Improve transport infrastructure to promote economic development

Vinh Long has a favorable geographical location with many advantages for developing and connecting the province's traffic with the Mekong Delta region and other regions across the country. However, according to many businesses, the province needs to have strong investment and strategies to create favorable conditions for businesses in transporting goods to attract investors.

Vinh Long has convenient regional and inter-regional connections. Illustration photo: Ngo Anh Khoa

Convenient connection conditions

According to the Provincial People's Committee, Vinh Long is located in the center of the Mekong Delta and is the largest agricultural production center of the country, with a favorable geographical location between two large rivers, the Tien River and the Hau River, and is connected by the Mang Thit River. The transportation system is convenient, quickly connecting both roads and waterways. The province has 5 national highways passing through, namely National Highway 1, 53, 54, 57, 80 connecting with the provinces and cities of Can Tho, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Dong Thap and 10 provincial roads connecting with national highways in a "fishbone shape".

In addition, Vinh Long has a seaport consisting of two main wharf areas: Vinh Thai wharf area located on the left side of the Co Chien River, which is expected to be relocated to the old My Thuan ferry terminal on the Tien River in the future, with a ship capacity of 5,000 tons, and Binh Minh wharf area located on the right side of the Dinh An-Can Tho waterway on the Hau River, with a ship capacity of 20,000 tons. Currently, Vinh Long has the My Thuan-Can Tho expressway and My Thuan 2 bridge, which have been opened far away, shortening the travel time from Vinh Long to Ho Chi Minh City, increasing the attraction of investors to exploit the potential and strengths of the province.

According to Mr. Tran Minh Khoi - Head of the Provincial Industrial Parks Management Board, Vinh Long province borders 7 provinces and cities; the center of the Mekong Delta region, and is located between 2 major economic centers, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City; has My Thuan 1 and My Thuan 2 bridges passing through, has a highway, and Dinh Khao bridge will be deployed in the near future, convenient traffic connecting with localities in the region. This can be considered a great advantage of the province in developing industrial parks, as well as attracting investment in industrial parks.

In addition, the Ministry of Construction is currently directing project management boards under the ministry to urgently prepare a pre-feasibility study report for the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho high-speed railway, Can Tho 2 bridge connecting My Thuan-Can Tho and Can Tho-Ca Mau expressways, and the project to upgrade and renovate National Highways 53 and 54 through Vinh Long province. This is a condition for the province to have new development space, enhance regional and inter-regional connectivity, and greatly contribute to attracting investors...

Transport needs a long-term investment vision to meet the growing needs of the economy. Illustrative photo

Need to actively improve transport infrastructure

Although it has a favorable location, creating momentum for regional connectivity, according to practical assessments, the current state of the province's transport infrastructure still does not meet the needs of businesses, especially the lack of a complete logistics system, which has caused the cost of transporting goods for businesses to increase, leading to a loss of competitive advantage.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Vice Chairman of Vinh Long Province Business Association said that Vinh Long has many advantages in terms of road and waterway traffic and has a highway passing through, actively serving the socio-economic development of the province. However, the traffic system in the province has not been properly invested. Accordingly, the province needs to upgrade the traffic system along the main rivers, the traffic system serving the transportation of goods in the areas specializing in growing specialty fruit trees... to reduce transportation costs.

The leader of an agricultural export enterprise said that the current situation of bridges and roads not having a “common voice” has affected the transportation of goods of enterprises. He gave an example, the road has a load capacity of 30 tons but the bridge on this route only has a load capacity of 10-15 tons, which causes many difficulties for enterprises. “The proposal is that the province needs to have a comprehensive, appropriate planning for transport infrastructure, and this planning must have a long-term vision so that enterprises can confidently invest and expand their scale. As well as attract more and more large enterprises to invest in the province,” said the leader of this enterprise.

According to Mr. Pham Minh Thien - Director of the Department of Finance, the transport infrastructure serving the development of agriculture and industry of the province is not guaranteed, there are many shortcomings, especially the lack of synchronization in load capacity between roads and bridges on the route. In the public investment period of 2026-2030, the industry will advise the province to focus on investing in key transport projects, ensuring synchronization in load capacity, ensuring traffic connection and logistics to reduce transportation costs for businesses.

According to the planning of Vinh Long province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Vinh Long province has planned a logistics center in My Hoa commune, Binh Minh town, located near the Hau river and Binh Minh wharf area.

According to the Department of Construction, to develop the logistics chain in the coming time, the first thing to do is to develop the transportation system, including solving bottlenecks such as weak bridges, narrow roads, and frequent traffic jams. In particular, investing in upgrading the seaport system to ensure compliance with the Master Plan for the development of Vietnam's seaport system for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, and meeting the exploitation of large-capacity ships. Focus on Vinh Thai wharf area on Tien River and Binh Minh wharf area on Hau River...

According to the plan, Vinh Long province will have a logistics center in My Hoa commune, Binh Minh town in the future. In the photo: A corner of Binh Minh Industrial Park.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Dang Van Chinh said that in the 2020-2025 term, the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee identified 3 important breakthroughs.

In particular, there is a breakthrough in human resource development to serve the innovation of the growth model, meet the requirements of international integration and the fourth industrial revolution, focus on human resources of leaders, managers and highly skilled workers; breakthrough in investment in socio-economic infrastructure, focusing on developing urban and transport infrastructure to serve agricultural production and tourism, to promptly meet the requirements of local socio-economic development...

Article and photos: KHANH DUY

Source: https://baovinhlong.vn/tin-moi/202503/hoan-thien-ha-tang-giao-thongde-thuc-day-phat-trien-kinh-te-c16154b/