Ba Ria – Vung Tau (VNA) – Resolution 24-NQ/TWof the Politburo on socio-economic development and defence-security ensuring inthe Southeast region to 2030 with a vision to 2045 has opened up newdevelopment opportunities for localities in the region, including Ba Ria – VungTau province.

The resolution has clearly outlinedorientations for the region to become a national sea-based economic hub,including tourism seaports, eco-tourism, leisure tourism, cultural tourism, andhigh-quality entertainment services. In line with the orientation, Ba Ria –Vung Tau province will take drastic measures to continue attract investors,develop infrastructure and transport connectivity, and build tourism products.

*Strategy to attractinvestment into free trade zone

Secretaryof the provincial Party Committee Pham Viet Thanh affirmed that the Partyorganization, administration, people and business community in Ba Ria – VungTau have reached high consensus and resolve to successfully realise the goalsset by Resolution 24/NQ-TW. The province will urgently build a roadmap andplans to fully implement the resolution, he said.

Chairmanof the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tho stressed that one of theregional development measures outlined in the resolution is to form a freetrade zone in connection with seaports at the Cai Mep Ha area, so as to turn BaRia – Vung Tau into a world-class tourism centre. Tho said those measures arepart of strategic policies aimed at creating a new development impetus for theentire Southeast region from now to 2030 with a vision to 2045.

To prepare for the formation of the Cai Mep Ha freetrade zone, Ba Ria –Vung Tau has taken initiative in including the developmentof free trade zones into the province’s development master plan for 2021-2030with a vision to 2050. The province has made planning for a Cai Mep Halogistics centre and a pre-feasiblility report for the project to submit toauthorised agencies to approve investment intention. Ba Ria – Vung Tau alsorolls out investment in transport projects connecting ports and regions, whilecoordinating with the central government and other localities to push aheadwith transport projects connecting with the Southeast region.

For the early establishment of the Cai Mep Ha freetrade zone, the province will urgently take measures, including assigningprofessional agencies to specify the acreage of the zone and its location inaccordance with the provincial master plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050,as well as with land use and water surface use needs in the area.   

The province will continue coordinating withministries, sectors and localities to accelerate the pace of technicalinfrastructure projects, particularly transport infrastructure projects in theSoutheast region and those connecting the Cai Mep Ha free trade zone with theseaport system, the Long Thanh international airport, the internationalfinancial centre in Ho Chi Minh City, industrial parks, economic zones, majorcities in the Southeast region and nationwide as well as in the trans-Asiaeconomic corridor.   

According to representatives from the Ministry of Planning andInvestment, at the conference to launch an action plan to implement Resolution24-NQ/TW and promote investment into the Southeast region, the ministry madepublic a list of priority projects in the region calling for investment. One ofthe projects inviting investment is the Ba Ria – Vung Tau section of Belt RoadNo. 4 around Ho Chi Minh City, with an estimated investment capital of 7,772billion VND (330.6 million USD at current exchange rate). This road willconnect the Cai Mep –Thi Vai port cluster with production hubs in Dong Nai –Binh Duong – Ho Chi Minh City – Long An (Hiep Phuoc port), thus improvingintra-regional and inter-regional connectivity and facilitating urbanisation,which will contribute significantly to socio-economic development in Ba Ria –Vung Tau in particular and the Southeast region in general.

* Promoting connectivity,investment for tourism development  

Regarding the target of turning Ba Ria – Vung Tau into a world-classtourism hub set in Resolution 24-NQ/TW, the province’s leaders noted that BaRia – Vung Tau is the only locality in the Southeast region that has a longcoastline with beautiful beaches meeting conditions for high quality tourism.The province also boast many scenic areas with clean environment, along withnumerous historical - cultural relic sites and traditional cultural festivals.  An example is the Con Dao Islands, which isboth a revolutionary relic site and a world Ramsar site. It is noteworthy thatBa Ria – Vung Tau is at the end of the central coast which is suitable for seatourism plus its location near economic hubs in the Southeast region with apopulation of over 18 million. With those conditions, the province can become atourism and leisure centre for the Southeast region and adjacent regions.

Chairman Tho said the province will invest in a transport network connectingareas designated for tourism development, and coordinate with ministries,sectors and localities in the Southeast region to complete the transportnetwork in the region, including the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressway, the BeltRoad No. 4 around Ho Chi Minh City, upgrading of Con Dao airport, aninternational passenger ship terminal and an inland waterway system, the BienHoa – Vung Tau railway and urban railway routes, so as to enhance connectivityamong localities in the region  in termsof tourism activities in particular and socio-economic activities in general.

The message that the province wants to send to investors is that Ba Ria– Vung Tau always welcomes ideas and investment of enterprises. All-leveladministrations in the province will do their best to ensure legitimateinterests of enterprises as well as those of the State and the people, helpingpromote sustainable development of the province./.