Quảng Ninh's Vân Đồn Economic Zone. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG NINH — The northern coastal province of Quảng Ninh has set a goal of building modern industry and service sectors and becoming one of the region’s most comprehensive and dynamic development hubs by 2025.

The goal is part of the province's growth targets for 2020-2025, which were outlined in the resolution of the recent 15th provincial Party congress which took place from September 25-27. The other goals included building a strong and transparent Party and political apparatus; promoting unity, democracy, discipline, and innovation; mobilising concerted efforts for sustainable socio-economic development; and ensuring defence and security.

Regarding economic growth, the province aims to increase its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) by 10 per cent on an annual average during the period, and the per capita GRDP to over US$10,000 by 2025. The urbanisation rate is expected to surpass 75 per cent, while the rate of poor households is to go down to below 1 per cent.

Quảng Ninh will work to maintain its leading position nationwide concerning the provincial competitive index (PCI), public administration reform (PAR) index, Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS), and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI). By the end of 2030, the province targets to complete the new-style rural building task.

To realise these goals, apart from Party building, Quảng Ninh will implement socio-economic development solutions, which include restructuring the local economy with step-by-step development of the digital economy and developing services and tourism to make it a spearhead sector. 

Quảng Ninh will focus on increasing the proportion the processing and manufacturing industry accounts for in its economic structure, industries applying high-tech environmentally friendly technologies, and smart industries with high added value. The development of economic zones, coastal industrial parks, as well as coastal urban areas and economic corridors will also be prioritised.

The province will spare no effort to diversify its investment forms, accelerate growth, and complete synchronised infrastructure. Specifically, resources will be focused on completing the Vân Đồn – Móng Cái highway in 2021, the Hạ Long-Cẩm Phả coastal route, the Cửa Lức 1,2 and 3 and other key projects in Hạ Long City. The province will work with the northern coastal city of Hải Phòng to get the Rừng and Lại Xuân bridges open as soon as possible.

The congress identified three strategic breakthroughs of the province in the period. They were developing high quality human resources in association with increasing population scale and quality; speeding up the development of synchronised and modern strategic infrastructure; and promoting local cultural identities while shortening the income gap. 

Concluding the congress, the re-elected Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyễn Xuân Kỳ highlighted such important factors for sustainable and fast growth in the future, such as a strong and transparent Party and political apparatus, anti-corruption work, loss of public asset prevention, and solidarity within the community.

Quảng Ninh is viewed as a strategic destination in northern Việt Nam and an important link in the northern economic growth triangle of Hả Nội - Hải Phòng - Quảng Ninh.

The province possesses major advantages for Vân Đồn District to become a multi-sectoral maritime economic zone and entertainment centre with a casino and high-end sea-island tourism and services. It is also a gateway for international trade, creating unique, modern, and high-quality products that are internationally competitive.

Over the past five years, Quảng Ninh has experienced high and sustainable growth, with an average annual growth rate of 10.7 per cent. Average GRDP per capita is estimated at US$6,700 in 2020, two times higher than the national average.

It topped the PCI rankings for the third year in a row in 2019, according to the PCI 2019 report compiled by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In addition to the PCI, Quảng Ninh also led the country in the PAR Index for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019. The province has also been among the best performers in the SIPAS for many years and rose to the top in 2019.

It has made great strides forward in improving governance and public administration capacity, moving from 62nd place in 2016 to third last year on Việt Nam’s PAPI. — VNS