There needs to be a transparent and reasonable mechanism.
In recent years, we have achieved very encouraging results in attracting investment in the agricultural sector. However, to meet the requirements as well as to match the potential of the province, really strong policies are needed. Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Mr. Nguyen Tho Canh - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on this issue.
(Baonghean.vn)In recent years, we have achieved very encouraging results in attracting investment in the agricultural sector. However, to meet the requirements as well as to match the potential of the province, really strong policies are needed. Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Mr. Nguyen Tho Canh - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on this issue.
Reporter: Dear comrade, could you please tell us what advantages does Nghe An have in attracting investment in the agricultural sector?
Comrade Nguyen Tho Canh: First of all, it is the huge potential of land. Nghe An is a province with an agricultural land area of nearly 1.2 million hectares (accounting for nearly 73% of the natural area), of which forestry land with forests is more than 900 thousand hectares, especially the area of red basalt soil is very favorable for growing specialty trees and industrial trees. In addition, the province has 82 km of coastline, diversely distributed aquatic products, abundant reserves. Many products of Nghe An have become brands, famous both domestically and internationally, such as peanuts, black tea, green tea, Catimor Phu Quy coffee, Xa Doai oranges... Along with that is an abundant labor force, hard-working, diligent and experienced in production.
In the current conditions of Nghe An, it can be said that agricultural products are a prerequisite for the development of industry and services in the area. Therefore, in recent times, the province has had many policies to pay attention to the development of agriculture, forestry and fishery, especially the processing sector because it contributes significantly to solving difficulties and problems in improving the efficiency of agricultural products. In addition, Nghe An's food output is currently at a very high level (average 1.2 million tons/year).
PV: What results have been achieved in attracting investment in the agricultural sector in recent times, sir?
Comrade Nguyen Tho Canh: In recent years, attracting investment in the agricultural sector has been a matter of great concern to the province. Although not as expected, up to now, there have been many projects and investment programs in the agricultural sector in our province and they have been very effective. First of all, we must mention the concentrated dairy farming and milk processing project in Nghia Dan with a total investment of 1.2 billion USD.
In addition, the investment project to build Vinamilk Fresh Milk Factory, which has been in operation since 2005 with an investment capital of nearly 100 billion VND and a capacity of 30 million liters of milk/year, is also a large project. In addition, there is also the project to produce vegetables, flowers, and fruits using high-tech processes invested by Bac A Joint Stock Commercial Bank in Nghia Son Commune (Nghia Dan), which has initially shown very positive results, creating leverage for the development of clean flower, vegetable, and fruit production, meeting the increasing demand of consumers, especially the fresh flower market in Vinh City and neighboring areas. Currently, this enterprise is also conducting surveys and investing in cage fish farming on large-capacity dams such as Song Sao and Khe Da lakes, which are highly effective in aquaculture; At the same time, surveying and investing in olive tree planting in the Sao River basin not only brings great economic efficiency but also has a very good effect in protection, anti-silting and water retention.
Recently, Thanh Thanh Dat Company Limited has also invested in afforestation in mountainous districts. This is considered a project that, in addition to economic efficiency, also has great social effects, when the province is planning to encourage businesses to invest in planting production forests, the budget is only for planting protective forests and special-use forests. In particular, the German Reconstruction Bank's afforestation investment project helps foresters have addresses and certificates to import wood products to Europe, bringing both economic efficiency and raising awareness of Vietnamese people in developing and protecting forests.
PV: To achieve more positive results, what additional conditions do we need?
Comrade Nguyen Tho Canh: Compared to the potential and development requirements of the province, the results of attracting investment in agriculture are still not commensurate and there are many shortcomings. The reason is partly because agriculture is a low-profit sector, subject to great influence of nature, while the policies of the State in general and Nghe An in particular are still not really strong enough.
In order to attract many effective projects in the agricultural sector, there must be open and reasonable mechanisms. Public agencies and localities must quickly handle procedures and issues arising during project implementation. In addition to the State's policies, the province needs to have additional policies and mechanisms to create favorable conditions and encourage investors to invest in difficult areas. And equally important, it is necessary to plan each land area to arrange suitable crops and livestock, not to plan for each enterprise, to avoid the situation where enterprises are granted land but leave it unused, and enterprises that want to invest do not have land.
PV: Thank you, comrade!
Phu Huong (performed)
