Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc delivers speech at a meeting with working session with local authorities of Bình Thuận Province yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

BÌNH THUẬN – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday advised Bình Thuận to ensure that its tourism sector contributes at least 15 per cent the central province’s GDP.

He said developing tourism, which is one the province’s three major economic pillars, can help the province become a leading locality in the south-central region.

At a working session with local authorities, Phúc said the province should source investment from diverse sources for its development plans.

Representatives from ministries and agencies said at the session that Bình Thuận should focus on building up its infrastructure and develop human resources to meet ASEAN standards.

It should also issue policies to attract big investors and create attractive tourism products that can help Việt Nam become a strong brand on the global tourism map, they aid.

With its beautiful, clean beaches, efficient transport system, and sunny weather all year round, Bình Thuận has already emerged as a tourism hotspot.

Over the last few years, annual growth in tourist arrivals and tourism revenues has exceeded 10 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively.

In 2016, the province welcomed more than 4.5 million tourists, and posted tourism revenues of over VNĐ9 trillion (US$400 million).

The Prime Minister said Bình Thuận also had potential to produce clean energy, develop animal husbandry and grow more cash crops. He asked the province to focus on developing hi-tech agriculture and the processing industry.

It should also strengthen its marine economy, as it was linked with the protection of the nation’s sovereignty over its islands and sea areas, he said.

As one of the four biggest fishing grounds in the country, Bình Thuận must become a major shrimp breeding centre and continue supporting local farmers in modernising their fishing vessels and equipment, he said.

The PM also asked Bình Thuận to pay attention to encouraging start-ups, saying they were a key factor in economic development. The province should target having more than 7,000 enterprises by 2020, he said.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated construction of a hi-end agricultural complex in Sông Bình commune, Bắc Bình District. The project, invested in by the Thông Thuận Milk Joint Stock Company, will cultivate short-term crops and raise dairy cows as well as cows for meat on an 800ha farm.

With a total investment capital of over VNĐ3.9 trillion ($173 million), the complex will include a dairy processing plant with a capacity of 100 million litres of fresh milk per year. — VNS