|
Quang Tri to build sea port, boost spending on coastal infrastructure
The central province of Quang Tri is planning to develop its maritime economy by constructing a sea port and a maritime economic zone.
The provincial People's Committee chairman, Le Huu Phuc, said that development of a maritime economy would not only help the province, but also contribute towards the country's goals in socio-economic development.
The province, rated by the General Statistics office as one of the poorest in the country, is located by the East Sea, with a 75km long coast.
The director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, Thai Vinh Khang, said that once the maritime economic zone of My Thuy is built in the south-eastern area of the province, it would provide "a golden opportunity" for the province's development, serving as the core of local economic development.
He said that Quang Tri was a gateway to the East West Economic Corridor, linking the economic axis of the Lao Bao border gate economic zone and Dong Ha Town.
Since East West Economic Corridor provides a link between the larger Southwest Asian region and the East Sea via Quang Tri, commodities could be transported all over the country and to regional countries through the new sea port, he said.
Industrial zones, trade, service and tourism centres have already been developed alongside this economic corridor.
The Lao Bao special economic and trade zone is almost complete after 10 years of construction.
Local authorities say Quang Tri lacks only a sea port to really become a traffic hub and contribute towards the Party and State's policies for international economic integration. They hope that the maritime economic zone with the man-made My Thuy port as its centre will help the province further develop.
The province also has many opportunities from large-scaled investment projects. The Viet Nam Ship Building Industry Corporation (Vinashin) plans to build a ship building complex at the My Thuy-Gia Dang area.
The Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group (Petro Viet Nam) also plans to exploit gas in the sea area of Quang Tri.
Experts agreed that the My Thuy port could serve as a base and centre of provincial maritime economic development.
Dr Bui Quoc Nghia, director of the Duyen Hai Development and Consultancy Company, and author of a project to develop the My Thuy port, said the south-eastern region of Quang Tri had many favourable conditions to develop a sea port with a depth of 13m, that can receive ships with a capacity of up to 40,000 Dead Weight Tonnes (DWT).
Near the My Thuy area, an area of 50sq.km in Hai Lang District has good geological conditions, with few residents, suitable to building warehouses and industrial and logistics buildings.
Compared to ports built on land encroaching the sea, dug ports have many advantages, such as lower expenditure, less construction time, and limited damages to the water environment, said Nghia.
According to the plan, the My Thuy man-made port will consist of a 1.3km long wave-breaking dike, a 600m long embankment, a 1.5km long, 300m wide and 13m deep passage capable of receiving ships up to 40,000 DWT.
The port will consist of special berths for the shipping industry, and berths for other industries, trade, logistics and services, and wharves to serve tourism.
VNN
|
