Nghe An is working to build on its dynamic urban centres and growth drivers

The central province of Nghe An held a conference to announce the provincial planning towards 2030, and the overall adjustment project of the general planning for the construction of Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone (EZ) towards 2040.

At the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasised that Nghe An planning and adjusted construction planning for Southeast Nghe An EZ were built with a long-term vision as part of the overall development of the North Central and Central Coast regions.

The planning will open up new opportunities and development spaces with various growth driving areas, strategic breakthroughs, economic corridors, economic sectors, and dynamic urban centres. Together with a resolution on piloting a number of specific policies to develop Nghe An, it will create new driving forces for faster, strong, breakthrough and more sustainable development.

To effectively implement the plan, DPM Ha suggested that Nghe An needs to immediately review detailed plans linking urban, industry, and services, with infrastructure projects under construction, including the North-South East Expressway, the Nghi Son-Cua Lo coastal road, roads connecting National Highway 7C to Ho Chi Minh Road, and connections to Vinh-Cua Lo.

The province needs to implement the plan, which prioritises inter-regional and interprovincial connection infrastructure projects; urban, industrial, and service projects; social infrastructure; healthcare; culture; digital infrastructure, natural disaster prevention; climate change; and environmental projects.

It must also develop eastern economic corridors to promote the development of the Western region.

Provincial development

Nghe An also needs to effectively use state resources in infrastructure investment to play a key role in promoting private funding. In particular, the province needs to focus on developing high-quality human resources, considering this a breakthrough driving force. Technology projects being backed in Nghe An will rapidly increase the demand for technologically qualified and skilled labour.

At the same time, it must strongly develop a creative startup ecosystem, linking universities, research institutes and businesses to promote research, development and application of science and technology.

According to DPM Ha, the key to Nghe An’s success lies in its ability to mobilise strong human resources. He appreciated that premises, essential infrastructure, human resources, innovation, and the business environment must all be ready to implement the policies the Party and the government have set out.

Several projects were awarded investment certificates in the first days of the year, illustrating the attractiveness, potential advantages, and investment opportunities available in Nghe An.

“We believe that Nghe An will write miracles in developing the homeland to become increasingly rich, beautiful, civilised, and soon become a prosperous province of the country as President Ho Chi Minh wished during his lifetime,” the DPM said.

Meanwhile, the province needs to strengthen cooperation and development links with localities in the north central and central coast regions to create momentum and stronger connections, especially with the two adjacent provinces of Thanh Hoa, and Ha Tinh, localities that share a border with Laos.

DPM Ha added that Nghe An has enough potential and outstanding opportunities for rapid development. At the same time, it plays an important role in the country’s socioeconomic development strategy, ensuring national defence and security of the north central and central coast regions.

Developing flexibly

At the conference, Nghe An leaders also approved six projects worth over $400 million. They included one project implemented by domestic investors and five foreign-led projects in high technology, components, electronic equipment, and green energy.

Secretary of Nghe An Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy stated that the announcement of the core contents of provincial planning and the adjustment project of the general planning for Southeast Nghe An EZ was an important legal corridor for socioeconomic development territorial space, and key EZ development of the province,

“At the same time, we are pleased to witness the awarding ceremony of investment certificates for the six projects in Southeast Nghe An EZ, as these are the first important projects to concretise approved plans,” Quy said.

Secretary Quy said that the announcement of the new plan was the first step in a long road. “Going forward, Nghe An will focus on communications and disseminating planning contents to all levels across society,” he said.

Nguyen Duc Trung, Chairman of Nghe An People’s Committee declared, “The two projects just announced have a particularly important meaning, creating new motivation and new opportunities for the development of Nghe An.”

In 2024, the province will focus on completing the construction and approval of district planning, implementing projects including Southeast Nghe An EZ expansion project; expanding the boundaries and urban space of Vinh city; arranging administrative units at district and commune levels before 2025; boosting urban development towards 2030; and supplementing specific policies to submit to the government and National Assembly.

The province must then continue to accelerate the implementation of two strategic transport infrastructure projects: Cua Lo Deepwater Port and the upgrading of Vinh International Airport. It must also focus on implementing key transport infrastructure ventures and industrial park infrastructure projects in Southeast Nghe An EZ.