Efficient and Sustainable Marine, Island Economic Development

Being aware of the importance and local advantage of marine economic development, the Province has developed many resolutions and programmes of marine economic development. In 2006, the province prepared Marine Economic Programme in the period 2006 – 2010, which was one of 10 provincial key economic programmes. 2007 saw the issuance of Action Plan for exercise of Resolution of the 4^th plenum of Party Central Committee (tenure X) on Vietnam marine strategy to 2020 in the province with the objective of “making Khanh Hoa strong at marine economy, guaranteeing national sovereign of the islands, and contributing to national industrialisation, modernisation and development”.

 

So far, Van Phong Economic Zone (EZ) has attracted 106 domestic and foreign investment projects with registered capital of approximately US$13.8 billion. It has an international container transshipment port which plays a leading role, in combination with a multi-sector economy with development of industry, tourism, service and aquaculture. At present, the economic zone is drawing many projects with large investments and high feasibility such as Van Phong electric centre, oil refinery complex, petroleum bonded warehouse and petroleum logistics base. The investment in and development of Van Phong EZ has a crucial role in the development strategy of the provincial marine economy as well as of the Southern Central Region and the Central Highlands.

 

Nha Trang City is targeting to be a large tourism centre at national level and a host to major international and national events; a regional economic, science and technology, education and health care centre in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands area; the political, economic, cultural, science and technology capital of Khanh Hoa province; with a crucial role in national security and defence. Tourism is regarded as the spearhead of Nha Trang city. Given its outstanding potentials and strengths, Nha Trang city is continuing to foster socio-economic development, especially sectors of sea tourism, luxurious services, targeting to become a large sea tourism centre and a city of national and international events. The city also diversifies tourism forms such as sea eco-tourism, resort, sea recreation and sport activities; and organizes political, cultural and sport events and conferences at national and international scale. In addition, deluxe tourism sites are also formed, meeting international standards, which, thus will affirm and highlight the brand of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa sea tourism on the national and global tourism map.

 

Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago district plays a significant role in terms of national sovereign; security and national defence; diverse marine resources; marine economic potentials such as aquaculture, fishery exploitation and manufacturing, maritime and petroleum exploitation, fishing logistics service. In coming time, the province will continue its investment mobilization, calling enterprises and people to develop some infrastructure such as fishery logistics services and manufacturing areas in islands of Truong Sa district to serve the residents there and fishing ships from the mainland.

 

After five years implementing the provincial marine economic development programme in the 2006 – 2010 period, in comparison with the targets set, Khanh Hoa has gained positive achievements such as the proportion of marine economic sector accounting for 29 percent in total provincial GDP. There are formed and completed sea port networks such as: Cam Ranh port, Nha Trang port. Aquaculture has become an export industry with raising area of 5,000 ha and yield of more than 24,000 tonnes per year.

 

Promoting the achieved results, in coming years the province will fully mobilise internal forces to exploit sea and island potentials and advantages in a comprehensive, effective and sustainable manner, making marine and coastal economy occupy a high proportion in provincial GDP. In addition, political stability, national sovereign, border security on sea and islands will also be guaranteed, helping to successfully implement the Resolution set in the 15^th Congress of the Provincial Party’s Committee.