PM chairs central region economic development conference

Photo: VGP

This is the latest event in a series of regional development conferences chaired by the PM over recent times, including the northern key economic region development conference, the southern key economic region development conference and the Mekong Delta sustainable development conference.

The northern central and the central coastal regions (commonly known as the central region) consist of 14 provinces from Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan. The entire region has a population of around 20.2 million, accounting for 21% of the country’s total population, while its natural area takes up 28.9% of the whole country. In particular, the central key economic region features five cities and provinces, with its area and population representing 8.5% and 7% of the country’s total, respectively.

Despite being a key economic region with positive development over the recent past, so far the central key economic region has just attained an equivalent gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita to the country’s average GDP per capita, due to its low starting point and numerous disadvantages in development. The region is a “low-lying” area in terms of development compared to the northern and southern key economic regions.

The question is what motivation to attract investment and create breakthrough development for the industries with fast and sustainable development conditions in the coming time, so that the region’s development level can catch up with that of the northern and southern regions. Another problem that needs to be solved is the regional connectivity, especially as the central region has yet to define a “conductor” or a nucleus to create widespread development throughout the region, such as the crucial role of Ha Noi to the northern key economic region and the role of Ho Chi Minh City to the southern key economic region.

Today's conference will be an opportunity for the Government leaders to listen to opinions and recommendations from representatives of domestic and foreign associations, scholars, experts, businessmen and local leaders. Since then, the Government will work out suitable solutions and policies aiming to bring into full play the potentials and advantages of the central region, develop it into one of the country’s major economic hubs, and foster connections between cities and provinces in the region.

By Vien Nhu