Improved infrastructure boosts economic growth in Central Highland

The opening ceremony of a new road in Central Highlands. Road infrastructure in the region has been improved remarkably in the past years. (Source: VNA)

Dak Lak (VNA) – The much-improved transport infrastructure in the Central Highlands has helped accelerate the economic growth of the region in the past years.

During 2010-2015, the government has spent 43.9 trillion VND (1.95 billion USD) to upgrade 1,109 kilometres of national roads running through the Central Highlands.

A total amount of 18.7 trillion VND (832 million USD) has been used on the local road infrastructure in the same period.

At present, eight projects with a total investment of 15.7 trillion VND (697 million USD) and a total length of 681 kilometres are being implemented in the region.

The intensive investment in the past years has helped the region concret 3,620 kilometres of district-level roads (71 percent), 4,224 kilometres of commune-level roads (51 percent) and 4,657 kilometres of hamlet paths.

Three key airports – Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot and Lien Khuong – in the region were upgraded to raise the capacity of all three airports together from 1.9 million to 3.3 million passengers per year.

According to the Central Highlands Steering Committee, improved transport infrastructure has helped attract more capital to the region.

Foreign investors have poured 819 million USD in 148 projects in Central Highlands provinces, with Lam Dong attracting the most projects.

The Republic of Korea has been the largest investor in the region, followed by the Netherlands and Hong Kong (China).

The expanded transport network also facilitates trade and services, as well as social welfare, contributing to reducing the rate of poverty households by three percent annually to 121,500 households at present, a decrease of 10,046 households from 2014.

The committee said the region hopes to raise around 109.7 trillion VND (4.87 billion USD) for infrastructure development during 2016-2020, of which 66.25 trillion VND (2.94 billion USD) are to be sourced from the State budget, government bonds and official development assistance.-VNA