Minister Nguyen Hong Dien proposed solutions for Dong Thap to maximize its potential and promote...

Attending the conference were comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's Propaganda and Education Commission; comrade Tran Hong Ha, Party Central Committee member, Deputy Prime Minister; comrades of the Party Central Committee, leaders of ministries, departments, branches, the Party Central Committee Office, and the General Secretary's Office.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien highly agreed with the province's report and the opinions expressed at the meeting on the potential, development space and outstanding achievements in the local socio-economic situation in recent times, and agreed on the assessment of the difficulties, limitations and biggest bottlenecks of Dong Thap, which is the province's transport infrastructure. Supporting the goals, tasks and solutions for the local socio-economic development, and from the perspective of the industry and trade sector, the Minister proposed a number of solutions for the province to exploit and promote its potential to help the province grow by double digits in the coming time.

First of all, the locality focuses on studying and adjusting the Provincial Planning in accordance with the National Master Plan, Regional Planning, and Sectoral Planning; along with that, adjusting the land use plan for the period to be ready to receive key projects in the coming time. At the same time, build a strategy to develop key local products based on potential strengths, based on the needs and trends of the domestic market as well as the international market to review and adjust the planning of planting and farming areas, apply technology in production, processing and consumption to capture the domestic and export markets.

Second, localities need to focus on building and strengthening product brands, especially key products in both domestic and international markets. Coordinate with the Vietnam Trade Office to focus on exploiting markets of countries where Vietnam is a member in FTAs, especially markets in China, Northeast Asia, West Asia, and the Middle East. These are markets with great potential for agricultural and aquatic products, especially Halal products.

Third, as a locality with diverse tourism potential, Dong Thap needs to plan, invest, and attract investment to develop tourism associated with trade, linking commercial tourism with on-site export through the exchange and purchase of key products and products of the locality and localities in the region.

Fourth, the Minister suggested that Dong Thap focus on planning, investment, investment attraction, logistics network and infrastructure (gathering yards, warehouses) to reduce production costs, reduce prices and increase business competitiveness. According to the Minister, Dong Thap's current bottleneck is inconvenient traffic infrastructure and low transport capacity. However, the province has a 50km land border with Cambodia, and it is expected that the province will deploy a number of additional traffic routes and types of traffic in the near future.

Fifth, in the current conditions and specific circumstances of Dong Thap, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends that Dong Thap focus on developing low-emission industries, key product processing industries and supporting industries for key local industries. At the same time, pay attention to exploiting the strongly developing e-commerce model to effectively solve the output for local products.

Sixth, as a locality with potential for renewable energy, especially onshore wind power, floating solar power, and rooftop solar power, Dong Thap needs to pay attention to exploiting and developing this potential, both increasing local development space and creating conditions for the formation of regional database centers to serve the socio-economy of the locality and localities in the region.

Also at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien answered the recommendations and proposals of Dong Thap. Regarding the proposal to establish a Specialized Economic Zone of 5,000 hectares or more in the Dong Thap Border Gate Economic Zone, the Minister said that according to Clause 16, Article 2 of Decree 35/2022/ND-CP on the management of economic zones, industrial parks, and specialized economic zones, they are economic zones established in key economic zones, development corridors, and development driving forces; or in areas with similar roles identified in the Regional Planning. Meanwhile, the Dong Thap Border Gate Economic Zone was established in 2008 and continues to be identified in the Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050.

Regarding the proposal related to the Vietnam - Cambodia Border Trade Agreement, the Agreement signed by the two Governments on November 8, 2022 (effective July 20, 2023) allows investment and exploitation of the economic strengths of the two countries' border gates. This is very consistent with Conclusion No. 10, dated July 8, 2021 of the Politburo on strengthening national defense and security potential combined with socio-economic development on the strategic Southwest route of the Fatherland. Through research and surveys by functional units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Institute for Research on Industry and Trade Policy and Strategy, Local Department of Industry and Trade, Import-Export Department), it shows that there is still a lot of potential and room for economic and trade development between the two countries and with Thailand.

Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade highly supports this proposal. From the industry perspective, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will assign the Institute of Industry and Trade Policy and Strategy, the Import-Export Department to coordinate with localities, ministries and sectors to develop and complete the project to submit to the Government as soon as possible.

Regarding the proposal to soon deploy the construction of a focal point for agricultural and freshwater aquatic products in the Dong Thap Muoi region in Dong Thap, connecting with the Center for linking production, processing and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta in Can Tho, the Minister said that this was the affirmation of the Prime Minister during his visit and work with Dong Thap in August 2023 and was also reflected in the Southwest Region Planning for the period 2021-2030, in order to maximize the potential and strengths of Dong Thap as well as other localities in the region.

However, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said that in order to do the above, in addition to the approved policies and plans, there must also be mechanisms, policies, and resources from the State. As the focal point for state management of logistics, domestic market, and import-export activities, the Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade will closely coordinate with Dong Thap and related ministries and branches to implement after there are clear and specific mechanisms and policies from the Central and local levels.

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong/bo-truong-nguyen-hong-dien-de-xuat-cac-giai-phap-de-dong-thap-khai-thac-toi-da-tiem-nang-thuc-day-tang-truong.html