After half the current term executing the resolution of the 11th Provincial Party Congress (2020-2025 term), Kien Giang province has reaped outstanding achievements in all fields, laying an important foundation for it to realize the goal of becoming the most developed province in the Mekong Delta. To learn more about this issue, our reporter has an interview with Mr. Lam Minh Thanh, Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang (right) presents the Prime Minister’s Decision, endorsing the planning for Kien Giang province for the period 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050 to the Kien Giang provincial leaders
Could you please tell us about the province's outstanding achievements in the past half term?
Since the 11th Congress of the Provincial Party Committee, despite numerous difficulties, the Executive Board of the Provincial Party Committee has united, consented and centralized leadership and direction to achieve important results in most fields. The average gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth in the 2021 - 2023 period was estimated at 5.33% a year. Total social investment capital mobilized from 2021 to 2023 was forecast to reach VND117,594.42 billion.
The economic structure continued to shift in the right direction. Agriculture became the "support" of the economy. The average production value of agriculture, forestry and fishery in the 2021 - 2023 period grew by 1.32%. Average food output was over 4.4 million metric tons a year.
The service sector expanded by 11.51% a year on average in the 2021 - 2023 period. The tourism industry gradually recovered and developed. From 2021 to the end of 2023, Kien Giang tourism attracted over 18.97 million visitors, representing a year-on-year growth of 17.3%, including more than 774,800 international visitors. Total tourism revenue reached nearly VND31,000 billion.
The province's economic scale has risen to second in the Mekong Delta. In 2022, its GRDP was VND116,474 billion (just behind Long An province) and is estimated to reach over VND129,000 billion in 2023, an increase of about VND30,000 billion from 2020. Up to now, Kien Giang has realized the overall goal of the Congress of "maintaining one of leading developing provinces in the Mekong Delta". The income per capita was forecast to reach VND73.74 million in 2023, an increase of VND17 million from 2020. Currently, the province has 110 out of 116 communes and seven out of 15 districts and cities certified to meet and complete new rural development standards, with 19 communes accredited to meet advanced new rural development standards. The rural transportation system continued to be invested and upgraded. All inland communes have concreted roads. The countryside appearance has been given a facelift.
Along with economic development, cultural and social activities continued to make progress. People's material and spiritual life has been enhanced. Poverty rate was estimated at 1.29% in late 2023. Party and political system building and rectification has been reinforced. Political security and social order and safety have been maintained.
The prime location and peculiar natural conditions endow the province with many advantages in developing the marine economy. What outstanding results has the province achieved recently?
The highlight of marine economic development in Kien Giang is that the province has introduced many solutions to mobilize investment resources for development and construction of social and economic infrastructure in coastal areas and islands. By the end of 2023, the province has attracted 749 investment projects with a total registered capital of VND602,104.35 billion, of which 371 projects are operational, with a combined investment capital of VND111,024.537 billion. Phu Quoc alone has 311 projects with VND397,372.23 billion of investment capital, of which 52 projects are in operation and 78 projects are under construction. Many large projects have been completed and put into use, including Phu Quoc International Airport, Cai Lon - Cai Be Bridge, 4-lane Ha Tien - Rach Gia Road linked to the southern coastal corridor project. Many luxury hotels, resorts and entertainment areas have been invested, constructed and operated to highlight tourism, especially in Phu Quoc.
The above results have become a driving force for socioeconomic development, including the marine economy. Each year, Phu Quoc sees tourist growth and tourism revenue growth of 20 - 30%. Its GRDP growth was 38%, six times higher than the national average, with its tourism and service sectors accounting for 70% and generating jobs for about 70% of the island's workers.
Aquaculture and commercial fishing continued to be developed. Aquaculture in coastal areas is developing quickly and diversely. Aquaculture area expands every year. The maritime economy continues to grow well. The seaport system was carefully planned, completed and worked effectively. Ports in Phu Quoc (Phu Quoc International Port), Hon Chong and Nam Du ports are exploited to promote the province's marine economic development.
The province focused on directing coastal industrial and urban zone development. Rach Gia and Ha Tien cities had sea reclamation projects to build new urban areas to create economic development motivations for these localities and for the province like Phu Cuong new urban area, Tran Quang Khai residential area, Ha Tien new urban area, and Nam Ha Tien urban area.
Renewable energy is developed to serve daily needs of companies and people. The province proposed that the Prime Minister consider prioritizing inclusion of its 12 solar power projects (1,715 MWp and seven wind power projects (1,959 MW) into the National Power Plan in 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2045.
At present, the share of the marine economy accounts for 80% of the province's GRDP and the per capita income is 1.25 times higher than the province’s average income (74%). Security and sovereignty of borders, seas, islands and key areas is guaranteed to create favorable conditions for socioeconomic development.
On November 3, 2023, the Government issued Decision 1289/QD-TTg approving the Kien Giang Provincial Planning for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050. Could you please talk about the role and importance of this planning for the province's socioeconomic development?
Kien Giang Provincial Planning for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050, sets the goal that, by 2030, Kien Giang will have a high life quality in the Mekong Delta region, be a national marine economic center, and keep an annual GRDP growth of 7% in 2021 - 2030.
Rach Gia, Ha Tien and Phu Quoc cities are the main development triangle of sea-looking urban economy, trade and services. Phu Quoc City is a center of service, high-quality eco-tourism, national and international sea and island resort tourism, connected to major economic centers in the region and the world. Rach Gia is a green commercial and service city. Ha Tien is a heritage city.
According to the plan, after 2030, Kien Giang province will establish Rach Gia Coastal Economic Zone - a general, multi-sector economic zone; and form Kien Giang Border Gate Economic Zone, which comprises Ha Tien Border Gate Economic Zone and Giang Thanh Border Gate Area. By 2050, Kien Giang will become a strong marine economic center, an important gateway, traffic, trade and international exchange hub. Phu Quoc will be a center of tourism, general services and unique sea-island eco-tourism with many different world-class values. The province's national cultural identity, heritage and historical values are preserved and clearly expressed.
To complete these goals, Kien Giang defines eight key tasks and four development breakthroughs, with emphasis on marine economy, sea-looking development, space expansion, and creative sea reclamation. The land expected to form sea reclamation projects is about 3,800 ha in Rach Gia City, Ha Tien City, Kien Luong district, Hon Dat district and Kien Hai district. At the same time, it creates a development breakthrough for Phu Quoc City with unique and outstanding preferential policies to mobilize and prioritize resources for developing key industries and fields on this island.
Planning is an important legal tool for the province to plan policies, administer and manage all socioeconomic development activities and organize territorial space in the coming period. The planning implementation ensures synchronous connectivity, utilizes potential advantages, addresses bottlenecks, and clears resources for balanced, harmonious, effective and sustainable development. With that meaning, the Party and people of the province are determined to achieve planned goals, vision and orientations to make Kien Giang stronger and more sustainable.
In the last half term, what key solutions will the province focus on to obtain the highest results stated in the resolution of the 11th Provincial Party Congress and make Kien Giang a top developed province in the Mekong Delta?
To obtain the target set by the resolution of the 11th Provincial Party Congress (GRDP growth of 7.24% or more), in the next two years (2024 - 2025), the province will strive to reach an annual GRDP growth of 10.24% or more. The province will focus on promoting the strong development of trade and service, increasing the production value of agriculture, forestry and fishery to achieve high economic growth; continue to remove difficulties and obstacles for industrial and construction sectors; foster socioeconomic infrastructure construction investment, especially transportation infrastructure; and boost trade promotion and increase export value.
Kien Giang will promote economic restructuring together with growth reform; effectively tap potential strengths; speed up digital transformation and scientific and technological application; develop green economy, circular economy, and adapt to climate change; boost marine economic development; strongly transform seafood farming into large-scale production, apply advanced technology to tourism development and protect the marine environment; diversify marine tourism products, product chains and brands linked with domestic and international tourist routes; and increase investment capital for wind power, gas power, solar power and other renewable energy, and develop the maritime economy. By 2025, the service growth will reach 12.45% and Kien Giang will stand among the most developed tourism provinces in the country.
Kien Giang province will also propose new appropriate mechanisms and policies; take advantage of all resources, build and develop synchronous and modern infrastructure in Phu Quoc Island; improve the work quality of the political system, and build Phu Quoc into a national and international center of services, high-quality eco-tourism, sea and island tourism.
Thank you very much!
By Cong Luan, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
October 2024
Hanoi