Kien Giang province has been successful in its socio-economic development. Vietnam Business Forum Magazine had an interview with Mr Bui Ngoc Suong, Chairman of Kien Giang People’s Committee.
In 2001-2005, Kien Giang has recorded high economic growth rates in various fields, could you introduce some of these achievements?
In 2001-2005, the GDP growth rate of the province has increased to over 11 per cent (8 per cent in 1996-2000) with per capita income in 2005 of US$601, or 1.7 times that of 2000. Progress has also been made in education and public health. In 2005, the percentage of poor households is down to 5.87 per cent with water and power supply, housing and public utilities markedly improved.
How are you developing agriculture, aquaculture and tourism?
Indeed, those sectors and construction materials are great potentials of the province.
In agriculture, 100,000 hectares have been reclaimed increasing the cultivated land to 407,546 hectares in 2005. Food output increased to 2.9 million tonnes including 60 per cent in high quality rice. The production also increased in sugar cane and pineapple. Orchards have been improved with high value fruits. Farm model and production have been expanded. The planting and protection of forests have been increased with forest coverage of 20 per cent.
Aquaculture is regarded as a spearhead economic activity with average growth rate of 20 per cent a year. Catching methods have been upgraded with higher off-shore fishing and output of over 305,000 tonnes in 2005. Together with new fish ports, 45,000 hectares have been developed increasing the total area of shrimp raising to 75,000 hectares and output of over 20,000 tonnes.
The industrial growth rate was over 15 per cent with main products including cement, stone, food processing. The province has also developed industrial zones such as Rach Gia - Tac Cau, Kien Luong - Ba Hon.
In tourism, new projects have been developed and expanded. In particular, Phu Quoc Island has been approved by the government as a centre for high-quality eco-tourism. It has already attracted local and foreign investments and increasingly number of tourists.
As investors are interested in Phu Quoc, could you give more information on the project?
The government has endorsed the master plan to 2010 and vision to 2020. Phu Quoc will be a sea and eco-tourism centre of high quality in Vietnam and the region. The province has increased the management of the land, especially the coastline, protecting natural landscapes and forests, calling for investments in infrastructure to meet the demands of future development.
How will the province develop human resources for the new demand?
The province will upgrade equipment and facilities in all existing schools and establish a branch of Nha Trang Aquatic University in Kien Giang. Technical training and higher education will be developed especially in such sectors as aquaculture, sea-economy, high quality eco-tourism. The province will apply new policies and mechanisms to attract more scientists and technicians to work in the province.
Thank you very much.
Vietnamese
