2:41:58 PM | 31/1/2007
Vietnam Business Forum’s reporter Ngoc Huong had an interview with Mr. Tran Hoan Kim, Chairman of Tra Vinh People’s Committee.
Please, tell us the achievements recorded by the province in the past five years?
In 2001-2005, GDP of Tra Vinh continued year-on-year growth with average rate 11.64 per cent a year. The economic structure is changing with reduction in agriculture and increase in industry and service. The agricultural production decreased from 54.32 per cent in 2000 to 38.84 per cent in 2005; aqua-culture increased from 10.91 per cent to 15.82 per cent; industry from 8.25 per cent to 10 per cent; construction from 3.35 per cent to 7.63 per cent; service from 21.8 per cent to 26.54 per cent.
In agriculture, special cultivation areas have been formed. New rice strains (OMCS 2000, OMCS 21, OM 2031, IR 59606, MTL 250) have been introduced to short-time rice crops with high yield and quality. The restructuring has created 12,000 hectares of other crops, 2,500 hectares of materials for industry, 2,000 hectares for aqua-culture and 5,000 hectares of fruit trees. The transformation of rice fields has increased the production value by 1.5-2 times per hectare. In particular, the combination rice-shrimp production increased 9 times, creating 80,000 working days and increasing additional income of VND1.2-1.5 million/person/year.
Livestock and poultry have also been promoted with the encouragement to develop farms and investment in new species. The province has developed Sind hybrid cows making up 40 per cent of the total and hybrid pigs of over 90 per cent.
Aquatic production is second importance to rice. In 2001-2005, with offshore-fishing programme and local investments, the province has six new boats and 90 upgraded boats 90 h.p. together with equipment for positional system, communication, fish detector. As a result, the offshore fishing increased by 5.9 per cent compared to 1996-2000. The area for aqua-culture has increased by 12,000 hectares. The province has 20,000 hectares for shrimp raising, including 3,500 hectares of industrial raising. The raisings of crabs and oysters have also been developed.
The industrial production is maintained at a growth of 16.02 per cent a year. Main products of the province are: frozen aquatic products, sugar, coconut based products (active coal included). Long Duc industrial zone has been developed with four enterprises invested and operated (two of them are wholly foreign owned).
Trade and service have been upgraded to meet the demand of the production and living conditions of the people. The retail sales increased by 21 per cent a year. Commercial centres and rural markets have been re-planned and upgraded, combining the production, processing and consumption, and developing services and logistics for fisheries and agriculture. The export value increased 11.8 per cent a year. In tourism, the province has upgraded relics and roads, developing tourist tour to Ba Dong, increasing services and prolonging tourist stay in the province.
Infrastructure has been improved with power supply and roads reaching remote areas. So far, 96 per cent of communes are ensured with roads for cars and 97 per cent hamlets with roads for motorbikes, facilitating the development in distant and remote areas of Khmer people. The province is also expanding and modernizing postal and telecommunication services, power and water supply in rural areas.
However, with low-based economy, the province cannot shift quickly to industrialization and modernization. Agriculture continues to play an important role. Aqua-culture develops fast but without stable outlet. Industry is still weak. Tourism remains incompatible with potentials and demand of socio-economic development. The challenges will be more critical in the process of international economic integration.
And what are the solutions?
In fact, great and diversified potentials of Tra Vinh remain untapped. The inconvenient geographical location makes it impossible to attract outside investments. We have tried hard to make a breakthrough in communication and transport. As a result, the government has approved the upgrading of Highway 60 along the coast linking Ho Chi Minh City with Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Binh, Soc Trang, etc. shortening the distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Tra Vinh to 120 km instead of 180 km currently.
The province will focus on aqua-culture and processing industry using local materials. Investment environment and administrative reform will be accelerated to attract science and technology, and investments of all economic sectors. New species will be introduced to increase the output and quality. The production will be combined with the consumption. Human resources will be upgraded with 35-45 per cent of workforce trained in conformity with the economic development.
In addition, the province will develop sea-economy with diversification, efficiency and stability. Securities and property markets will be developed. Major projects will be implemented in aquatic products export, coconut processing, clinker grinding, construction brick, etc.
How is the co-operation with other localities?
The regional cooperation is crucial for the provinces in the Mekong Delta. To maximize their advantages, the provinces must co-ordinate their development plans to avoid overlapping and waste. Presently, Tra Vinh is coordinating with Can Tho City and will continue with other provinces.
Regarding Ho Chi Minh City, a major economic centre, Tra Vinh has established close cooperation and attained great resources in capital, science and technology, trade and services.
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