The meeting of the Key Economic Region Development Coordination Committee is aimed at fostering regional links

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    At the meeting, the representatives of ministries and sectors reported to the Deputy Prime Minister on the socio-economic situation and the operations of the Development Coordination Committee of the four key economic regions. In 2009, in spite of the difficulties facing the global and Vietnamese economy, the growth rate of the key economic regions reached 11.1%, twice as much as that of the country (over 5%); GDP per capita rises year by year and sustains a high growth rate; total budget revenue in 2009 hits 88.9%; the export turnover of the key economic regions makes up a large proportion compared to that of the country. The assessment by the Key Economic Region Development Coordination Committee reveals that the regions’ coordination activities have gradually improved and taken shape, that the Ministry of Traffic and Transport has made planning for inter-regional transportation systems, that the awareness of environmental protection in key economic regions has been raised and that local authorities have closely cooperated with one another to tackle environmental pollution and to have polluted rivers treated.

    The meeting focused on issues: solid and hazardous waste treatment, climate change impacts, polluted rivers, inter-regional traffic, vocational training and water supply for key economic regions. The representatives of the provinces within the key economic regions claimed that there exists ineffective coordination and no links between regions, resulting in the fact that regions take actions one way or another. For this reason, delegates proposed that a financial preferred mechanism for regions be made and regional links be fostered.

    Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai concluded: “The four key economic regions are developing faster and faster and they are undergoing a successful transition in the structure of the economy. This creates a driving force in regional development. So, to reach the 2020 targets – that is to make Vietnam a modern industrial country, key economic regions have to grow more rapidly and “start first and finish first”. “Ministries and sectors have to work closely with the local authorities of key economic regions to promote the growth and the transition in the structure of the economy quickly and successfully. We have to better develop services sector and give a top priority to making planning. To carry out the planned projects, capital accumulation is a prerequisite. We have to give a priority to ODA and FDI disbursement. We have to re-consider our investment attraction activities, give a priority to attracting investment into large projects in areas of great potential and achieve a breakthrough in development” continued Hai. Concerning delegates’ proposals, he requested that ministries, sectors and local authorities promote regional links, complete the infrastructure in a quick manner, establish hazardous waste treatment zones in key economic regions and develop economic corridors.

Reported by Lien Huong, Translated by Duy Minh