The Mekong Delta is composed of 13 provinces and cities with strategic position in socio-economic development and national defense of Vietnam. It has area of nearly four million hectares, and population of more than 17 million people (accounting for 21 per cent of the national population), contributing 18 per cent to the country’s GDP.
This is also the largest farming area with cultivate land of nearly three million hectares, equivalent to 32 per cent of the country’s total. Mekong Delta makes up 50 per cent of Vietnam’s rice production, 52 per cent of aquatic products, 90 per cent of rice exports, and nearly 60 per cent of for fisheries exports.
Total social investment in 2001-2005 period is estimated to reach VND180 trillion, tripled from the previous five-year period, which helps create significant socio-economic achievements for the region. Mekong Delta attained high economic growth in the period at 11.5 per cent per annum with proportion of industrial and service sectors was increasing. However, Mekong Delta is also the region to have highest poverty, illiterate, and malnutrition rate in the country. This is resulted from the lack of investment into developing infrastructure and socio-economy.
According to the Ministry of Transport, Mekong Delta has not built a traffic system to facilitate transport between the region and Ho Chi Minh City. It has not had seaport and airport for direct export while rural traffic system is too old.
Some urgent projects that need investment from the State budget include improving and expanding the National Road 1A from Trung Luong to Ca Mau, building Ho Chi Minh City Highway (in the first stage from Chon Thanh to An Giang), Quan Lo-Phung Hiep Road, and South Hau River route. Some other important routes also need investment such as the route N1 from Tinh Bien to Ha Tien, and Can Tho, Rach Mieu and Ham Luong bridges. It is also necessary to build road to the coastal communes. The Ho Chi Minh-Trung Luong Highway will be built under the BOT form.
In addition, Can Tho and Phu Quoc airports will be built to meet long-term development demand, while Cau Mau and Con Dao airports will be upgraded. Mekong Delta has approved the planning to build a modern railway system in line with the features of the region. It will also implement the master plan to develop the waterway system. Accordingly, It will give priority to develop waterway route through Gao Market, improve Dinh An and Tieu ports, enabling large vessels to go in and out the region. Opening of new channel to Quan Bo Chanh needs to be done to attract large vessels to enter Hau River. In the short time, Mekong Delta needs to improve Dinh An Port and Can Tho Port Complex and make use of existing ports to ensure transport and import-export activities for the region.
The problem is which source to invest in the traffic system here while the State budget allocating for the region is about VND1,400 billion. In fact, to build 16 transport axles, and Can Tho, Rach Mieu, Vam Cong, Cao Lanh, Ham Luong, it is estimated to cost some VND45,275 billion. Improvement of the waterway system also costs VND2,132 billion. Therefore, beside capital mobilized from the State budget, ODA, government bonds, provinces and cities in the region needs to raise their own capital and human forces to develop infrastructure. Furthermore, Mekong Delta needs to attract capital by applying BOT, BOO forms, or borrowing from commercial banks and issuing construction bonds with high coupons.
Long Khanh
Vietnamese
