved.
What lessons could Viet Nam learn from the world to develop its marine economy?
I look at Switzerland as an example. The nation does not have a sea but it is aware that international public law allows countries without direct sea access to still benefit from the sea. For this reason, the country has owned the world fifth largest transportation fleet for hire since 2005. It is a story about long term thought and a breakthrough in policy.
In the case of Viet Nam, we must develop policies and mechanisms to attract investors. Enterprises will be pioneers in implementing industrialisation and modernising the exploitation of the sea. In addition, brave integration into the world economy is needed. It takes a long time to become a rapid, efficient and sustainable marine-based economy, but we must start right now.
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