Cao Bang Province at a Glance

Cao Bang is a northern mountainous province consisting of 13 districts and 1 town. It shares a 311km-long borderline with China and has an area of 6,690.72 square kilometres. The lowest temperature ever recorded was 1°C and the highest, 39°C. The annual average rainfall is 1,300-1,500 mm. It has a population of 494.700. Its GDP amounts to VND 1,066 billion of which industry accounts for 15 per cent, agriculture and forestry 54 per cent and services 31 per cent. The annual average budget collection is VND 70 billion.

The province has a quite big land use potential, especially farmland and forestland. At present, about 41,600 ha of land has not been put into use, and some 141,000 ha of bare hills and waste land can be used to build cattle farms, grow fruit trees or industrial crops.

 

Located within the subtropical climatic zone and possessing various kinds of soil, Cao Bang has its own specialties such as chestnuts grown in Trung Khanh district, yellow tobacco, high-protein soybeans, bitter tea (which is both a fresh dink and a valuable medicine), bamboo, cinnamon, and anise, which can be developed into commodity crops.

 

Cao Bang has rich natural mineral resources: iron ores with a reserve of 56 million tons and average content of iron between 50 and 63 per cent, manganese ore with a reserve of 2.7 million tons and manganese content of 25-35 per cent, bauxite ores with a reserve of 180 million tons and bauxite content of 45-55 per cent. It also has zinc, nickel, tin, gold, antimonite and precious stones which are favourable to develop a mineral exploiting and processing industry.

 

Cao Bang borders Guangxi province of China. It has a national border gate Ta Lung in Quang Hoa district and local border gates Hung Quoc in Tra Linh and Soc Ginag in Ha Quang, which facilitate trading with China.

 

Cao Bang has large potential for tourism. It is famous for many historical sites such as the Pac Bo site.
Thanks to the great efforts of the local population, leadership of the province’s Party committee, management of the province’s People’s Council and People’s Committee, cooperation and assistance of government agencies and overseas programs and projects, the province’s economy has developed but remains poor compared to the rest of the country. The livelihood of ethnic minorities still encounters numerous difficulties. In 2000, per capita GDP of the province was only US$ 200. In order to maintain social order, ensure sustainable growth, narrow development gaps between its urban and rural areas, and carry out industrialization and modernization, Cao Bang needs to make the best use of all available resources for quick integration into the overall development trends of the northeastern region and the rest of the country. The province, therefore, is in need of cooperation and support from the Government, ministries, and organizations both at home and abroad.

 

GDP growth rate	15 per cent
GDP per capita	US$ 350
Industrial production value growth rate	over 17 per cent
Agricultural production value growth rate	over 6 per cent
Service value growth rate	19 per cent
Industrial production value per hectare	VND 16 million
Total grain output	203,000 tonnes
Total invesment capital	VND1,300 billion
Provincial budget collection	VND 223,5 billion
Total export and import turnover, in which -Export -Import	US$ 35 million US$ 12 million US$23 million
Job creation	8,400 labourers
Poor household rate	2.4 per cent (decrease from 42 per cent to 39.6 per cent)
Forest coverage rate	49 per cent