A construction senior official has advised the establishment of a
coordinating agency to ensure the quality of economic development of the
wider HCM City metropolitan region.
The master plan for
the region, which consists of HCM City and seven neighbouring
provinces across an area of 30,400 square kilometers, was approved by
the Prime Minister in 2008.
Covering the seven southern
provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, Tay
Ninh, Long An and Tien Giang, the plan aims for the region to be one of
the main engines for sustainable economic development in the country, as
well as an economic center of Southeast Asia and Asia by 2050.
Addressing
a recent meeting to discuss the master plan’s implementation, Deputy
Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linh said that localities in the
region still yet cooperated effectively on implementing the plan.
Chairman
of the Dong Nai provincial People’s Committee Dinh Quoc Thai raised the
fact that each province had its own development plan, leading to most
economic zones in the region calling for investment in the same
industries without adequately mobilising each area’s advantages, which
can reduce the competitiveness of the economic zones and the whole
region.
Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le
Manh Ha said that although a regional master plan was approved, the city
and other provinces already have their own development plans.
He pointed out that HCM City attracted a large amount of migrants
from neighbouring provinces who come to the city to work or for health
services, so the city had to prepare to meet the demands of both its
residents and migrants.
According to the Construction Ministry,
HCM City Region now has a population of 18 million, accounting for 20
percent of the country’s total. It is the most developed economic zone
in Vietnam with a GDP accounting for 60 percent of the national
figure.
The city, as the main driver of the region, is expected
to have a population of 20-22 million people by 2020, including 16-17
million living in urban areas.
With the current urbanisation
rate of over 53 percent, the region faces overloading of its
infrastructure and other social and environmental issues.
Major
projects in the region currently being implemented include the HCM
City-Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, Long Thanh International Airport
in Dong Nai Province and the Bien Hoa –Vung Tau Expressway.-VNA