Ca Mau sees considerable economic transformation after 25-year establishment

Da Bac Island in the Ca Mau district of Tran Van Thoi is an emerging tourist destination. (Photo: VNA)

Ca Mau (VNA) – The southernmost province of Ca Mau has transformed itself from an agricultural province to a hub for aquaculture and seafood export in the Mekong Delta and Vietnam at large 25 years after it was established (January 1, 1997 – 2022).

From 2015 – 2020, the province exported some 700,000 tonnes of aquatic products to earn nearly 5.6 billion USD in revenue. It remained as one of the country’s leading exporters of shrimp and experienced robust growth of sea-based economy.

Shrimp processing for export at Minh Phu Seafood Corp in Ca Mau city. (Photo: VNA)

Its income per capita now stands at 2,277 USD per year, seven times higher than 25 years ago. The poverty rate plunged to 1.5% in 2022 from 30% in 1997.

Last year, Ca Mau posted a GDP growth of 0.92%, with exports exceeding 1.11 billion USD, up 63% from 1997.

The southernmost province has heavily invested in developing transport infrastructure, irrigation and electricity networks, and building schools and healthcare facilities, giving a major push to local socio-economic growth.

Mui Ca Mau National Park in Ngoc Hien District is Vietnam's fifth Ramsar site. (Photo: VNA)

It has made considerable improvement in public administration reform as well as provincial governance, climbing eight places on the Public Administration Reform (PAR) Index rankings to the 41st place in 2020 and to the 31st position on the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) rankings, up nine spots, the same year.

According to Director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment Phan Hoang Vu, the province currently houses more than 430 FDI projects with a total registered investment of more than 5.6 billion USD.

Ca Mau Gas-Power-Fertiliser Complex contributes some 40% of the province's budget revenue annually. (Photo: VNA)

It is also home to various national strategic projects, including wind power farms and the Ca Mau Gas-Power-Fertiliser Complex developed by the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), which consists of two gas thermal power plants with total capacity of 1,500MW, one fertiliser plant and 3,252km of gas pipeline.

Ca Mau holds great potential in agriculture, fisheries and marine economy, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Tien Hai told Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue when Hue visited Ca Mau in January. In the coming time, the province will continue focusing on developing transport infrastructure and attracting foreign investment to bring its potential into full play, Hai said.

The province is set to achieve 6.5 – 7% in annual GDP growth and over 3,000 USD in income per capita for the 2020 – 2025 period./.