Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long: Hau Giang and Kien Giang need to clearly identify resources for growth scenarios.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long emphasized that Hau Giang and Kien Giang need to clearly identify resources for growth scenarios - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

In 2025, Hau Giang province strives for GRDP growth of 10.14%. Kien Giang province has developed two economic growth scenarios at 8% (scenario 1) and 10.02% (scenario 2).

According to Vice Chairman of Hau Giang Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Hoa, in the first months of the year, the province has focused on removing difficulties for businesses, supporting production, improving competitiveness and effectively managing business performance of economic sectors. Agricultural production has achieved quite comprehensive results. Drought and salinity prevention and control have been controlled. However, the results of attracting investment in the fields of clean energy, renewable energy, high technology, attracting large investors with potential and prestige willing to invest in the province are still limited. The supply of some raw materials is limited; the price of many raw materials has increased dramatically, increasing the cost of project implementation.

Kien Giang province leaders said that production and business are basically stable. However, some industries are facing difficulties due to high input prices and slow consumption markets. Unusual weather and unseasonal rains are affecting agricultural and fishery production. Raw rice prices continue to be unstable and tend to decrease.

Regarding disbursement, in general, both provinces of the Mekong Delta region have achieved low results. By the end of February 2025, Kien Giang disbursed 4.49% of the plan, while Hau Giang achieved 3.55%.

In the growth scenarios, Deputy Prime Minister Thu noted that more attention should be paid to the strengths of the Mekong Delta - a region with many advantages in agriculture; and asked the provinces to clarify the growth scenarios and progress critical path - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

How to achieve high growth in 2025? Chairman of Hau Giang Provincial People's Committee Tran Van Huyen said that the province currently has many projects that have completed procedures and will start construction this year. Hau Giang is implementing 2 new industrial parks and will complete the procedures by June. Currently, there are 2 major investors, SunGroup and VinGroup, interested in investing in 2 projects in the province. Hau Giang has issued a plan to direct the implementation of related procedures to soon attract investment in these 2 projects.

Regarding Kien Giang, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Nhan said that in the field of industry and construction, 15 new projects will be completed and put into use to increase exploitation capacity. In the field of tourism, the growth rate is expected to reach 11.53%. Tourist arrivals will reach over 11 million (of which international visitors are 1.2 million); night trains will be put into operation between the mainland and Phu Quoc, increasing cargo and passenger transport capacity by 15%. Exports will reach 1.2 billion USD. Kien Giang is proposing a mechanism to quickly implement a number of projects serving APEC 2027.

Opinions from ministries and sectors highly appreciate the efforts of Hau Giang and Kien Giang to achieve breakthrough growth in the context of the large proportion of the agricultural sector in the Mekong Delta region. Expanding the scale of industrial production will face many difficulties due to limited transport infrastructure.

Opinions say that the two provinces need to promote the strength of the processing industry to increase the value of agricultural products, develop logistics; promote large projects, which are the driving force for growth. It is necessary to exploit new driving forces such as digital economy, science and technology, innovation, etc.

Local representatives speak at the meeting - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Clarifying the bases for growth

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long said that in 2024, both provinces achieved relatively good socio-economic development results, higher than the national average. Besides the contributions of ministries and branches, the efforts and determination of the provinces are the main factors.

In 2025, we must do many things at the same time, one thing without waiting for another, or as the General Secretary said, "running and queuing at the same time". That is the work of organizing and arranging the apparatus and administrative units, preparing to organize Party congresses at all levels and achieving the growth target of 8% in 2025.

That poses many challenges, while also tempering our determination and that of each locality.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, due to limited time, the requirements set by the working group need to be further improved by the two localities to be met. The issue is not just about bullet points, but that we propose growth scenarios at different levels and clarify why we propose those scenarios. What is the basis for this growth scenario to become a reality, what is needed?

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that localities continue to complete more specific reports on the requirements of the working group to serve our work throughout 2025.

In the growth scenarios, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that more attention should be paid to the strengths of the Mekong Delta - a region with many advantages in agriculture. What should be done to increase the contribution rate to growth of Sector I (agriculture, forestry, fishery). With growth scenarios of 8% or 10%, compared to 2024, to reach this figure, it is necessary to determine what capital and resources are put into society, where those resources come from, how much is the state resource, how much is the increase in local revenue. How much does productivity increase or new projects contribute?

"What the province can take care of, what the Central Government takes care of", the Deputy Prime Minister raised the issue, asking the provinces to clarify growth scenarios and progress critical paths. Hau Giang has a number of projects that have completed procedures and need to continue to promote. Kien Giang is focusing on projects preparing for the APEC 2027 Conference.

The Deputy Prime Minister suggested investing more time, effort and intelligence in compiling, classifying and handling backlog projects. If handled, it would open up a huge resource, creating room for growth in the coming years.

At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister answered local recommendations with the spirit of removing difficulties and creating all conditions for local development.

Deputy Prime Minister surveys Vi Thanh Commercial Residential Area project - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Survey of some infrastructure projects in Hau Giang

Before the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long and the delegation surveyed a number of projects in Vi Thanh city, Hau Giang province: Vi Thanh commercial residential area, Hau Giang province Digital Technology Park and Urban development residential area in regions 2 and 3.

Deputy Prime Minister surveys Hau Giang province's Digital Technology Park project - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

To date, there are 9 businesses registered to operate in Hau Giang Province's Digital Technology Park with about 400 employees - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Deputy Prime Minister visits an IT enterprise at the Digital Technology Park of Hau Giang province - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Hau Giang Digital Park (ISC) has a land area of ​​about 28.5 hectares, built with the goal of attracting domestic and foreign IT corporations and enterprises to Hau Giang; forming a strong enough IT industry; contributing to creating a friendly image of Hau Giang, attracting investors to Hau Giang according to the motto "Enterprises come, Hau Giang is happy".

ISC also focuses on attracting universities, research and training institutions in IT, IT experts to live, study and work in Hau Giang; directly participate and effectively support the comprehensive digital transformation process of all sectors and fields in the province. To date, there are 9 registered businesses with about 400 employees.

Visiting ISC, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long said that this is a very important field of activity in the current context of socio-economic development. The Deputy Prime Minister hopes that ISC will soon complete its construction, quickly mature and make important contributions to the career of training digital generation human resources of Hau Giang province and the whole country.

Deputy Prime Minister surveys the Urban Development Residential Area Project in Regions 2 and 3 - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Regarding social housing construction, Kien Giang has so far completed 1 project with 990 units; 2 projects started, with a scale of 935 units. In 2025, it is expected that 6 social housing projects (2,406 units) will start. As of March 17, 2025, the whole province of Kien Giang has supported the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses of 1,608/5,207 units, reaching about 31%. The number of houses still to be built in 2025 is 3,599 units.

To date, Hau Giang province has completed 137 houses; 2 projects have started construction, with a scale of 935 houses. As of March 17, 2025, Hau Giang has supported the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses for 917/2,853 houses, reaching more than 32%. The number of houses to be completed in 2025 is 1,936 houses.

Duc Tuan