Kien Giang Province for Sustainable Development

In 2001-2005, the province transformed its economic structure in the direction of sustainable development. The transformation served as the foundation for economic development in 2006 with GDP worth VND11,916 billion, up by 10 per cent (3.71 per cent in agriculture-forestry-fisheries, 14.13 per cent in industry-construction, and 18 per cent in service) and per capita GDP of VND11,185,000 (equivalent of US$619).

 

Agriculture and rural development successes include production, disease prevention and the development of irrigation works. The economic restructuring has transformed low-yield rice fields into aqua-culture and multi-formed production. The rice cultivation area is some 595,000 hectares with average yield of 4.61 tonnes/ha. The province plans to develop fish ports in Phu Quoc, Kien Luong, An Minh, increasing aquatic product output to 378,371 tonnes, 6.9 per cent more than 2005.

 

In industry-handicraft, production value was VND8,275 billion, 12.35 per cent more than 2005. The province expanded the processing of agriculture-fisheries produce and building materials, increased investment in the industrial zones of Thanh Loc – Chau Thanh, Tac Cau and others, with total investment capital of VND6,500 billion, up by 17.5 per cent.

 

In trade-service-tourism, the number of enterprises increased to 145, with retail sales up 21 per cent, and tourism, restaurant, and hotel investment projects up 17.6 per cent. Investment promotion and equitization of State-owned enterprises has been accelerated, increasing business efficiency and rice export, taking the lead among Mekong Delta provinces.

 

In social welfare, education and training have been upgraded. Medical and health services have been improved, effectively preventing epidemic diseases. The graduation rate of primary schools was 99.8 per cent, the number in kindergarten increased 3.6 per cent, ensuring both quality and quantity. The health service has been completed with national standard hospitals and infirmaries. No doubt, the comprehensive investment in economic, cultural and social fields will create a firm foundation for further economic integration and development.

Kien Giang is focusing on the development of infrastructure in industrial zones, urban areas and commercial centres to attract more investments.

 

It has also invested more in science and technology, environment, and research on socio-economic development. As a result, 12 projects have been approved, land use rights granted to 605 communes, while poverty reduction, job creation and housing donation were carried out successfully. Policies on religion and ethnic minorities have been implemented with funding from local and central governments, especially in remote areas. Administrative reform has been accelerated, with less formalities and more power to the district level.

2007 is the second year of the five-year socio-economic development plan (2006-2010). It is also the time of economic integration. Kien Giang will make the best use of all resources to develop essential socio-economic structures, increasing business efficiency of all economic sectors, industrial zones and key economic regions, combining economic growth with social welfare and environmental protection, upgrading human resource development and management skill, and improving living conditions and security. The province targets 13 percent annual GDP growth, with trade and service making up 58.5 per cent of the economic structure by 2010.

 

With advantages in natural resources, Kien Giang is most attractive to foreign investors, especially when Vietnam has become a WTO member. For its part, the province has set forth the following objectives. First, developing service and tourism, making tourism a spearhead sector; second, upgrading industry and aqua-culture; third, giving high priority to industries with comparative edge and local material supply, namely building materials, agriculture and seafood processing; fourth, building infrastructure in industrial zones, urban areas and commercial centres; and fifth, preferential treatment to investors such as land rental, enterprise income tax, and tax exemption for import of commodities of fixed assets.

 

-          Economic growth rate: 13 per cent

-          Agriculture production value to increase 7 per cent, with food output of 2,875,000 tonnes.

-          Aqua-culture production value to increase 8.5 per cent, with output of 388,260 tonnes, up 2.6 per cent.

-          Industry-handicraft production value of VND9,450 billion, up 14.3 per cent.

-          Export turnover of US$300 million, up 24.6 per cent.

-          Total retail sales to increase 16 per cent.

-          Investment capital to increase to VND9,370 billion, or 43 per cent of GDP, up 44 per cent.

-          24,000 new jobs, including 1,000 in labour export.

-          Poverty reduced to 9 per cent.