Quang Ninh’s GRDP growth sets five-year record

Quang Ninh (VNA) –The gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of the northern province of Quang Ninh expanded by 9.6 percent in the first half of this year as compared with 9.2 percent in the same period last year.

In the first quarter, the province’s GRDP grew 8.3 percent while the figure recorded in the second quarter was 10.7 percent, the fastest pace since 2012.

With the performance, Quang Ninh has been listed as one of the leading cities and provinces in the northern key economic region and nationwide as well.

Sectors posting the highest growth rate include services, 11.5 percent; industry and construction, 10 percent; and agriculture-forestry-fishery, 2.2 percent.

In order to reach the target of a 10 percent growth rate, the province will focus on drastically instructing the implementation of socio-economic development tasks and solutions set for 2017.

The locality will remove difficulties facing businesses, support star-ups, facilitate production and business and spur growth. At the same time, it will accelerate administrative reform and intensify investment, tourism and trade promotion in order to attract more resources for local socio-economic development.

Located on the northern coast with advantages in location and natural resources, Quang Ninh is striving to tap its full potential in maritime economic development.

As part of efforts to implement Resolution 09-NQ/TW on Vietnam’s Sea and Island Strategy until 2020, Quang Ninh has applied measures to boost its sea-based economy in line with ensuring national security and defence.

In recent years, the province has focused on building infrastructure to boost maritime economic development, especially tourism and aquaculture.

Currently, all seaports in Quang Ninh have been upgraded to strengthen their capacity in providing services and connecting the mainland and islands in the region.

Some seaports in the locality are being expanded to national and regional scale, including Hai Ha, Cai Lan and Cua Ong.

Quang Ninh has also mobilised resources for the comprehensive development of infrastructure in coastal economic zones and industrial parks (IPs), including the Van Don EZ and Hai Ha, Dam Nha Mac, Viet Hung and Hai Yen IPs, attracting more investment.

Investment promotion activities have been used to call for investment in major projects, including Van Don airport, Van Tien bridge, major seaports and roads, as well as other projects in entertainment, resorts, aquaculture and fishing.

The province has built four concentrated IPs with a total area of more than 911 hectares, along with nine district-level industrial clusters spanning from Dong Trieu, Uong Bi, Yen Hung to Hai Ha and Mong Cai, with a combined area of 215 hectares. Three of the industrial clusters have leased 80 percent of their lands.

Meanwhile, the province aims to welcome 8-10 million visitors in 2020 to earn 5-6 trillion VND.

In 2016, Quang Ninh welcomed 8.3 million tourist arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 7 percent, earned over 13 trillion VND (571 million USD) in revenue, up 23 percent, according to the provincial Department of Tourism.

By 2020, the province aims to serve 15-16 million tourists, including seven million foreigners, and rake in 30-40 trillion VND (1.3-1.7 billion USD) in revenue. The tourism sector is expected to contribute 14-15 percent to the gross regional domestic product (GRDP).-VNA