The industrial sector of Soc Trang province is expected to develop strongly in the 2011 - 2015 period, aiming to play a greater role in the provincial social and economic development. Industrial production value was estimated at VND7,791.6 billion in 2011 and is planned to be VND13,000 billion in 2015. Industrial production growth will average 11.70 percent a year from 2011 to 2015.
After 20 years of development, despite strong impacts from global financial crisis and economic downturn, antidumping lawsuits, and rising input and fuel prices, it was still expanding. The contribution of the industrial sector to provincial GDP climbed from 7.99 percent in 1992 to 16.65 percent in 2011. By the end of 2011, the industrial output value ranked eighth in the Mekong Delta, after Long An, Can Tho, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Tien Giang, Dong Thap and An Giang.
Inside the industrial sector, processing makes up over 99.5 percent in value and seafood processing is a key industrial field. Local companies invested in advanced technological lines to generate competitive products for domestic and overseas markets. Currently, the province is home to 12 export seafood processors. The strong output development of local companies has attracted and generated thousands of jobs for local workers.
Its major industrial products are mainly consumer goods and exports like frozen shrimp, frozen fish, crystallised sugar, tunnel brick and beer. In 2011, its frozen shrimp production was 50,359 tonnes, an increase of 49,760 tonnes from 1992; sugar output hit 40,956 tonnes, an increase of 31,333 tonnes; and fired brick production turned out 58,853,000 bricks, an increase of 48,121,000 bricks. By 2011, its key industrial products were rice, sugar, beer, frozen shrimp, fried fish paste, frozen seafood, plastic projects, and fish meal. Nevertheless, only some key products like frozen shrimp, frozen fish and sugar are competitive enough, while others, especially handicrafts, are uncompetitive on both domestic and international markets. These inferior items are primarily used by local consumers.
Besides, local enterprises are weak at management capacity and understanding of international law. As a result, they are easily caught by many barriers. Furthermore, low technological level, weak competitiveness and undeveloped human resources put a brake on the export of local goods to world markets.
Facing these challenges, to develop industry in both dimension and depth and realise the Resolution of the 12th Party Congress (industrial production value reaches VND12,000 - 14,000 billion by 2015), the industry must take drastic measures such as: Rapidly applying industry and handicraft development plan till 2020, with a vision to 2025; industrial zone development till 2020, with a vision to 2025, and sub-sector development plans approved, said Mr Ngo Minh Trang, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Soc Trang province. Depending on the situation, each district can develop one industrial park.
To encourage and support businesses to invest, build and operate infrastructure items in industrial parks in the province, the Department of Industry and Trade has submitted to the Provincial People’s Committee a draft decision on “Regulations on investment support, preference and attraction policies for industrial zone infrastructure development.” When this decision is issued, it will be an important legal instrument for promoting the highest efficiency of industrial zones, stepping up the involvement of private sector in industrial zone infrastructure construction.
Tam Lan
Vietnamese
