VIB Forum held an interview with Mr. Nguyen Huu Chi, Chairman of People’s Committee of Tien Giang province.
What are the most important achievements in the past 30 years especially those in honour of Liberation Day?
In 30 years of development, the province has recorded brilliant socio-economic achievements, especially in food production.
In 1976, the population of the province was 1,179,400 with 90 per cent of the people living in rural areas but the rice output was only 454,000 tonnes, or 385kg per head. In 1980, it was even down to 372kg per head and the province faced food shortage. Five years later, in 1985, the average food output increased to 596kg and just enough for local consumption. After the 6th Party Congress, with the renovation policy, Tien Giang economy made a big leap forward. The province increased its food output to over 1 million tonnes and exported 150,000 tonnes of rice contributing to the revenue in foreign exchanges. Tien Giang continued the increase in the following years and reached 1.3 million tonnes in 2000 with 300,000 tonnes for export. Today, the province focuses on high quality rice to maintain market share during international economic integration.
For the 30th anniversary of the Liberation Day, the province concentrated on 3 projects : (1) Rach Gam Xoai Mut relic built on 2 hectares with VND10 billion to celebrate the 220th anniversary of the victory; (2) Hung Vuong bridge worth VND17 billion linking My Tho city with highways 1A and 50; (3) Tien Giang Vocational School worth VND15 billion with training capacity of 1,200-1,500 workers Grade 3/7 and so far contributing 28,000-30,000 workers to the labour market.
What are the objectives of high priorities and areas for preferential treatment?
The province will focus on the mobilisation of investment from the private sector and foreign partners, increasing the export of agricultural and aquatic products, developing local potentials and resources to make Tien Giang a province with high economic growth rates in the Mekong Delta by 2010. The province will continue to improve the investment environment with preferential treatment and upgrade its infrastructure. The province will develop human resources to meet the demand of the market, improve living conditions, combining socio-economic development with environment protection.
Has investment matched potential?
So far the investment is incompatible with the advantages of Tien Giang, a province close to
What are the main attractions for investment?
With its location, Tien Giang has the advantage of attracting investment in capital and technology to exploit natural resources for export. It has also great potential in human resources with 56 per cent of its 1.7 million people of working age and 28,000-30,000 young workers trained each year.
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