9:57:07 AM | 24/5/2012
Located in southwest Vietnam, Tay Ninh has a strategic position as a transit point for goods, tourism and trade between countries in the Mekong Sub-region. With such advantages, Tay Ninh has recorded important successes in various fields, marking the joint efforts of the local authorities and people. In an interview with Vietnam Business Forum, Mr Huynh Van Quang, Vice-Chairman of Tay Ninh People’s Committee, said: “These successes are not only the pride but also the driving force for Tay Ninh to continue to make joint efforts together with other provinces to implement successfully the Resolution of XI Party Congress.” Hoang Lam reports.
Although 2011 is a difficult year for economic development, what are the successes of Tay Ninh in socio-economic development?
With concerted efforts from authorities at all levels, dynamism and creativeness of all economic sectors, in 2011, Tay Ninh has recorded important achievements in socio-economic development. The GDP growth rate attained the target of 14 percent set for 2011. It is a success even during economic conditions of restraining inflation, credit and budget spending. Meanwhile, all economic sectors attained or exceeded the year plan: agriculture-forestry-aquaculture production value increased 5.5 percent, industry 22 percent, service 14 percent and export value 31 percent. As a result, State budget revenue exceeded the plan by 28 percent, meeting the spending and increasing capital for local development.
The province has reviewed investments to increase efficiency, granting licenses to more investment projects, encouraging their operation and stimulating consumption among local people.
Social welfare has been promoted. In 2011, Tay Ninh has donated 85 houses for deserving families, 950 houses for the poor and 924 houses by Decision 167/2008/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister. In Chang Riec border region, infrastructure has been developed to resettle some 300 poor households. Although there are still big difficulties, the province has reduced the poor households by 1 percent compared to 2010.
As an agricultural province, how will the province promote industrialization and modernization?
Tay Ninh is basically an agricultural province. Agriculture-forestry-aquaculture accounted for 42.3 percent of GDP in 2011. The agricultural production focused on short and long-term cash crops for processing industries; animal husbandry is being transformed from households to farms applying modern technology. Agricultural development has promoted processing industries and improved the living conditions of the local people. Due to agricultural development, Tay Ninh could overcome difficulties and restrain the impacts of the economic crisis.
However, to promote socio-economic development, the province plans “to build Tay Ninh basically an industrial province by 2020”. In 2020, Tay Ninh industry-service will make up 85 percent of GDP and agriculture down to 15 percent. The province is building 5 industrial zones (IZs) with total area of 4,320 hectares: Trang Bang IZ 190,76 ha, Linh Trung III export processing and industrial zone 202.67 ha, Phuong Dong-Boi Loi IZ 2,840 ha, Bourbon An Hoa IZ 1,020 ha, Ca La IZ 60 ha. The Prime Minister has also endorsed the development of four IZs: Hiep Hoa 250 ha, Bau Hai Nam 200 ha, Gia Binh 200 ha and Thanh Dien 300 ha. The total area in 2020 will be 10,000 ha.
In industrialization and modernization, Tay Ninh focuses on industry as the driving force for socio-economic development, promoting tourism while shifting agriculture to the production of cash crops with large areas, high technology and competitiveness. With success in socio-economic development, the income of the people will be higher and their living conditions improved.
Tay Ninh is the bridgehead for both international relations with Cambodia and Thailand, as well as cooperation with other provinces in Southern Vietnam, how will you develop these advantages?
Lying inside the Southern key economic region, the most developed economic region of Vietnam and between Ho Chi Minh City, the biggest economic and commercial centre of Vietnam and Phnom Penh capital city, the biggest economic and commercial centre of Cambodia on the trans-Asia road networks, Tay Ninh has most favourable conditions for economic development.
In recent years, Tay Ninh has developed tourist sites and border trade through network of border gates. The province serves as the bridgehead linking Ho Chi Minh City and tourist centres in Cambodia, connecting tours from Tay Ninh to other Vietnamese provinces, Cambodia and other countries by land routes. Tourist sites have also been developed inside the province such as Ba Den mountain, former Revolution Headquarters, Cao Dai Holy See, Dau Tieng Lake, and Lo Go – Xa Mat National Park, attracting some two million tourists a year.
In 2011, the total import-export value across the border was US$1 billion with 15-25 percent by Tay Ninh itself. The main exports were Vietnamese consumer goods: instant noodles, plastic products, detergents, cooking oil, and cosmetics. However, border trade and tourism remain below the capacity. Tay Ninh is trying to make border trade and tourism the comparative edge of the province in the coming years.
What are the strategies of the province to make a breakthrough in economic development?
We will focus on the mobilization and efficient use of investment capital. Tay Ninh will facilitate the inputs of the investors: investment orientation, workplace, investment formalities, socio-economic infrastructure, labour, encouragements in financial and credit activities. In addition, Tay Ninh will accelerate the administrative reform and promote human resources development to meet the demand of industrialization and modernization of the province. Meanwhile, other programmes will be pursued for social welfare, job generation, poverty reduction and assistance to the target group.
In implementation of the solutions for socio-economic development in 2011-2015, Tay Ninh is focusing on three programmes: comprehensive development of socio-economic infrastructure, human resources development and administrative reform. With concerted efforts local authorities, people and businesses, Tay Ninh is determined to attain those objectives.
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