Maximizing coastal provinces: Activating connectivity between mountains, forests, plains and islands

According to information from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the arrangement of administrative units and merger of provinces aims at the highest goal of developing the country, expanding development space for new administrative units, and promoting the leading role of dynamic regions, economic corridors, and growth poles.

In particular, priority is given to arranging mountainous and plain administrative units with coastal administrative units.

Quy Nhon seaport is located in the center of Quy Nhon City (Binh Dinh Province), considered the economic heartbeat of the region as it acts as a gateway for trade between the Central and Central Highlands regions. (Photo: Nguyen Phan Dung Nhan)

Open to economic integration

Responding to reporters, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi, member of the 15th National Assembly, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Fisheries Association, emphasized that the goal of merging provinces/cities, communes/wards and eliminating the district level is not simply focused on adjusting administrative boundaries, reducing focal points, reducing staff and eliminating intermediate levels.

More importantly, it creates new space and momentum for economic, social and cultural development, meeting the requirements of the nation's rising era.

Mr. Hoi acknowledged that this is a problem of "reorganizing the territory" for fast, effective and sustainable economic development in the context of a "flat world" with strong intervention of digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for green transformation. And, this is also the fundamental difference of this merger compared to previous separations and mergers.

Therefore, the previous difficulties, obstacles, and barriers in State administration at the provincial, district, and commune levels will be easily resolved in this merger model, even though the spatial scale is expanded.

" In particular, based on the territorial division of our country with 3 parts being sea, 1 small, narrow mainland part; mostly mountains and forests connected to the coastal plain by 10 large river basins, not counting tributaries; the key principle when implementing the merger is to prioritize the formation of maximum coastal provinces.

In my opinion, the provinces in the basin expanding towards the sea are "opening up for economic integration", activating natural connectivity between the mountainous and forest space with the coastal plains and islands ", said National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Chu Hoi.

With a gateway to the sea, the province's economy will have new advantages in intra-provincial trade and opportunities will appear to promote foreign economic relations, export goods, and increase the market share of exported goods.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi

With a new space expanding towards the sea, the Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Fisheries Association acknowledged that new provincial-level administrative units have more room for breakthrough development through regional linkage, digital transformation and AI to awaken development advantages, unique cultural values of intra-provincial, municipal and inter-regional regions.

These localities also have the opportunity to apply a sustainable governance model, linking coastal and marine management with basin management following a source-to-sea approach to simultaneously implement Vietnam's two sustainable development goals.

These are: ensuring availability and sustainable management of water resources and sanitation for all; conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

" This helps to minimize the negative impacts of natural disasters from the sea - where floods and waste from land sources are received; as well as the negative impacts of floods from upstream and pollution sources from river basins - where floods and waste are generated ," Mr. Hoi stated his opinion.

Referring to the development potential of the coastal province after the merger, the National Assembly delegate stated that in development, the coastal area is considered a dynamic economic region, capable of connecting this region with the marine and island economic space; and has a profound impact on the mountainous and forest space of the newly merged province and city.

From there, awaken the diverse potential of the province and city to develop together. Through regional linkages and inter-sectoral and inter-regional coordination mechanisms, new provinces and cities will remove barriers to economic development in mountainous areas, creating new values and effective use of territory.

" When there is a gateway to the sea, the province's economy will have new advantages in intra-provincial trade and opportunities will appear to promote foreign economic relations, export goods, and increase the market share of exported goods. This will change the supply-demand relationship, increase the number of goods and throughput of goods through seaports, create new industries, promote the development of production in the whole province, solve the problem of surplus labor; gradually form a new force and production method to meet the needs of international economic integration ", Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi commented.

Besides, in the upcoming conditions of increasing decentralization and thoroughly decentralizing power to the new provincial and municipal levels, Mr. Hoi believes that the private economic sector in the new provinces will explode, attracting more investment resources.

Regarding the issue of regional connectivity after the province's merger, Mr. Hoi affirmed that this process will create momentum for good governance, sustainable economy, stable society and cultural unity in diversity.

At that time, logistics centers will be formed in coastal areas linked to seaports and connected to different raw material areas in mountainous areas. Developing logistics in the right direction will create regional mutual effects, interactions between industries and sectors of the economy and have the ability to harmonize the entire territory of the province to develop effectively.

" Regarding regional connectivity and logistics development, we can refer to a recent forecast. Currently, only about 5-7% of tourists from Lam Dong go to Khanh Hoa beach, but when the expressway connecting Nha Trang city (Khanh Hoa province) and Da Lat city (Lam Dong province) is completed, that number will increase to 65-70% ," the National Assembly delegate cited.

Hai Duong - Hai Phong is a perfect combination

The Central Highlands provinces merged together, the delta provinces merged together, with the aim of reducing the number, so the area of the new province would be very large, but there would be no new elements to supplement or support development.

Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang

Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang, Chairman of the Council of Science and Training (Hanoi National University), Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, said that in the past, our country had a period when there were only about 30 provincial-level administrative units.

Thus, reducing the number of provinces/cities is not unprecedented, but at the same time eliminating the intermediate district level and expanding the size of communes is unprecedented.

The Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association expressed his opinion that we should not be too concerned with the past because each period has its own circumstances and requirements.

" In the past, we had experience in arranging provinces with similar conditions, and reality proved that it was ineffective. Because rearranging according to the "common denominator" style, merging provinces with many similarities together certainly did not have much meaning.

"If several provinces in the Central Highlands are merged together, several provinces in the delta are merged together, with the aim of reducing the number, the area of the new province will be very large, but there will be no new elements to supplement or support development ," Mr. Giang cited reality.

Emphasizing that the key goal of merging provinces and cities is not just a simple arithmetic calculation but also to strengthen localities and the whole country, Mr. Giang said that adjusting to create a combination in the direction of creating a diverse space in terms of nature, economy, culture, etc. From there, forming components that can complement each other is the optimal solution.

To do this, we must not start with the number of provincial administrative units but must develop appropriate criteria for the rearrangement.

" I can give an example of Hai Duong and Hai Phong "coming together" is not a similar combination but a complete combination. Hai Duong is a traditional, agricultural land with a long history and potential. Hai Phong is an industrial city with a large seaport. Combining these two provinces creates added value, promoting development for the new province and for the whole country.

Or if Hung Yen merges with Thai Binh, there will be more seaports. These are factors that need to be taken into account when rearranging the provinces ," Mr. Giang recommended.

Also discussing, Associate Professor Dr. Bui Tat Thang, former Director of the Institute of Development Strategy (Ministry of Planning and Investment), said that our country has a long coastline, associated with the history of protecting and building the country.

Up to now, Vietnam is also a country deeply integrated with the world, not only import and export of goods becomes an important driving force for growth, but the tourism service industry and marine economy also play a very important role.

" Therefore, the arrangement of provinces based on expanding space towards the sea will take advantage of and optimize the strengths between regions and localities, promoting stronger trade and economic investment, although not every locality will have a sea when rearranging, " said Mr. Thang.

The expert cited that the Northern mountainous region has many difficulties in terms of terrain, long and divided hills. If the provinces of the Northeast and the Red River Delta are connected and expanded towards the sea, along the provinces of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong... it will help improve trade with the Northwest region, when we are doing a series of railway and highway projects in this region.

Or the Central Highlands region can combine with the provinces of the South Central Coast region to reach the sea, helping to strengthen the East-West corridor connection, creating favorable conditions for the development of both regions.

" Expanding administrative boundaries towards the sea will create better and more favorable conditions to complete the transportation network without being isolated by localities, making import and export activities convenient and reducing logistics costs ," the former Director of the Institute of Development Strategy suggested.

Agreeing with the merger of provinces to expand space towards the sea, Associate Professor, Dr. Vo Dai Luoc, former Director of the Institute of World Economics (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), stated that in reality, our country stretches from North to South, and is quite narrow, so it is necessary to study so that the provinces not only have forests but also face the sea.

In particular, according to Mr. Luoc, if the northern mountainous provinces and the Central Highlands expand their connectivity opportunities with coastal localities, they will promote many advantages for the strong industries of these regions such as agriculture, seafood, mineral resources, wood and forestry products, etc.

Experts say the Central Highlands can combine with the provinces of the South Central Coast to reach the sea.

Cut off the orientation in the old planning

Affirming that the merger of coastal provinces and cities creates new development space and momentum, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi noted that in order for the new provinces and cities to promote their territorial values and advantages and integrate regional cultures, one of the first things to do is to review and adjust the planning (previously approved by the Government/Prime Minister).

" Mainly the transport infrastructure connecting the regions in the new province and city and linking with the neighboring national regional plans (6 national regions). Boldly cut out the orientations in the old plan that are no longer suitable for the new territorial organization plan for the province and city, to concentrate resources, create breakthroughs in development and spreading momentum ," said Mr. Hoi.

Along with transport infrastructure, the National Assembly deputy said that it is necessary to prioritize the development of digital infrastructure, natural (green) infrastructure, and the development of science and technology in the spirit of Resolution 57 of the Politburo and change the quality of human resources to serve the development of a green and sustainable economy.

Accordingly, priority is also given to developing urban areas along rivers, coastal areas, ecological mountain and forest areas, smart and adaptable to climate change and rising sea levels. These are new economic centers, especially in coastal areas - places with outstanding potential, which are development poles in the territorial reorganization plan of the province and city after the merger.

Coastal cities should be associated with deep-water ports, logistics centers and be places with the ability to converge factors for effective and sustainable development.

If the province or city has a large island, Mr. Nguyen Chu Hoi recommends developing island cities and floating cities at sea in conjunction with developing renewable marine energy, including offshore wind energy.

" The approach to organizing the territory with mountains, forests, coastal areas and islands based on prioritizing infrastructure development, application and development of science and technology, training high-quality human resources, smart governance models, etc. has been very successful in Singapore, coastal provinces of China, coastal states of Australia, the United States, etc. And these are good practical lessons for us to refer to and learn from, " added National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Chu Hoi.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Economic Institute, also commented that Vietnam has many advantages to connect and expand towards the sea, when there has just been a series of key transport infrastructure projects, including expressways connecting provinces and regions, which have been invested in strongly.

Specifically, the expressways connecting the Red River Delta with the Northwest, North Central, East-West economic corridors, Central coastal routes, South Central Coast and Central Highlands, Southeast, and Mekong Delta.

Mr. Thien stated that these major highways combined with the railway infrastructure that will be invested in from North to South will help promote traffic, and coastal provinces will further expand economic and social exchanges with provinces in the plains and mountains, reducing the gap in levels between regions.

" The merger of provinces not only expands the scale advantage, but also adds the resonance of advantages and strengths between coastal and mountainous areas. However, the development structure will be more complicated when merging provinces and cities, so it requires the management and development organization capacity of each province to be improved to meet new requirements and situations, " said the former Director of the Institute.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/tang-toi-da-tinh-co-bien-kich-hoat-lien-thong-nui-rung-dong-bang-va-bien-dao-5042292.html