5:10:01 PM | 14/3/2012
Overcoming challenges and taking advantage of oportunities, Ninh Thuan has recorded most encouraging achievements in recent years Those successes are helping the province to develop green and clean economy. Vietnam Business Forum had an interview with Mr Nguyen Duc Thanh, Chairman of Ninh Thuan People’s Committee on the development of sustainable economy underway in the province. Cong Luan reports.
Please tell us the most notable socio-economic achievements of the province in 2011 and the orientation up to 2020?
2011 is indeed, a difficult year, however, the people and authorities of the province have joined efforts with the whole country to control inflation, stabilize macro-economy and ensure social welfare. The province has maintained economic growth rate of 10.6 percent (compared to 6 percent of Vietnam). GDP per capita of VND16.3 million, or 3.4 times that of 2005 and 12 times of 1992. Budget revenue increased repeatedly in recent years reaching VND1,200 billion in 2011 and ensuring resources for faster development in the coming years.
To maintain fast and stable socio-economic development in the years to come, the Resolution of XII Ninh Thuan Party Covention setforth the objective to narrow down the development gap with other provinces of Vietnam. Accordingly, Ninh Thuan must have different approach of high competitiveness, taking avantages of the international economic integration with new thinking. With the endorsement of the Prime Minister, Ninh Thuan is the first province to hire foreign consultants (Monitor Group (US) and Arup (UK) to work out three key plans of the province, including master plan of socio-economic development up to 2020 that has been approved by the Prime Minister; development plan of Phan Rang – Thap Cham City and development plan of the coastline which are underway and will be approved in Quarter I of 2012.
The goal of the province is to make Ninh Thuan a destination in Vietnam with complete infrastructure, favourable investment and business environment, being safe from climate change and natural disasters, fast development and “green and clean” economy. The economic restructuring is in favour of industry and service, environment friendly and improvement of social welfare, creating jobs, reducing poverty and contributing to national security and defence.
The province plans to increase GDP growth rates to 16-18 percent in 2011-2015 and 19-20 percent in 2016-2020. GDP per capita will be some US$1,400 in 2015 and US$2,800 in 2020. With economic restructuring, in 2015, industry-construction will make up 40 percent, agriculture-forestry-aquaculture 25 percent, service 35 percent; by 2020 they will be respectively 52 percent, 20 percent and 28 percent. Total budget revenue will be VND1,900 billion in 2015 and VND4,500 billion in 2020 while percentage of poor households will be reduced by 1.2 percent - 1.5 percent a year and over 15,000 jobs created each year.
What are the challenges and opportunities in 2012 and how can the province attain its objectives?
Ninh Thuan is implementating 2012 plan in the conditions of global and national difficulties,remaining with high inflation, financial-monetary problems, and less ODA as Vietnam is no longer regarded as a low-income country.
The building of nuclear power station with large investment and other projects will create a new image of the province and attract more investments especially after the announcement of the development plan and investment promotion. In particular, important cultural and sports events to be organized in the province in 2012 will promote further socio-economic development in the years to come.
To implement 2012 plan, the province will give high priorities to the efforts of restraining inflation, stabilizing macro-economy and ensuring social welfare. Resources will be used efficiently for socio-economic development, trying to ensure growth rate of 14-15 percent and GDP per capita of VND20 million. Economic restructuring will be accelerated with higher economic effiency and competitiveness promoting socio-economic development and social welfare, generating 15,500 jobs, reducing percentage of poor households by 2 percent (down to 11.4 percent), improving moral and physical life of the people.
It is reported that the master plan of the province to 2020 is a daring move to attract local and foreign investors, could you elaborate further on the plan?
To carry out the master plan approved by the Prime Minister, Ninh Thuan People’s Committee has issued Resolution 32/QD-UBND of February 22, 1012 with 8 key tasks and 37 specific tasks to be implemented by related authorities.
One, the implementation must be accelerated at all levels, city, districts, industries, land use and planning up to 2020 to ensure the integrity and accountability and facilitate investors in their access to information on the planning and land, meeting the demand of socio-economic development.
Two, investments will be increased in infrastructure development, especially road networks to develop the advantages of seaports and airports in the region, in particular, the coastline road and the highway from Cam Ranh international airport to Phan Rang – Thap Cham City. Those projects play an important role in attracting investments for tourism development and especially the building of the first two nuclear power stations in Ninh Thuan.
Three, human resources must be upgraded. Ninh Thuan People’s Committee has approved human resources development plan 2011-2020 to make Ninh Thuan a training centre of skilled woowrkforce for sectors of comparative advantages. Beside elevating secondary vocational school to higher level, in conjunction with universities and famous training centres, the province will establish and operate training centres of high skilled workforce for neighbouring provinces and the Highlands.
Four, the province will improve investment environment, increasing competitive index, accelerating administrative reform, saving time and money for investors, attracting as much as possible local and foreign investments for development.
As green and clean economy will cost investors more, how can you convince them?
Green economy is a new model, and green economic growth is the trend and choice of many countries in the world to deal with global challenges such as climate change, limited natural resources, energy security and food security. It is also closely related to social welfare, poverty reducation and environment protection.
Ninh Thuan has set the goal for fast and sustainable economic development to 2020 with model of “green and clean” economy relying on 6 key economic sectors: clean energy, tourism, agriculture-forestry-aquaculture, processing industry, education and training, and real estate. By 2020, the 6 sectors will contribute 91 percent of GDP and generating jobs for 85 percent of the workforce of the province.
According to the plan, Ninh Thuan will become a centre of clean energy. In addition to nuclear power, the province will call for investments in wind and solar power, manufacturing equipment for wind turbine and supporting industries and services for “green economy”.
Ninh Thuan will also develop potential in tourism of high competitiveness such as wine and grape-related products, relics of Cham culture, eco-tourism, health spa, golf, yatching and other sports.
03/4/2025
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnamese
