A Vietnam Business Forum reporter conducts an interview with Chairman Huynh Thanh Hiep of Soc Trang People’s Committee on successes and development orientation of the province.
Will you please, tell us the successes of Soc Trang in 18 years of its re-establishment?
Since its re-establishment in April 1992, Soc Trang has continued its high economic growth rates with GDP in 2009 of over VND10,450 billion, seven times that of 1992, or an increase of 12 percent a year and GDP per capita of US$881. The economic structure has been transformed positively increasing GDP in industry and service while decreasing in agriculture. In 2009, GDP in agriculture, industry-construction and service were respectively 54.50, 16.91 and 28.59 percent, while in 1992 were 68.30, 9.68 and 22.02 percent. To obtain those achievements, Soc Trang had to develop efficient models of agriculture such as high-yield shrimp raising, while increasing industrial production, trade and tourism. Socio-economic infrastructure has been developed with industrial zones established and road networks upgraded. Due attention has also been paid to poverty reduction, employment, health and education. Those are in fact the strong foundation for achieving the objectives of 2010.
What are the opportunities and challenges of Soc Trang in 2010?
In 2010, though with continued successes of 2009, Soc Trang will face many new challenges. Vietnam continues the process of international economic integration heading towards fiercer competition while Soc Trang economy remains unstable, slow in transformation, unable to meet the demand and develop its potentials. Limited investment, less competitive products, slow progress in education will be the main difficulties for the province to attain socio-economic objectives in 2010.
However Soc Trang has also new opportunities in 2010. The international economic integration has opened up the export market, attracted investment, improved business environment, and promoted technology, management and administrative reform. Those factors will increase economic growth rates. As the export value makes up over 50 percent of Soc Trang GDP, with favourable export market, exports will make a great contribution to the economic growth of the province.
What is the development orientation of Soc Trang for the years to come?
Since early 2010, Soc Trang has continued with efforts to overcome remaining weaknesses to achieve the target of 14-15 percent growth rate. Due attention has been paid to the development of education, culture and social welfare. The province will focus on developing local potentials, promoting agricultural production, increasing production value per hectare, expanding fisheries and aquaculture with output of 171,174 tonnes. The industrial value will be VND7,999 billion. Trade and service will attain the target of VND17,500 billion.
To attain those objectives, Soc Trang will have specific projects calling for investments of the central government, mobilizing resources of all economic sectors, and promoting investment and trade. The province will also call on the local people to make every effort to contribute to the socio-economic development of the province.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Danh Binh
Vietnamese
