Quang Ninh aims to become a modern marine economic center

With more than 250km of coastline, over 6,000km2 ^of sea surface, over 1,000km2 ^of island area, Quang Ninh is a locality with great potential for marine economic development. In recent times, the province has paid special attention and prioritized the development of this economic sector, with the core being port activities, services and coastal industry... Thereby, gradually turning Quang Ninh into one of the strong marine economic centers of the country, a gateway and driving force for the development of the Northern Key Economic Zone, contributing to connecting the country's marine economy with the region and the world.

Two cruise ships Celebrity Solstice (Malta) and Noordam (Dutch) brought more than 4,700 tourists to Ha Long, November 12, 2024. *Photo: Hoang Quynh*

Motivation from Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU

As the gateway to the sea of the entire Red River Delta - the midland and mountainous region of the North, the marine economy of Quang Ninh province always plays an important role, is the driving force for the development of the Northern Key Economic Zone in general, and the economic development of Quang Ninh province in particular. This is the driving force for growth that has contributed significantly to the socio-economic achievements of the province.

Based on the potentials and outstanding advantages, in recent times, the province has prioritized resources for the development of seaports and seaport services; encouraged the mobilization of all resources to develop seaport infrastructure, wharves and seaport connection infrastructure in a synchronous and modern direction; created favorable conditions for enterprises to improve quality, reduce time, transportation costs and logistics services...

Cai Lan Port (Ha Long City) loaded nearly 154,000 tons of bulk cargo for the first 5 ships to enter service in 2025. *Photo: Nguyen Thanh*

In 2019, the province issued a separate resolution on the development of seaports and seaport services (Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU). The resolution aims to turn Quang Ninh into one of the leading maritime economic centers of the country, while also acting as a gateway and driving force for the development of the Northern Key Economic Zone, linked to the deep-water seaport system. The key localities in this strategy include Ha Long, Cam Pha, Mong Cai, Quang Yen, Van Don, Co To, and Hai Ha.

After Resolution 15-NQ/TU was issued, the Provincial Party Committee quickly established the Steering Committee for the development of seaports and seaport services for the period up to 2025, with a vision extending to 2030. The Provincial People's Council and the Provincial People's Committee issued directive documents, setting out specific tasks and clearly assigning responsibilities to agencies, units and localities to organize implementation according to the objectives set out in the Resolution.

The special priority in this period chosen by the province is to develop breakthroughs in seaport infrastructure. Accordingly, in order to maximize the capacity of existing ports, the province will rearrange the ports, have a roadmap to relocate facilities that are at risk of causing environmental pollution; direct a comprehensive review of ports and mooring buoys in the Con Ong - Hon Net area; re-systemize ports and waterways to evaluate and adjust the scale and functions in accordance with the province's seaport development orientation; and at the same time attract investment in the seaport sector... With many synchronous solutions, in the period of 2019-2021, Quang Ninh attracted 9 projects with a total investment of more than 60,000 billion VND.

Song Khoai Industrial Park in Quang Yen coastal economic zone is one of the industrial parks attracting many large projects for investment in production. *Photo: Pham Tang*

Along with that, the province invested in many key projects to complete the infrastructure connecting to the seaport system of Quang Yen, Van Don, Hai Ha, Mong Cai and industrial parks and economic zones. In particular, completing and putting into operation the road connecting Cai Lan Industrial Park to Ha Long - Van Don expressway; the road connecting provincial road 331 with provincial road 338 (Quang Yen town); the second main axis road of Hai Ha Seaport Industrial Park; Ha Long - Cam Pha coastal road; Van Don - Mong Cai expressway... Many important infrastructure projects such as Ao Tien high-class port, Hon Gai international passenger port, Van Ninh general port have been deployed. The province is implementing 6 investment projects for the development of seaports and logistics services, with a planned area of 6,956 hectares in Quang Yen coastal economic zone.

Up to now, after more than 5 years of implementing Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU, the province's marine economic development strategy has made progress. Most notably, the total revenue from seaport services in the 2019-2023 period reached over 14,840 billion VND; the contribution of this service to the province's GRDP reached about 0.49%, an increase of 0.07% compared to 2018. Since 2019, an average of about 12.95 million visitors have come to Quang Ninh each year. The number of sea and island tourists recorded 43.3 million, exceeding 184% of the plan and target set for 2025 in the Resolution. Many 4-5 star hotels with diverse, high-quality tourism products related to sea and island tourism have been invested and put into operation; promoting the value of the World Heritage and Natural Wonder of Ha Long Bay.

Ao Tien high-class port. *Photo: Ta Duc Quyen (Executive Director of Ao Tien International Port)*

The aquaculture industry has comprehensive development, including aquaculture, exploitation and processing. In 2024, the whole province will have 11,252 aquaculture facilities, of which marine aquaculture is about 10,200 hectares, mainly concentrated in Van Don, Cam Pha, Co To, Dam Ha, Hai Ha, Mong Cai, Ha Long; bringing stable income to people in this area. In Cam Pha city, aquaculture activities are creating jobs for 1,500 workers in the area; the annual aquaculture output reaches 19,100 tons, bringing in an economic value of nearly 1,200 billion VND.

The coastal industry is promoted in a sustainable direction with the application of modern technology to improve productivity and protect the environment, thereby increasing the proportion of the processing and manufacturing industry. The scale of the maritime economy is increasing, accounting for an increasingly large proportion of the added value of the marine economy. The total output of goods passing through the port in 5 years (2019-2023) reached 627.7 million tons; an average of 124.1 million tons/year, exceeding the target by 2025.

Model of raising yellowfin pompano in Cam Dong ward (Cam Pha city). *Photo by Hai Ha*

Striving to become the country's marine economic center

With the goal of rapidly increasing the contribution of the marine economy to GRDP, the province strives to have the marine economy account for 25% of the province's total economy by 2030; build Quang Ninh into one of the international tourism centers, marine economic centers, international trade gateways; seaport service revenue of about 25,000 billion VND,... In which, priority is given to the following industries and occupations: Tourism and marine services; maritime economy; development of coastal economic zones; sustainable aquaculture and fisheries; environmentally friendly coastal industry; renewable energy and new marine economic sectors.

To continue to awaken the potential and strengths of the sea, the province is focusing on reviewing and realizing plans and having long-term orientations for development. In particular, it focuses on calling for investment and supporting investment in seaport infrastructure; completing connecting traffic infrastructure to create a basis for attracting non-budgetary investment; improving the quality and services of seaports.

Aquaculture in Van Don sea area. *Photo: Nguyen Duy*

The province continues to study and issue strong enough policies to attract investment in economic zones, creating a source of goods for shipping lines to handle goods at the province's ports; attract and call on financial and banking groups to open branches and representative offices in Quang Ninh. At the same time, call on businesses with experience, financial capacity and ideas to invest in a synchronous system of seaports, logistics, and multi-service business according to international standards; continue to implement solutions to promote brands and position the brand of the Quang Ninh seaport system to major shipping lines and seaport service providers in the world. Especially in the strategy of developing the marine economy, the province always focuses on preserving the values, promoting the historical traditions and cultural identity of the Quang Ninh sea area.

In order to prepare for the new development trend, exploit the advantages and potentials in the global shift trend, it is necessary to pay attention to training and developing human resources for seaports; deploy combined transportation solutions to save freight rates, support businesses to increase capital turnover, reduce empty running time, strengthen control of fuel costs, spare parts, materials, repairs... At the same time, actively promote the application of modern technology, improve service quality, meet the needs of the transportation market, participate deeply in supply chains to gradually increase and capture international market share... Thereby, making Quang Ninh a sustainable marine economic center of the country, a regional sea-oriented transit gateway on the basis of developing tourism - services connecting the region and the world; one of the key logistics centers of the country.

Dang Dung

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