Speakers at a workshop on the development of the south-eastern region in HCM City on Friday.(Photo tuoitre.vn) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Experts have called for continued efforts toimprove the traffic infrastructure and implementation of reforms needed to makethe southeastern region a leading economic engine of the country.
Speaking at a workshop on March 10, Prof Dr Su Dinh Thanh, rector of theUniversity of Economics of Ho Chi Minh City, said the southeastern region,including HCM City and the provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, BinhPhuoc, and Tay Ninh, had played a major role in Vietnam’s economic growth.
It contributed more than 30% of the country’s GDP and 45% of state revenuesthough it had only 23% of the population, he said.
The region was, however, facing problems related to traffic infrastructure,which had not been developed, causing high freight costs, affecting businesses.
It is the country’s most urbanised and economically vibrant region, accordingto Thanh.
HCM City and Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces in particular, which have 40% ofmigrant workers, are facing huge urban and social infrastructure challenges.
Under a plan for until 2030 the region will have 970km of highways, but now hasonly 10% of that due to a lack of public investment and land acquisitionchallenges.
Prof Dr Nguyen Trong Hoai, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Asian Business andEconomic Studies, said: “The region has great potential for long-termdevelopment, but there are signs of slowing down due to bottlenecks.”
There was a lack of skilled workers in the region.
R&D activities remained modest compared to the size of the economy, hepointed out.
Public funding was limited, he said. “Regional governance issues have also beena major issue.”
Another issue was that while the region contributed enormously to Governmentrevenues, the expenditure per capita here was much lower than the nationalaverage.
Recommendations
Experts called on the region to continue economic restructuring, step upconnectivity and promote science-technology and innovations.
Priority should be given to stabilising the economy, controlling inflation,ensuring economic balance, handling weaknesses in the medical sector,disbursing public investment, and promoting socio-economic recovery programmesfor the region, they said.
The Government should establish a regional collaboration mechanism withenhanced functions and roles for planning and co-ordinating multi-sectoralprogrammes and projects on a regional scale, they added.
Prof Dr Vo Thanh Thu of the University of Economics of HCM City said it wasvital to have a better salary policy to attract talent, and improve mechanismsand policies to foster R&D.
The region would also need to pay more attention to socio-cultural development,improving people’s material and spiritual lives and consolidating nationalsecurity, she added.
The workshop was part of activities aimed at implementing a Politburoresolution issued last year.
By 2030 the region will become a dynamic development area with a high economicgrowth rate and the country’s growth spearhead.
It will become a hub for science and technology, innovation, logistics, andhigh-tech industry, and targets becoming an international financial centre forSoutheast Asia and the world.
The event was organised by the University of Economics of HCM City.
To mark the occasion, the university launched the Institute for RegionalDevelopment Research and Consulting for conducting applied research andproviding consulting services for businesses, especially small and medium-sizedenterprises.
It also launched a human resource training programme for HCM City and the fivesouth-eastern provinces for providing senior managers for the region./.
Speaking at a workshop on March 10, Prof Dr Su Dinh Thanh, rector of theUniversity of Economics of Ho Chi Minh City, said the southeastern region,including HCM City and the provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, BinhPhuoc, and Tay Ninh, had played a major role in Vietnam’s economic growth.
It contributed more than 30% of the country’s GDP and 45% of state revenuesthough it had only 23% of the population, he said.
The region was, however, facing problems related to traffic infrastructure,which had not been developed, causing high freight costs, affecting businesses.
It is the country’s most urbanised and economically vibrant region, accordingto Thanh.
HCM City and Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces in particular, which have 40% ofmigrant workers, are facing huge urban and social infrastructure challenges.
Under a plan for until 2030 the region will have 970km of highways, but now hasonly 10% of that due to a lack of public investment and land acquisitionchallenges.
Prof Dr Nguyen Trong Hoai, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Asian Business andEconomic Studies, said: “The region has great potential for long-termdevelopment, but there are signs of slowing down due to bottlenecks.”
There was a lack of skilled workers in the region.
R&D activities remained modest compared to the size of the economy, hepointed out.
Public funding was limited, he said. “Regional governance issues have also beena major issue.”
Another issue was that while the region contributed enormously to Governmentrevenues, the expenditure per capita here was much lower than the nationalaverage.
Recommendations
Experts called on the region to continue economic restructuring, step upconnectivity and promote science-technology and innovations.
Priority should be given to stabilising the economy, controlling inflation,ensuring economic balance, handling weaknesses in the medical sector,disbursing public investment, and promoting socio-economic recovery programmesfor the region, they said.
The Government should establish a regional collaboration mechanism withenhanced functions and roles for planning and co-ordinating multi-sectoralprogrammes and projects on a regional scale, they added.
Prof Dr Vo Thanh Thu of the University of Economics of HCM City said it wasvital to have a better salary policy to attract talent, and improve mechanismsand policies to foster R&D.
The region would also need to pay more attention to socio-cultural development,improving people’s material and spiritual lives and consolidating nationalsecurity, she added.
The workshop was part of activities aimed at implementing a Politburoresolution issued last year.
By 2030 the region will become a dynamic development area with a high economicgrowth rate and the country’s growth spearhead.
It will become a hub for science and technology, innovation, logistics, andhigh-tech industry, and targets becoming an international financial centre forSoutheast Asia and the world.
The event was organised by the University of Economics of HCM City.
To mark the occasion, the university launched the Institute for RegionalDevelopment Research and Consulting for conducting applied research andproviding consulting services for businesses, especially small and medium-sizedenterprises.
It also launched a human resource training programme for HCM City and the fivesouth-eastern provinces for providing senior managers for the region./.
VNA
