Exploiting border gate economic efficiency

Diversified solutions to promote border trade

According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Gia Lai province, in the first 8 months of 2024, the total import-export turnover through Le Thanh International Border Gate reached 148.72 million USD, an increase of 56% over the same period in 2023 (95.37 million USD). Of which, import turnover reached 118.7 million USD, an increase of 103%; export turnover reached 30.02 million USD, a decrease of 19%.

Trade through Le Thanh International Border Gate has been quite active recently (Photo: Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee Information Portal)

Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone in Duc Co District, bordering Cambodia, is currently a gateway for trade and a driving force for economic development. Every year, thousands of tons of goods and agricultural products such as bananas, cassava chips, durian, cashew nuts, etc. are transported through the border gate to the interior of Vietnam or to Quy Nhon Port, Binh Dinh Province for export to other countries around the world.

Identifying border gate economy as one of the important components of the local economy, in recent times, Gia Lai province has implemented many solutions to increase the effectiveness of border trade. According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Gia Lai, in recent times, trade activities between Gia Lai and Ratanakiri provinces (Kingdom of Cambodia) have been very close. From 2022 to present, the Department of Industry and Trade of Gia Lai has coordinated with the Department of Trade of Ratanakiri to organize 2 border trade fairs. In November 2023, the Department of Industry and Trade of Gia Lai coordinated with the Department of Trade of 3 northeastern provinces of Cambodia to organize a conference on trade promotion of goods export in the Central Highlands region with foreign enterprises, thereby signing 12 memorandums of understanding on cooperation...

Besides, the border market is now held once a year, which is an opportunity to increase trade between the border localities of the two countries.

To improve the efficiency of border trade, last May, the People's Committee of Gia Lai province issued a Plan to implement Decision No. 294/QD-TTg dated April 9, 2024 of the Prime Minister on approving the Plan to implement the Border Trade Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Accordingly, regarding the construction and development of border trade infrastructure, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee directed departments, branches and localities to review the list of border trade infrastructure such as: border markets, trade centers, supermarkets, convenience stores; supporting services: warehouses, delivery, transportation, processing, preservation of goods, banking and financial services, etc.

At the same time, propose mechanisms and policies to encourage investment from enterprises in the province and other provinces of Cambodia to develop Vietnam-Cambodia border trade infrastructure. In particular, attract investment in agricultural production and processing factory projects in the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone, which is the basis for attracting workers and people to the border area.

Promote border market activities at Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone to become a large-scale goods exchange point, attracting traders from border provinces. Build and complete infrastructure at Le Thanh International Border Gate area, border control stations in accordance with the Central Land Border Gate Planning and Gia Lai Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

Regarding trade promotion and investment in developing border trade infrastructure, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee assigned departments, branches and localities to organize and participate in trade and investment promotion activities between Gia Lai province and Cambodian border provinces, promoting the construction and development of border trade infrastructure in the border area of ​​Gia Lai province and Ratanakiri province (Kingdom of Cambodia).

Support traders in the province to organize introduction, promotion and distribution of goods at border markets, trade centers, fairs and exhibitions in the two border provinces of Gia Lai-Ratanakiri. Every year, organize a border market at Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone to introduce, promote and buy and sell products of the two countries Vietnam-Cambodia.

At the same time, effectively implement cooperation agreements and investment projects with Cambodia that the province has signed, actively support businesses to expand cross-border investment and trade activities with Cambodia to encourage organizations and individuals to invest in building and developing the socio-economy in the border areas of Gia Lai province and Cambodian provinces.

In addition, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee directed to focus on reviewing and reforming administrative procedures, facilitating the entry and exit of people and vehicles, and the import and export of goods: creating a favorable and open investment environment to increase the attraction of domestic and foreign investment (including Cambodia) into Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone; focusing on reviewing and reforming administrative procedures in project appraisal, investment licensing, business registration, land allocation, land lease, etc. to facilitate enterprises to invest in infrastructure development in Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone.

Promoting border economic development

From now until the end of the year, the Gia Lai Department of Industry and Trade aims to register to work with the Ratanakiri Department of Commerce to discuss the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two departments to promote cross-border trade activities. In addition, it will seek opinions from competent agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, on increasing the frequency of organizing monthly or weekly border markets to improve the efficiency of goods consumption by border residents.

At the same time, according to the Gia Lai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, the unit is urgently completing the infrastructure project and planning project of the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone Infrastructure Project for the 2022-2025 period has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee and assigned a capital plan for 2024 with VND 20 billion. When the Planning is completed and the construction infrastructure is completed, Gia Lai province will attract investors to operate in the economic zone. Thereby improving the efficiency of import and export through the border gate.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/gia-lai-khai-thac-hieu-qua-kinh-te-cua-khau-343450.html