Lesson 1: Objectives of the Maritime Strategy
(Baonghean) -Nghe An sea area plays an important role in developing the marine economy and protecting the sovereignty of the islands of the North Central region. With a strategic position as a "gateway", rich in economic potential, but the exploitation and protection of the marine environment is not up to par, the lives of the majority of people in the coastal area are still poor, and policies for people working in the sea are still inadequate.
With 82 km of coastline, sea and coastal areas, Nghe An is one of the sea "gateways" of the North Central region, Central Laos and Northeastern Thailand. Nghe An sea area is located on the corridor of the international maritime route, with Vinh airport and Cua Lo port. Currently, Nghi Thiet deep-water port is attracting investment, Dong Hoi port has been built to serve Dong Hoi industrial park and Hoang Mai industrial park. Nghe An sea area has many advantages in trade, is home to over one million residents with hundreds of economic occupations associated with the sea.
Implementing the national marine strategy, Nghe An set a target of GDP per capita in 2010 reaching 1,100 USD and 4,860 USD in 2020, equal to 1.55 times the national average. Building the sea and coastal area of Nghe An into a fast-growing, dynamic area to attract investment and act as a driving force to promote the economy of Nghe An, the North Central region to develop rapidly, becoming one of the key marine economic centers of the Central region, a "springboard" for the Central region to advance to the East Sea. The economy grew rapidly, in the period 2008-2020 reaching an average growth rate of 14.9% / year, bringing the GDP proportion of the coastal area of Nghe An in the total GDP of Nghe An province to 60.9% by 2020. Improving all aspects of economic and cultural life of coastal residents, rapidly reducing the rate of poverty. Rapidly increase the budget revenue of this region to about 65% of the province by 2020. Form a number of key industries and products such as maritime transport services, sea tourism, seafood, etc. Prioritize large resources for investment in developing economic sectors that play a leading role and have a profound impact on the economy and society of the sea and coastal areas.
Need to protect long-term marine resources for fishing.
Also according to that strategy, our province advocates developing coastal core urban areas, forming and rapidly developing industrial parks and economic zones such as the Southeast Economic Zone, Hoang Mai Industrial Park, Dong Hoi, and coastal tourist areas. Harmonious and sustainable development, environmental protection, exploitation coupled with protection and enrichment of resources, ensuring social equity. Building Nghe An sea into a stable sea, cooperating and developing with other provinces and other countries.
To achieve that goal, Nghe An issued Resolution No. 16-NQ/TU dated February 12, 2007 of the Provincial Party Committee Executive Committee promulgating the action program to implement Resolution No. 4 of the Central Committee on Vietnam's Marine Strategy to 2020, including 33 projects, programs, and plans assigned to 19 departments, branches, and People's Committees of coastal districts for implementation. The Department of Planning and Investment has 3 projects: establishing a project for the Master Plan for socio-economic development of coastal and marine areas; establishing a list of investment projects in order of priority in coastal and marine areas; establishing a list of priority investment projects for marine economic development. The Department of Transport was assigned one project and one project: Developing a detailed plan for planning and calling for investment in building a system of seaports, coal ports, fishing ports and storm shelters. Upgrading Vinh airport, planning Nam Cam station and railway. Constructing sea routes and bridges on the route, relocating Ben Thuy Port out of Vinh City; planning to build road sections connecting the Southeast Economic Zone with national highways along the seaport and the traffic system from National Highway 1A to the coastal area. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has a project: "Developing island tourism combined with historical and cultural relics in coastal areas. The Department of Industry and Trade has a project to develop industrial and handicraft industries in coastal areas; planning for coastal electricity. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has 3 projects: building monitoring stations, marine weather forecast and information centers, protecting the marine environment. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has 6 key projects, closely linked to the lives of coastal people...
Mr. Nguyen Tho Canh - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development affirmed that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has well implemented projects and programs related to the marine strategy. The programs and projects have been integrated into the daily professional work of departments and branches. The Department has actively implemented projects related to sea dykes, completed the upgrading of Kim-Hai-Hung sea dykes (Dien Chau), Trung-Thinh-Thanh dykes (Dien Chau), Quynh Loc dykes (Quynh Luu), coastal dykes, Quynh Lap dykes, Bich-Van-Ngoc dykes (Dien Chau)... The exploitation, aquaculture, construction of concentrated processing zones, protection of aquatic resources, and fishing infrastructure have had many positive results. The Department has also summarized economic development models in coastal areas with practical effects, especially in limiting the destruction of marine resources. Invested in construction and put into use 3 fishing wharves: Lach Quen, Lach Van, Nghi Thuy, 3 storm shelter anchorage areas...
The Department of Transport has actively worked with ministries and branches to upgrade Cua Lo Port, put Dong Hoi Port into the national seaport development plan, upgrade Vinh Airport, plan Phu Dien station and My Ly-Cua Lo railway, to Do Luong and Tan Ky, plan and construct coastal roads, plan to build roads connecting the Southeast Economic Zone with national highways across the seaport and the traffic system from National Highway 1A to the coastal plain. The Department is actively constructing National Highway 1A - Dong Hoi, upgrading and expanding National Highway 1A section Dien Chau, Nghi Loc...
After 4 years of implementing the marine strategy (although there has been no assessment report), a series of plans and projects have not been implemented. Some departments have implemented work packages very actively, demonstrating a high sense of responsibility such as the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Transport, the Department of Industry and Trade. Some departments and branches have performed weakly such as: the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (only completed 1/3 of the project), the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board... The marine strategy is very important but may be due to fragmented implementation, lack of synchronization, weak resources, after 4 years looking back the implementation results are still quite... lackluster. The branches and departments are chasing projects, looking for investment funding. Wherever there is capital, there is very positive. On the contrary, programs on the community, environmental protection, people's health care, population... have not received due attention, there are many shortcomings.
Our province's marine strategy is heavily focused on projects and constructions on and inshore, coastal areas, heavily on infrastructure, with few projects and constructions "going offshore". Projects for fishermen and coastal residents have limited and insufficient capital. Interest in the sea in general and the fisheries sector is not high, so the contributions from the sea are not commensurate.
(To be continued)
Chau Lan
