Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, and leaders of ministries, agencies and Kiên Giang Province congratulate investors who sign MoUs with the provincial People’s Committee to invest in the province at the Kiên Giang Investment Promotion Conference on July 29. – VNA/VNS Photo

KIÊN GIANG – Kiên Giang should become one of the wealthiest and most dynamic and innovative provinces in the country based on its comparative natural advantages and sea-based economy, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc told an investment conference in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province yesterday (July 29).

The event was attended by Government officials, leaders of southern provinces, foreign diplomats, and more than 500 local and international business executives.

Phúc hailed the province for its diligent preparations for the conference and hailed its socio-economic development in recent years.

The province has enjoyed average economic growth of over 7 per cent in recent years, is the country’s largest producer of many agricultural and seafood items such as rice and shrimp and has many advanced farming models.

Phú Quốc, the Pearl Island, ranks among the top destinations in Asia.

“Kiên Giang is changing every day with a desire to become a wealthy province.”

Of the 13 cities and provinces in the Mekong Delta, Kiên Giang has the largest land area and the second biggest population.

As the western gateway to the region and with the waters of the Gulf of Thailand lapping its shores, the province encompasses a vast sea area of over 63,000 square kilometres. It also shares a 58km border with Cambodia, has the Hà Tiên international border gate and national border gate and two airports besides pristine forests, mountains and islands.

With such geographic advantages, Phúc said, “Kiên Giang’s economy can develop based on three pillars: high-quality agriculture adapted to climate change, clean fish farming and processing targeting the high-end market segment and eco-tourism of international standards.”

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc visits a booth showcasing specilities of Kiên Giang Province on the sidelines of the Kiên Giang Investment Promotion Conference. – VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

The marine economy would be a key growth driver along with the border economy and the breakthrough in the development of Phú Quốc, he said.

“Kiên Giang needs to become one of the most dynamic, innovative and wealthy provinces in the country based on its comparative natural advantages and sea-oriented economy and promote its unique agricultural resources and unique and world-class tropical tourism.

 “With the unique position of Phú Quốc, we need to have a vision to turn it into a world-class resort tourism centre. We focus on developing Phú Quốc not to compete with other localities in Việt Nam in attracting resources and development opportunities but to enable the island to compete effectively and fairly with [resort tourism centres in] other countries. “

To develop eco-tourism, the province must pay special importance to the environment quality, which is “an invaluable resource”, he said.

“In the process of planning for development of Kiên Giang in general and Phú Quốc in particular, it is necessary to ensure the quality of the land, water and air and absolutely not destroy the environment and natural landscapes for short-term [benefit].”

He instructed the province to focus on improving its investment environment, restructuring its rice farming, investing more in infrastructure that connects localities in the region, and promptly addressing issues that could hinder development.

The Government would always help the province achieve its socio-economic targets and guarantee that the legal rights of businesses and investors in the province are protected, he added.

Investment licences granted

Phạm Vũ Hồng, Chairman of the Kiên Giang People’s Committee, said that the province has undergone significant changes in recent years as a growing number of investors develop large projects in the province. The projects not only create more jobs, but also improve productivity and competitiveness, thereby making a substantial contribution to ensuring social security and economic growth.

“The conference is an opportunity for Kiên Giang to promote and introduce to domestic and foreign investors its development orientations and policies as well as investment opportunities in many new areas.”

At the event, the province solicited investment in 118 projects in tourism, trade, environment, hi-tech agriculture, waste treatment, housing and urban development, transport, and others.

It also issued investment certificates for 20 local and foreign-invested projects with an investment of over VNĐ40 trillion (US$1.72 billion) and signed memorandums of understanding with a number of businesses for feasibility studies for 36 others worth over VNĐ150 trillion ($6.46 billion).

Vietjet Air announced the launch of new services to and from Phú Quốc and sought approval for investing in Rạch Giá Airport to enable large aircraft to land.  VNS