Leveraging Investment for Sustainable Urban Development

After over three years of executing the Resolution of the 16th Provincial Party Congress, Ca Mau's construction sector has effectively mobilized resources and developed targeted plans aligned with the five key tasks and three strategic breakthroughs, contributing to significantly enhancing the province's urban development, fostering a new and prosperous outlook for Ca Mau's urban areas.

Dam Doi town in Dam Doi district is undergoing gradual urbanization

The Resolution of the 16th Ca Mau Provincial Party Congress emphasized mobilizing investment to develop a strong and effective infrastructure system, prioritizing transport infrastructure to drive socio-economic growth. The province has directed investment toward dynamic urban areas like Ca Mau city, Song Doc town and Nam Can town, while also enhancing investment promotion and attracting strategic investors with strong financial resources to leverage the region's potential and drive developmental breakthroughs.

In over three years of implementing the Resolution, the Provincial Department of Construction has achieved several milestones. It has developed the Provincial Party Committee's Urban Development Program for Ca Mau province through 2025, with a vision to 2030, and aligned it with the Provincial People's Committee's plan. Additionally, it has adjusted the Urban Development Program for the entire province and for the key urban areas of Ca Mau city, Song Doc town and Nam Can town, and updated the housing program for Ca Mau province for 2021-2030.

In recent years, recognizing the important role of urban system development in socio-economic progress, localities have significantly invested in urban infrastructure, focusing on traffic, water supply, drainage, lighting and the urban environment. Social infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, commercial centers and new housing areas, has also seen substantial investment from many sources (state budget, ODA, private, and social capital), resulting in great improvements in urban areas compared to 5-10 years ago. By the end of 2023, the province's urbanization rate reached about 32.0%, up 8.52% from 2020. Key infrastructure projects have garnered attention from both central and local governments, including the Ca Mau City bypass on Highway 1, the Ho Chi Minh Road (the Nam Can-Dat Mui section), the upgraded Quan Lo-Phung Hiep route, Highway 1A, Highway 63 through urban areas and the upgraded Ca Mau airport.

In the social infrastructure sector, Ca Mau province has successfully attracted investors for 34 projects spanning approximately 910 hectares. Some highlights include Phan Ngoc Hien Square, An Sinh Urban Area, Northeast Residential Area of Central Cultural Square - Area C, Tai Loc New Urban Area - Area A, and Tan Xuyen Ward Residential Area - Area D. Other projects underway include Vincom Plaza, Sense City Ca Mau, Nguyen Kim Ca Mau, Cho Lon Ca Mau Electronics Supermarket, Co.opmart Ca Mau and Vinmart Ca Mau. Educational and healthcare facilities such as Binh Duong University, Medical College, Community College, Vietnam-Korea College, and many general hospitals are also being developed. Additionally, key projects like the Tuberculosis Hospital, 1,200-bed General Hospital, Monument Complex commemorating the 1954 train to the North, Provincial Party Committee Headquarters, Song Doc Bridge and Ganh Hao Bridge are either completed or in progress. These projects feature modern infrastructure with underground utility systems, enhancing the urban landscape and improving residents' quality of life.

Mr. Ma Minh Tam, Director of the Department of Construction of Ca Mau province, outlined the urban development plans for the coming years. The provincial plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050, and the adjusted urban development program through 2025, aim to add four new type-V urban areas by 2025: Hung My, Phu Hung (Cai Nuoc district); Khanh An (U Minh district); and Quach Pham (Dam Doi district). This will increase the total number of urban areas in the province to 26. All existing and new urban areas will have comprehensive planning, including zoning, renovation and development programs. The focus is on meeting urban classification criteria, with Ca Mau city targeting type I status, Song Doc and Nam Can aiming for type III, and Tan Thuan and Dat Mui pursuing type IV, positioning them for potential upgrade to town status and enhancing the province's dynamic urban system.

Tam said that Ca Mau province will continue to mobilize resources to refine urban classification standards, aiming to meet type IV criteria for central urban areas of districts. The province plans to develop three additional type V urban areas namely Ho Thi Ky (Thoi Binh district), Tran Thoi (Cai Nuoc district), and Tran Phan (Dam Doi district), bringing the total number of urban areas to 29. This expansion will stimulate urban economic growth tailored to each district's strengths in services, tourism, trade, aquaculture, energy and logistics. Ca Mau will focus on developing the urban system along the Central Government-invested coastal road axis, enhancing technical and social infrastructure to boost the marine economy. The goal is to build a sustainable urban environment with modern, green and smart architecture suited to local conditions and climate.

By Van Hung, Vietnam Business Forum