TÂY NINH – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has said that the southern province of Tây Ninh boasts huge potential to become a national hub for high-quality agricultural production. 

At a meeting with provincial leaders yesterday, PM Phúc said that having strengths in organic farming together with intensive processing, the province should continue expanding processing models and develop additional goods and services. 
Alongside economic development, the province should pay attention to sustainable environmental protection, especially sewage and forest environment issues. 
Urging the locality to pay due attention to the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods through border gates, he stressed the need to combining socio-economic development with ensuring defence and security in border areas. 
He asked relevant ministries and branches to recommend mechanisms and policies for the province to carry out infrastructure projects. 
The Ministry of Transport was requested to submit a pre-feasibility study for the building of HCM City-Mộc Bài Highway to the Prime Minister in September in order to map out appropriate land clearance measures, he said, adding that construction of the road should begin next year. 

Tây Ninh Province’s officials visiting a longan farm of Võ Văn Tóan, a farmer in Truông Mít Commune of Tây Ninh Province’s Dương Minh Châu District. After five years, the 17.4ha-farm brings yield of 30-35 tonnes per hectare and his family earns VNĐ150 million (US$6,500) per year. — VNA/VNS Photo Lê Đức Hoảnh Tây

Representatives from ministries highlighted the province’s potential in tourism and recommended that Tây Ninh make tourism a key point in socio-economic development. 
At the same time, they reminded the province to pay heed to forest protection while developing eco-tourism development, especially in the Bà Đen (Black Lady) Mountain region. 
Tây Ninh Province has favourable geographical conditions for socio-economic development, with flat terrain, fertile soil and a temperate climate. The Trans-Asia road connecting HCM City and Cambodia through Mậc Bài Border Gate crosses the locality, making it a gateway for trade and investment between Việt Nam and the ASEAN bloc. 
Also, it is home to many historical and cultural sites including the headquarters of the former Central Bureau for Southern Vietnam during the anti-US war, the Núi Bà Historical and Cultural Complex with majestic natural landscapes and sacred pagodas and temples, and the Cao Đài Church Holy See. 
Furthermore, the province boasts the Lò Gò-Xa Mát National Park with a wide range of fauna and flora, and Dầu Tiếng Lake, the largest irrigation reservoir in the Southeast Asian region. — VNA