Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: From '6 more' to '6 boosts' for Phu Quoc to develop quickly and sustainably

On the morning of March 31, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference to review the implementation of Decision 178/2004/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the overall development project of Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province until 2010 and vision to 2020.

Also attending were former Politburo member, former Standing member of the Secretariat Le Hong Anh; Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra; Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi; Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long; Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung; Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh; Secretary of Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee Do Thanh Binh; leaders of several central ministries and branches; leaders of associations, corporations, enterprises, experts and scientists.

Affirming the brand on the world tourism map

According to the People's Committee of Kien Giang province, after nearly 20 years of implementing Decision No. 178/2004/QD-TTg, the face of the "island city" has had many positive changes. The economic growth rate has always been high, reaching nearly 19.6%/year. Most of the socio-economic indicators have increased, the economic structure has shifted in the right direction, rapidly increasing the proportion of trade - services, construction industry, and decreasing agriculture.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference summarizing Decision No. 178 on the overall development of Phu Quoc Island. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Total state budget revenue has increased over the years. If in 2004, total budget revenue only reached 38.59 billion VND, by 2023 it reached 7,812.7 billion VND, an increase of over 113 times compared to 2004; in the past 5 years, Phu Quoc has not only been self-sufficient in budget but also regulated the provincial budget.

From a locality with "no investment projects", by 2023, it had attracted 321 investment projects, with a total registered investment capital of over 412 trillion VND, accounting for 42.8% of the total number of projects in the province. The total social capital for basic construction has continuously increased every year, reaching 21,615 billion VND by 2023, an increase of nearly 64 times compared to 2004.

Phu Quoc, a little-known island district, attracted only over 130,000 tourists in 2004. By 2023, Phu Quoc welcomed about 5.57 million tourists, an increase of 42.7 times compared to 2004; of which international visitors accounted for over 560,000, accounting for 4.48% of the country.

In particular, Phu Quoc has affirmed its brand on the world tourism map, with many tourism products of regional and international stature such as: The cable car system at Hon Thom was awarded the Guinness Certificate as the longest cable car in the world, the Grand World entertainment complex, the semi-wild Safari zoo, Phu Quoc Casino... In 2023, the world's leading travel magazine Travel + Leisure honored Phu Quoc Island as "One of the new stars of Vietnam tourism"...

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and chaired the conference to review Decision No. 178 on the overall development of Phu Quoc Island. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Up to now, Phu Quoc's infrastructure system has basically met the development requirements. In 2014, Phu Quoc officially connected to the national grid, which was also the year Phu Quoc International Airport welcomed its first flight. Up to now, Phu Quoc has connected domestic flights to all airports and connected flights to 10 countries and territories.

The socio-cultural field has received due attention and direction; traditional cultural values of the locality have continued to be preserved and promoted; people's income and living standards have continuously improved; political security has been maintained; social order and safety have been ensured; national defense has been firmly consolidated; foreign affairs have received attention and had positive changes; the organization of the apparatus and the contingent of civil servants at all levels of government have been strengthened...

However, the State management apparatus and administrative management of the city at that time did not keep up with the development needs, especially in construction and land management; infrastructure was given attention and investment but was not really synchronous and sustainable, especially water supply and drainage infrastructure, waste treatment, healthcare, education, etc.; as a tourist city, Phu Quoc did not have specific and outstanding mechanisms and policies to develop tourism and attract tourists, etc.

Kien Giang province proposed that the Government and the Prime Minister consider decentralizing and delegating power to the province to handle a number of issues related to local planning adjustment, construction investment project management, land management; policies to support investment in infrastructure development, organization of Phu Quoc city apparatus; allowing transit flights to Phu Quoc, tax incentives; casino activities and a number of specific mechanisms and policies to develop Phu Quoc city more quickly and sustainably.

At the conference, leaders of ministries, sectors, enterprises, experts and scientists enthusiastically discussed and assessed the potential and strengths; achievements in Phu Quoc's development in recent times; limitations, causes, lessons learned; the role of related subjects; proposed solutions to continue promoting Phu Quoc's rapid and sustainable development - a green, clean, beautiful and safe tourist city, affirming the Phu Quoc tourism brand on the world tourism map.

Kien Giang Provincial Party Secretary Do Thanh Binh reports on the implementation results of Decision 178. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Need special, outstanding mechanism for Phu Quoc to break through and develop

Delegates said that Phu Quoc has great potential and strengths, not inferior to, or even superior to, many tourist islands in the world such as: Singapore, Maldives; Jeju Island (Korea); Nami Island, Chuncheon City (Korea); Phuket Island, Thailand; Boracay Island, Philippines...

In recent times, Phu Quoc has received attention and created favorable conditions for outstanding development. The proportion of some socio-economic indicators, especially budget contribution based on area and population of Phu Quoc is much higher than that of Kien Giang province, the Mekong Delta region and the whole country. However, Phu Quoc's development has not been commensurate with its potential and is not equal to the above locations.

Analyzing the experiences of developing island tourism in some countries in the world; factors and trends affecting Phu Quoc such as tourism development trends, competition, digital transformation trends, green transformation trends, etc., delegates said that with the vision of developing Phu Quoc into an international-class tourist city, it is necessary to have outstanding and specific mechanisms and policies, piloting some new policies, creating conditions for Phu Quoc to develop according to the logic of "advancing", quickly affirming and competing at the top level internationally.

It is necessary to pilot the implementation of urban government, special administrative and economic units; have policies to proactively increase financial resources for the city; mechanisms to attract strategic investment, attract high-quality human resources; decentralize and delegate more power to the city; have solutions to manage, implement planning, manage investment; harmonize development with resource conservation...

Concluding the Conference, highly appreciating the enthusiastic, responsible, profound, practical opinions, contributing many good ideas, of strategic significance of ministries, central agencies and delegates, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Phu Quoc has a special position, role, potential, and strength and is interested by the Party and State, with many policies, mechanisms, and policies to promote Phu Quoc's development, including Decision 178/2004/QD-TTg.

Believing that, in the past time, the Party Committee, government, army and people of Kien Giang province and Phu Quoc city have made efforts to concretize the directions of the Central Government, especially Decision 178/2004/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister and achieved outstanding and very proud results in all fields, the Prime Minister also praised the efforts and achievements of the government, army and people of Phu Quoc city in particular, and Kien Giang province in general over the past many years, making important contributions to the overall achievements of the country.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that after 20 years of implementing Decision 178, Phu Quoc has "6 advantages" including: the Party and State pay attention, have more policies, mechanisms and strategies to promote Phu Quoc's development; potential is enhanced, Phu Quoc's development space is increasingly larger; domestic and international attention is more focused on Phu Quoc; Phu Quoc's reputation and position are more firmly consolidated; strategic infrastructure in Phu Quoc is more synchronously developed, Phu Quoc's contribution to the budget revenue and people's lives is higher; Phu Quoc has more opportunities and advantages, but difficulties and challenges are also no less, especially challenges in rapid and sustainable development, green economic development, digital economy, knowledge economy, sharing economy, etc.

Pointing out 6 shortcomings, limitations, difficulties, challenges and lessons learned in the development of Phu Quoc city such as the problem of rapid development, management that sometimes cannot keep up with the development; the problem of environmental sanitation, human resources; electricity, water and wave infrastructure; great potential, but mechanisms and policies are still limited..., the Prime Minister said that Phu Quoc is a marine economic zone with a special position in terms of economy, politics, society, tourism, services, trade, national defense and security of the whole country; developing Phu Quoc is not the "exclusive task" of Phu Quoc and Kien Giang, but a common task of the whole country with the spirit of "the whole country for Phu Quoc and Phu Quoc for the whole country".

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh views traditional craft products of Phu Quoc. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Developing Phu Quoc with "6 pushes"

In the coming time, the Prime Minister directed the determination to build Phu Quoc into a center of high-quality services, eco-tourism, and sea tourism, a livable place, an island of regional and international stature, connecting with major economic centers in the region and the world; affirming the Vietnamese tourism brand on the world tourism map.

Accordingly, continue to innovate Phu Quoc's development thinking with the spirit of "resources originate from thinking; motivation originates from innovation; strength originates from people and businesses"; arouse, spread and elevate the aspiration to develop Phu Quoc, strongly promote the spirit of self-reliance and self-strengthening of the Party Committee, government, people and businesses; maximize potentials and strengths, take advantage of all opportunities for rapid and sustainable development.

Prioritize economic development in the direction of green, clean, beautiful, high quality associated with increased application of science and technology, innovation, strongly promoting digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, knowledge economy, sharing economy; harmonious development, linking economy with culture, society and ecological environment protection; resolutely not sacrificing progress, social justice, environment in exchange for pure economic growth. In addition, consolidate and strengthen national defense and security; promote prevention of corruption, negativity, waste; promote foreign affairs and international integration, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Regarding the key tasks and solutions in the coming time, the Prime Minister requested to thoroughly grasp and synchronously and effectively implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, the direction and administration of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Resolution of the Kien Giang Provincial Party Congress and Phu Quoc City; strictly implement the planning and develop Phu Quoc according to the multi-center model, green and smart city; strongly develop the marine economy, closely combine the effective exploitation of potentials and advantages and ensure national defense, security, protect sovereignty over seas and islands, protect marine resources and environment, prevent and combat natural disasters, and respond to climate change.

The Prime Minister requested to continue focusing on creating qualitative changes, ensuring sustainability in Phu Quoc development with "6 pushes" including: Pushing to perfect institutions, mechanisms and policies for Phu Quoc development; pushing to develop synchronous strategic infrastructure; pushing to further decentralize and delegate power to Phu Quoc, along with allocating resources and improving implementation capacity; pushing to promote production, business, create jobs, create livelihoods for people, based on the foundation of science and technology, innovation, entrepreneurship to form production chains, supply chains, distribution chains, connecting with the region and the world; pushing to promote and exploit the historical and cultural traditions of Phu Quoc and the Mekong Delta region associated with tourism development; pushing to promote the support of ministries, branches and localities so that Phu Quoc and Kien Giang can develop according to the goals set by the Party and the State, and the people are expecting.

To develop Phu Quoc sustainably, the Prime Minister requested to focus on environmental protection, especially forest protection and marine ecological protection, including strengthening land and resource management, adapting to climate change; strictly protecting the environment; conserving biodiversity, protecting rare and endemic species; and restoring the forest ecosystem for Phu Quoc National Park.

Phu Quoc must promote administrative reform, improve the investment and business environment, enhance regional and international competitiveness, especially Phu Quoc must be able to compete regionally and internationally in attracting FDI and high-quality resources from outside; focus on developing culture and society, ensuring social security, improving people's material and spiritual life; consolidate national defense, security and defense; ensure social order and safety; promote foreign affairs and international integration; promote prevention and combat of corruption, negativity and waste; attach importance to the work of building a clean and strong Party and political system, improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party organizations and Party members; focus on building a streamlined, effective and efficient apparatus...

The Prime Minister said that, based on the conference, the Government will develop a project and issue appropriate documents to submit to competent authorities for consideration and decision, as a basis for implementing Phu Quoc development more quickly and sustainably.

According to VNA/Tin Tuc Newspaper

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