Hanoi (VNA) - The Government is concerned about the poorcoordination and infrastructure undermining the major development potential of Vietnam’s 11central localities, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue told 500 businesspeople and officials at the 2nd Central Coastal Economic Forum in Da Nangon September 25.

“Many efforts have been recorded by the regional coordination management boardsince the first forum was held in 2014. However, poor connection of strategictraffic roads, including the National Highway, Coastal Highway, Ho Chi MinhTrail and north-south railway, have prevented the region from fast growth,” Huesaid.

Favourable connection of roads, airports, sea ports and economic and industrialzones will create more power for the region in the coming decades, he added.

He suggested the forum discuss how to build an effective mechanism for cooperationamong the provinces to boost their advantages in marine economy and tourism,saying the region could contribute as much as 70 percent to the country’seconomic growth.

The head of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, Tran Dinh Thien, said thedevelopment of the coastal central region has not reached its target since theregional coordination management board was established six years ago.

“More than 40 industrial zones (IZs) and six economic zones (EZs) were built inthe region, but income per capita in the region is not much higher than thecountry’s average income,” Thien said. “A lack of international-standardcentres for sports, shopping, trade, night recreation and finance has hinderedthe region from becoming an attractive destination for international tourists.”

Thien also pointed to the lack of coordination among provinces as a majorhindrance to economic growth. Thua Thien-Hue province had developed the ChanMay-Lang Co deep-sea port in the region but neighbouring Da Nang plans to buildits own Lien Chieu port as a key logistics centre just 20km away.

“Each province plans to build its own deep sea port, international airport orindustrial zones, while no connections are planned to share the advantages ofinfrastructure investment,” he explained.

The coastal central region has six airports, 13 seaports, six coastal economiczones, a high-tech park and 14 national roads. 

Thien suggested the region should be restructured, based on the advantage ofeach province. “We can arrange several provinces with the same advantages(sea ports, airports and economic zones) in a sub-zone,” he suggested.

Tran Du Lich, head of the central region’s Development Consultancy Council,said the region has tremendous potential for marine economydevelopment – ship-building, fisheries, logistics, coastal economiczones, and island and sea tourism.

Dr. Huynh The Du from Fulbright University Vietnam said many provinces offerfree land rent to attract investors, but investors are never punished forfailing to move forward with promised projects or for long delays. He alsosuggested the region needs only one deep-sea port.

A quick survey presented by economist Vo Tri Thanh at the forum showed thatnearly 80 percent of participants agreed that poor connections andunderdeveloped links among provinces in the region are major barriers togrowth.

The central coastal region had an average growth of 8.4 percent, earningrevenues of 5.8 billion USD last year.-VNA