After more than six years of construction, the Bo Y - Ngoc Hoi Border Gate Economic Zone has become the centre of commercial exchange routes of the Central Highlands region, Central Vietnam and the world. It acts as a starting point for Kon Tum to enter the integration period and has strong influence on local and regional economies.
In Vietnam, there are not many strategic locations like this place which shares the borderlines with Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Knowing its strategic position, in 1997 Kon Tum province completed the Bo Y - Ngoc Hoi socio-economic plan and it was approved for formation of Bo Y - Ngoc Hoi Border Gate Economic Zone by the Prime Minister under the Decision No. 06/QD- TTg dated January 5, 1999. The natural area of Bo Y - Ngoc Hoi border gate zone is 67,000 hectares, including 400 hectares of urban zones and Sa Loong, Bo Y, Dak Duc, Dak Su, Dak Nong communes and Plei Kan township.
The Bo Y International Border Gate has one border gate with Laos and another with Cambodia. The ideal location creates the shortest way, linking the Central Highlands, central coastal region and south-eastern region of Vietnam with south of Laos, northeast of Thailand and northeast of Cambodia. It is also a gateway to reach Asia - Pacific through Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. Bo Y International Border Gate is 275 km from Da Nang City, the largest commercial hub in central Vietnam, 300 km from Dung Quat Port (in Quang Ninh province) where the first oil refinery of Vietnam is operating, 313 km from Quy Nhon Port (in Binh Dinh province), 667km from Ho Chi Minh City, the largest economic centre in Vietnam, and 460 km from Thailand’s U Bon.
According to a recent agreement by Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian governments, the Bo Y - Ngoc Hoi International Border Gate Economic Zone will be the core of the Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia development triangle which is constituted by seven provinces, namely Ratanakiri and Stungtreng provinces (Cambodia), Atopu and Sekong provinces (Laos) and Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces (Vietnam). The three nations will give priority to several fields like construction and traffic system, expand cross-border trade, develop tourism and implement the initiative of “three countries, one destination.” Thus, Bo Y International Border Gate is the practical step of the Vietnamese Government to set up an open economic space with strong capacity of integration and create a platform for dynamic development for Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.
The Bo Y - Ngoc Hoi International Border Gate Economic Zone holds huge potentialities for development as it is surrounded by localities with rich social, economic, ecological and human resources. Kon Tum and the Central Highlands as a whole are rich in forest products. The central region of Vietnam can connect with Bo Y - Ngoc Hoi through many national roads. Furthermore, the central region has many deepwater seaports and airports.
The south-eastern region of Vietnam is a chain of large urban zones and industrial parks, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai province, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and Binh Duong province. In the coming time, this region will be a leading industrial, commercial, international exchange, tourism, service, financial and banking centre in Southeast Asia.
The northeast of Thailand is rich in minerals like apatite, bronze, gold, lead and natural gas. This region has a high demand for transportation but it lies far from the Gulf of Thailand while it is quite near the East Sea (or South China Sea). Thus, the Bo Y International Border Gate is a suitable solution to reach the sea.
Remarkably, the association of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam will create unprecedented ecological, humanitarian and historical tours. Kon Tum is an attractive destination for tourists worldwide. Central Vietnam is the home to world-renowned Hoi An - My Son - Hue - Phong Nha world heritages. The northeast of Cambodia and U Bon (Thailand) has immense primitive forests for explorative tours.
Vuong Hanh
Vietnamese
