Vietnam’s northern region will focus on developing processing industries and hydro potentials to accelerate socio-economic growth and poverty eradication, state media reported.
The orientations were revealed at a conference held in Son La province jointly by the Ministry of Industry (MoI) and the provincial authorities to debate measures to fulfill the socio-economic targets set for 14 northern provinces in the 2006-2010 period.
At the meeting, MoI officials stressed the northern provinces including Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen and Bac Giang should give priorities to the processing industries and hydropower potentials because these localities boast natural favorable conditions to plant cash trees, sources of raw materials.
However, the industrial production values of nine among the 14 provinces last year were estimated at less than VND1 trillion (US$62.89 million), the delegates said, adding the investments for industrial projects are shrinking in terms of volume and size.
Currently, Vietnam’s power sector is carrying out the 2,400-megawatt hydropower plant of Son La in the province of the same name, the largest of its kinds in Southeast Asia, World’s ten biggest.
Kicked off last December, the six-turbine plant has total investment of VND36.933 trillion (US$2.33 billion), and is scheduled for completion in 2013 with a designed capacity of 10.22 billion kWh of electricity each year. The first turbine will be put into operation in 2010.
Vietnam & World Economy
Vietnamese
