Six southeastern localities, including HCM City, signed a strategic cooperation agreement on boosting socio-economic development in the period of 2023-25. — Photo ttbc-hcm.gov.vn

HCM CITY — A strategic cooperation agreement has been signed between HCM City and five southeastern provinces to boost socio-economic development in the southeastern region in the period of 2023-25.

A conference in Bình Phước Province last week reviewed the results of their latest cooperation programme and signed a new one for the next three years.

The southeastern region, which includes HCM City and the five provinces of Tây Ninh, Bình Phước, Bình Dương, Đồng Nai, and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, has played a significant role in the national economic growth.

Under the new cooperation agreement, the localities plan to enhance their cooperation in developing transport connectivity, regional development, connection of supply and demand, investment and trade promotion, industrial and service infrastructures, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, education, health care, human resource training, science and technology, and digital transformation.

They will focus on building expressways and urban railways, developing logistics services associated with the seaport system, exploiting the potential of inland waterways, and increasing cooperation in high technology.

Speaking at the conference, Phan Văn Mãi, chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said thanks to regional linkages, the city has enjoyed development from this cooperation, opening up a lot of opportunities for development and bringing innovative ideas.

“The city alone cannot achieve the goals of sustainable development without the cooperation of the other southeastern provinces,” he said.

The southeastern region is oriented to be developed into the country’s leading economic, financial, commerce, education and training, human resources, and science-technology hub.

It will also target becoming an international financial centre for Southeast Asia and the world.

Covering a total area of about 23,600 square kilometres, the region has a population of nearly 19 million. It is attracting 41.1 per cent of the country's total foreign direct investment (FDI).

Among the six localities, HCM City, considered as the nucleus of the region, firmly upholds its role as a centre of economy, finance, trade, culture, education, science - technology and innovation of the region and the whole country.

It is set to intensively and extensively integrate into the world and hold an outstanding stature in Southeast Asia.

The city is expected to post annual growth of 8-8.5 per cent and gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita of about US$14,500, and contribute 40 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.

Trần Tuệ Hiền, chairwoman of Bình Phước Province’s People's Committee, said the cooperation has become a bridge to help the southeastern localities connect with each other, making breakthroughs in socio-economic development in each locality.

There are 15 industrial zones approved by the Prime Minister, including 13 industrial zones with an area of 6,065ha, attracting investment with an average filling rate of 68 per cent.

By 2030, the total land area of the province’s industrial zone is expected to reach about 10,000ha, including the Đông Nam Đồng Phú Industrial Zone with an area of 4,200ha, meeting the needs of domestic and foreign investors.

“The province is striving to become a leading economic engine in the southeast region,” she said.

To achieve this goal, it has been collaborating with other localities to develop 58 projects, programmes, and plans in various fields, such as infrastructure, industry, commerce, services, agriculture, science-technology, urban development, digital transformation, human resources, and administrative reform.

It is also actively working together with other localities to implement a transportation project on regional connectivity, including the HCM City - Thủ Dầu Một - Chơn Thành Expressway, North-South expressway component projects running through Bình Phước and Bình Dương provinces. — VNS