(MPI Portal) - On November 8th, at Thai Nguyen province, the Ministry of Planning and Investment in coordinating with People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen Province held a Conference to announce the overall plan of socio – economic development of Northern midland and mountainous region by 2020. The plan had been approved in Decision No.1046/QD-TTg dated in July 8th 2013 by Prime Minister. 

Photo: Bich Khanh – Public Procurement Review

Attending the Conference, on the Central side, there were Mr. Truong Xuan Cu, Vice Chairman of Northwest Steering Committee; Mr. Dang Huy Dong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment; Mr. Nguyen Cam Tu, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce; and representatives of Ministries, branches, Research Institutes; on the local side, there were Mr. Duong Ngoc Long, Deputy Provincial secretary, Chairman of People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen Province; and the leaders of provinces in Northern midland and mountainous region.

According to the plan, as for economic development, this region strives for GDP average annual growth rate to reach 7.5% in the period 2011-2015 and over 8% in the period 2016-2020. GDP average per capita by 2020 is going to reach 2,000 USD. In economic structure shift, by 2015 the proportion of agriculture, forestry and fisheries products in regional GDP will be 27%, of construction – industry 34.1% and of services 38.9%; by 2020, the proportion of sectors will be 21.9% - 38.7% - 39.4% respectively.

Exports will raise at an average of 16-17% per year. The rate of technology innovation will reach 20% per year. The proportion of budget revenue to GDP will account for more than 12% by 2015 and reache about 13% by 2020.

Regarding social development, the region strives for social targets to reach average levels of the country; reduce the poverty rate by 3-4% each year; every 5 year plan create jobs for about 250-300 thousand employees; keep unemployment rate in urban area at 4.5-5%, increase employment rate in rural area to more than 85%; increase the rate of training workers to over 65% by 2020, strengthen and improve the quality of primary education, secondary education; raise the number of communes which reach national standards on health to 80% by 2015 and 100% by 2020.

Regional connection is the concentrated point of the plan. Accordingly, it is necessary to enhance cooperation between the locals in the region to mobilize and use all resources effectively for the fast and sustainable development, step by step narrow the gap in development between the region and the whole country. 5 centripetal roads linking the provinces of Northern midland and mountainous region are the key projects in the overall development plan of the Region. Hanoi is taken to be the heart of the specific routes, including: Hanoi – Lao Cai (Highway 70, Highway 32C), Hanoi – Dien Bien (Highway 6, Highway 32, Highway 32B), Hanoi – Cao Bang (Highway 3), Hanoi – Lang Son (Highway 1), Phu Tho – Ha Giang (Highway 2), and 3 ring roads: Ring Road 1 (Highway 4, Highway 4A, Highway 4B, Highway 4C, Highway 4D, Highway 4H), Ring Road 2 (Highway 279), Ring Road 3 (Highway 37).

Mr. Vu Quang Cac, Director General of the Department of Planning Management, Ministry of Planning and Investment said: “This is particularly important strategic region, the only connection zone between ASEAN and China, so if we resolve infrastructure trouble, the locals in this region can exploit and promote effectively the potentials, strengths of the region, especially in promoting international economic integration through the development of economic corridors including Lang Son – Hanoi and Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong”.

Addressing to steer the conference, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Dang Huy Dong proposed in the next time, locals need to coordinate positively with the ministries, branches in order to implement, specify the plan, build action programs to execute the local’s planning. Besides, the Deputy Minister also suggested to review, implement branch’s planning, accelerate progress of the key projects; also to promote research and technology transfer, contribute to the socio – economic development of the Region.

Mr. Truong Xuan Cu, Vice Chairman of Northwest Steering Committee evaluated that the planning for Northern midland and mountainous region would be the important legal basis to make connection between the provinces in socio – economic development of the Region. Socio – economic situation of Northern midland and mountainous region is expected to grow strongly in the future./.

Nguyen Huong

MPI Portal