[Emagazine]. Comprehensive and remarkable development after 50 years of liberation

Located in the Central Coast region, Quang Ngai is a coastal province with a natural area of over 5,155km2, with 2 terrain areas: the midland and mountainous region and the plain running along the coast, along with 4 large rivers: Tra Bong, Tra Khuc, Song Ve and Tra Cau flowing into the estuaries: Sa Can, Sa Ky, Co Luy, Cua Lo, My A, Sa Huynh...

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hoang Giang and other provincial leaders presented flowers to congratulate the Quang Ngai Business Club in Hanoi and the northern region, at the launching ceremony in February 2025. Photo: Bao HOA

Quang Ngai Province (formerly known as Quang Nghia) was established in 1832, a land of outstanding people, majestic and poetic nature; with mountains, rivers, rapids, seas and islands. Since the dawn of history, Quang Ngai has archaeological sites that left traces of being the residence of ancient Vietnamese people. The people here have early nurtured the spirit of hard work, creativity, intelligence, studiousness, a tradition of patriotism and steadfast revolutionary struggle.

Ba To Uprising Monument. Photo: THANH TRUNG

During the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the American imperialists, Quang Ngai was always a solid base for hiding cadres of the revolutionary movement in the province and Inter-zone 5. On August 8, 2013, the Prime Minister issued a decision to recognize 5 communes and Ba To town as part of the Central Safe Zone in Quang Ngai during the resistance war against the French, contributing significantly to the overall victory of the cause of national liberation, construction and defense of the Fatherland. Quang Ngai is the birthplace of the heroic Ba To Guerrilla Team, one of the predecessors of the Central Armed Forces and of Units 339, 89, 299, the first units of the Quang Ngai Armed Forces and Military Zone 5 in the resistance war against the US to save the country. Quang Ngai is also the homeland of the Ba To Uprising (March 11, 1945); Tra Bong Uprising and Western Quang Ngai (August 28, 1959); The Ba Gia victory (May 31, 1965); the Van Tuong victory (August 18, 1965), opened the climax of the anti-American campaign in the South. In particular, in the Spring campaign of 1975, from March 8 to 18, 1975, all mountainous districts and some communes in the plains of Quang Ngai province were liberated. On the night of March 24, 1975, revolutionary forces were ordered to enter Quang Ngai town to occupy the enemy's headquarters, the Quang Ngai provincial capital was liberated, contributing to the whole country's defeat of the US-puppet war strategies, liberating the South, and unifying the country.

During the war years, Quang Ngai suffered extremely heavy consequences. After liberation, people's lives were extremely difficult and deprived; the intellectual level was low; the productive forces developed slowly, and there was almost no infrastructure...

At the end of 1975, Quang Ngai merged with Binh Dinh province to form Nghia Binh province. In about 14 years, from the end of 1975 to 1989, the socio-economic development of Quang Ngai was closely linked to the development of Nghia Binh province. During this period, Nghia Binh province in general and Quang Ngai people in particular made efforts to rise up and have made fundamental developments in many aspects. The Thach Nham irrigation project was built to provide irrigation water for 50 thousand hectares of cultivated land, creating a new driving force for the province's agricultural economy. To recognize the achievements of cadres, soldiers and people of Nghia Binh province, in 1985, the State Council awarded the Gold Star Medal to the people, cadres and soldiers of Nghia Binh province for their great contributions and achievements in 40 years of revolutionary struggle, fighting against foreign invaders, building and defending the socialist Fatherland.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Secretary of the Provincial People's Committee Party Committee Nguyen Hoang Giang spoke at the 1st Conference of the Provincial People's Committee Party Executive Committee, term 2020 - 2025. Photo: BA SON

At the time of re-establishment of the province (1989), Quang Ngai was a poor, purely agricultural province, with a low starting point in terms of economy and society, and the budget depended on central support. The economic structure of agriculture, forestry and fishery accounted for a large proportion; industry and services were underdeveloped; economic infrastructure was weak; per capita income was quite low... However, with the efforts, joint efforts and consensus of all levels, sectors, localities and people in the province, Quang Ngai has made significant progress, economic and social infrastructure and facilities have been strengthened; people's lives have been improved, the economy has gradually stabilized and developed. The province has successfully built and developed Dung Quat Economic Zone, playing the role of a locomotive, growth nucleus and driving force for economic development of the province, focusing on the petrochemical and steel rolling industries. Promoting industrialization, modernization and international integration. The spiritual and material cultural life of the people is constantly improving.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Hoang Tuan worked with representatives of Rieker Vietnam Shoes Co., Ltd. - Quang Ngai Branch. Photo: TL

After 50 years of liberation, the province's socio-economic development has achieved many remarkable achievements. The economic scale and structure have changed significantly after Dung Quat Oil Refinery came into operation (2009). The total product in the area (GRDP at comparable prices) in 2024 reached more than 64 trillion VND, on average for the whole period since the province was re-established, GRDP increased by 8.6%/year; compared to 1989, GRDP in 2024 is 18 times higher. The economic scale (at current prices) in 2024 reached more than 132 trillion VND, on average for the whole period since the province was re-established, increasing by 18.5%/year. Compared to 1990, the economic scale in 2024 is about 320 times higher. Average GRDP per capita at current prices in 2024 will reach more than 106 million VND/person/year (about 4,460 USD/person/year), the average increase over the whole period since the province's re-establishment is 18%/year; compared to 1990, average GRDP per capita in 2024 is 275 times higher.

Dung Quat Oil Refinery has brought great socio-economic benefits to the province. In the photo: High-quality human resources working at Dung Quat Oil Refinery. Photo: PD

Budget revenue in the province has increased gradually over time, achieving many outstanding results, especially when Dung Quat Oil Refinery came into operation. In 1989, budget revenue reached only 16.3 billion VND, mainly depending on state-owned enterprises and agricultural land use tax. By 2024, budget revenue reached more than 30 trillion VND, about 1,880 times higher than in 1989. This is the 4th consecutive year in the 2021 - 2024 period that Quang Ngai province has exceeded the budget revenue target assigned by the central government.

The successful construction and development of Dung Quat Economic Zone has shifted the labor structure and created jobs for tens of thousands of workers in the province. Photo: PD

The trade, service and tourism sectors have also kept pace with the general development of the country and achieved remarkable results. In 2024, the total retail sales of consumer goods and services reached more than 77.65 trillion VND, about 680 times higher than in 1989, with an average increase of 20.5% per year over the entire period since the province's re-establishment. The province's tourism industry has also grown strongly. In 2024, Quang Ngai welcomed 1.449 million visitors, about 105 times higher than in 1989, with an average increase of about 14% per year over the entire period since the province's re-establishment. Tourism revenue reached 1,434 billion VND, about 450 times higher, with an average increase of about 19% per year over the entire period since the province's re-establishment. Export turnover has also grown very strongly. In 1989, export turnover only reached 3.92 million USD, in 2024 it reached 2.94 billion USD, about 750 times higher than the first year of re-establishment of the province; the average increase for the whole period since the re-establishment of the province is about 21.5%/year. The export market is increasingly diverse, expanding to more than 45 countries and territories such as: USA, China, Korea, Japan, India, Germany, Denmark, UAE, Saudi Arabia and countries in ASEAN, EU...

Quang Ngai's specialty and OCOP products are displayed and introduced at domestic exhibitions and trade promotion conferences. Photo: PV

Dung Quat Beach. Photo: KINGDOM

The agriculture, forestry and fishery sector has developed steadily, the sectoral structure has shifted in the right direction of reducing the proportion of agriculture and increasing the proportion of forestry and fishery. In addition, since 2010, the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development in Quang Ngai has contributed to significantly changing the appearance of the countryside, improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

New rural area in Mo Duc. Photo: NGUYEN MINH

To create a premise for sustainable development, in recent times, Quang Ngai has spent a lot of time, effort and intelligence to carry out planning work, especially large and important plans. The plans have been organized and implemented in a very methodical, scientific and quality manner. Notably, the Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1456/QD-TTg dated November 22, 2023; The Plan to implement the Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1320/QD-TTg dated November 1, 2024; The overall adjustment of the General Planning for the construction of Dung Quat Economic Zone to 2045 was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 168/QD-TTg dated February 28, 2023. On that basis, the province has directed to accelerate the progress of establishing 9 1/2000 scale construction zoning plans in accordance with the Dung Quat Economic Zone Master Plan. Up to now, 5 plans have been approved and the remaining 4 plans are undergoing procedures for approval as soon as possible. These are extremely important tools for the province to organize management and control of investment activities, serving as a basis for attracting investment resources for the province's socio-economic development in the coming time.

Product storage tank area of Dung Quat Oil Refinery. Photo: TL

In addition to economic development, the province has also paid attention to education, health care and people's health care. Cultural and social life has been increasingly improved. Employment and poverty reduction have been focused on; the rate of trained workers has been increasing. Social security has been ensured; science, technology and innovation have been consolidated, enhanced and implemented synchronously with the requirements of renewing existing growth drivers and creating new growth drivers; national defense and security have been maintained, politics and society have been stable.

Looking back at 50 years of liberation, more than 35 years of re-establishment of Quang Ngai province and nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation policy initiated and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam at the 6th National Congress of the Party (1986), the Party Committee, army and people in the province have promoted the spirit of "Great Victory of Spring 1975" (April 30, 1975), the tradition of solidarity, hard work, creativity, proactively seizing opportunities, harmoniously applying the laws of development and have achieved many great and important achievements in the cause of building and developing the economy, society, ensuring national defense and security. This is also an important premise for Quang Ngai to develop more quickly and sustainably in the coming years.

2025 is the last year of the 2020 - 2025 term, which is very important for the development of the province. This is also the year of many important events of the country and the province, especially the 21st Provincial Party Congress, term 2025 - 2030 towards the 14th National Congress of the Party... Besides the difficulties, challenges and advantages, Quang Ngai province is determined to inherit the achievements in the past time and continue to strive and make efforts to complete the goals, targets and tasks for the 5 years (2020 - 2025) set out.

The Hoa Phat Dung Quat Iron and Steel Production Complex invested in Dung Quat Economic Zone has been and is proving effective. Photo: PD

Promoting the heroic tradition in the resistance war, unifying the country and building and defending the Fatherland, Quang Ngai continues to arouse pride, will, aspiration and belief in development in every cadre, party member and people of all walks of life. Continuing to strongly innovate thinking; arousing all potentials and resources, creating new momentum for the province's rapid and sustainable development. Thereby, contributing with the whole country to realize the aspiration of building a socialist Vietnam, a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization, standing shoulder to shoulder with the powers in the region and the world in the Era of national development.