
Speaking at a recent press conference on a report onthe framework orienting the planning of the Central Highlands for 2021-2030with a vision towards 2050, the minister stressed the need to carefully analysethe region’s difficulties and limitations like low growth and the lack of intra-regionand inter-regional connectivity.
More attention should be paid to waterresources security, education, political security, social order and safety, aswell as potential risks to national defence and security, Dung noted.
Meanwhile, the framework has yet to highlight theregional development space, bottlenecks to sub-regions, growth drivers andeconomic corridors, he said, asking localities to follow guidelines andrelevant documents in planning.
Encompassing the five provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai,Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong, the Central Highlands is blessed with favourable climate and soil conditions, and rich natural resources.
It is connected with important seaports in the coastalcentral and southeastern regions and plays a crucial role in fresh waterregulation and supply to localities in the two regions.
The Central Highlands also boasts great potentialfor forest-based economic development, and agro-forestry product processing,mining, and especially tourism development with its diverse ethnic minorityculture.
The Politburo’s resolution onorientations for socio-economic development and national defence and securityin the Central Highlands by 2030 with a vision towards 2045 targets rapid,sustainable development based on the green, circular economy for the region by2030, turning it into an attractive destination for both domestic and foreign tourists.
For the draft framework, economists pointed outlimitations such as unreasonable population density, natural resourcesinefficiency, low workforce quality, and unattractive business environment.
As the region plays an important role in theecosystem and water resources security, some suggested planning conservationareas and development space, and maintaining environmental protectiontargets./.