Leaders of the provinces visited the representative booths of each locality. Photo: T.H

This is the content addressed by the leaders of HCMC and the nine provinces, including Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, and Thua Thien Hue, during the preliminary conference on implementing the socio-economic development cooperation agreement between HCMC and these localities for the 2023-2024 period, held in HCMC on October 2, 2024.

According to Vice Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee, Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, to make the most of each region's advantages and potential, on March 25, 2023, the People's Committees of HCMC and the nine northern and north-central provinces, including Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, and Thua Thien Hue, signed a cooperation agreement on socio-economic development until 2025. Since then, HCMC and these provinces have achieved encouraging results in socio-economic development cooperation.

Specific cooperation programs, from promoting local products in HCMC to projects on human resource training and digital transformation, have yielded practical outcomes. Nearly 10 regional coordination activities have been implemented with the participation of many businesses.

At the conference, leaders of HCMC and the nine northern provinces discussed the implementation of Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW and Government Resolution No. 168/NQ-CP, with the goal of developing the North Central and Central Coastal regions by 2030, with a vision towards 2045. Solutions for digital economic development, green transformation, and new development models were emphasized to meet the demands of development and integration in the new era.

Localities aim to boost product consumption in domestic and international markets through connectivity. Photo: T.H

Hoang Xuan Anh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee, said that HCMC's initiative to connect with northern and north-central localities is significant in leveraging each region's advantages and potential for cooperation in promoting socio-economic development.

Businesses in Cao Bang have signed three memoranda of understanding on cooperation with distributors in HCMC. As a result, many of the province's specialty products are now available in major supermarkets and shopping centers in HCMC, opening up opportunities for domestic and international product consumption through e-commerce platforms.

Regarding the local advantages in trade development, Vo Van Hung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, said that the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in general and Quang Tri Province in particular have a strategic geographical position, connecting with major markets and dynamic economies in Asia, such as China, India, and ASEAN countries. In the coming time, Quang Tri plans to develop a second East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) that will connect Quang Tri with southern Laos, Thailand, and northwest Cambodia via the La Lay International Border Gate to the My Thuy deep-water seaport.

Currently, the province is focusing on completing and putting into operation key projects such as the My Thuy port terminal project, Quang Tri Airport project, Quang Tri industrial zone project, and phase one of the Hai Lang LNG project. Additionally, the project to build a conveyor belt system to transport coal from Laos to Vietnam has received approval from the government, and the provincial People's Committee has approved the investment policy and investor. The province is urgently completing investment procedures to start the project by the end of 2024.

According to the HCMC People's Committee, during the 2024-2025 period, HCMC will continue to promote cooperation activities with northern and north-central provinces, with seven out of 11 regional-level events planned for 2024 and 13 regional-level events for 2025. Additionally, 111 bilateral cooperation activities between HCMC and the provinces will be implemented in various fields.

These activities are not only aimed at promoting socio-economic development in each locality but also contribute to enhancing competitiveness and creating momentum for sustainable growth throughout the region. The city will continue to play a connecting role, promoting effective cooperation activities.