Re-survey border trade infrastructure to avoid spreading investment

On the morning of November 26, under the chairmanship of comrade Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to listen to and give opinions on the implementation of international economic integration; Project on border trade development in the province until 2025 with a view to 2030; Investment attraction for market development and transformation of market management and business exploitation models. Attending were leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade, relevant departments and localities.

A delegation of businesses from Japan explores investment opportunities in Nghe An. Photo: Viet Phuong

Strengthening international economic integration

According to the report on the implementation of international economic integration in 2019, the export turnover in Nghe An reached 1.1 billion USD, an increase of 10.2% compared to 2018. The province has granted new and adjusted investment certificates to 98 projects with a total registered capital of over 10,800 billion VND.

The Provincial Steering Committee for International Economic Integration has also innovated many activities, advised on many policies to be implemented in the area in accordance with the regulations of the World Trade Organization as well as Vietnam's commitments. Propaganda on effective international economic integration...

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh chaired the meeting. Photo: Thu Huyen

Assessing the province's international economic integration, the meeting participants said that the province's current integration work is not commensurate with its potential, with export turnover lower than that of many other provinces. Some agricultural and industrial products of the province are not yet qualified to participate in integration according to international standards...

Commenting on this content, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh suggested that in 2020, members of the Steering Committee need to coordinate effectively in propagating and implementing regulations of trade organizations as well as Vietnam's commitments on integration; raising awareness of each citizen and business about knowledge of economic integration.

Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for International Economic Integration, Le Hong Vinh, also said that the Provincial Steering Committee for International Economic Integration will be reorganized to meet practical needs.

Re-evaluating border trade activities

Nghe An is the province with the longest land border with Laos in the country, accounting for more than 20% of the total length of the Vietnam - Laos border, with 27 communes in 6 districts located on the common border with 3 provinces of Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang, and Hua Phan.

Overview of the working session. Photo: Thu Huyen

Nghe An has 1 international border gate, 1 main border gate, 3 secondary border gates, 4 openings and 11 border crossing points with Laos. This is one of the favorable conditions for economic and trade development between the two countries in general and border trade in particular.

By 2025, with a view to 2030, Nghe An strives to become an important transit point for goods in the North Central region and the whole country to the markets of Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar; by 2020, the export turnover of goods to Laos will reach 33-35 million USD...

Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Vo Thi An reported at the meeting. Photo: Thu Huyen

However, delegates said that the current development demand is not high, it is necessary to invest in a roadmap, and should not invest heavily in infrastructure to avoid waste. Investment should be focused on the Thanh Thuy border gate area because this is an area adjacent to Bolikhamxay province - a relatively developed locality of Laos.

Concluding this content, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh said that the current border area mainly produces agricultural and forestry products, with no production facilities other than a few hydroelectric plants. Currently, infrastructure in some border areas has been invested but has not been effective, and operations in some markets are slow to develop. Therefore, it is necessary to re-evaluate the scope of the project, survey the entire border area on the Lao side; select locations with infrastructure and sufficient conditions before investing.

In the immediate future, it is possible to consider investing in Nam Can market (Ky Son) and the border economic zone in Thanh Thuy (Thanh Chuong). Based on the opinions of the delegates, the Department of Industry and Trade needs to review and rebuild the project to be accurate and practical.

Nam Can International Border Gate (Ky Son). Photo courtesy

Also this morning, delegates listened to and gave their opinions on the current situation of market development and management in the province. At the meeting, delegates agreed to abolish Decision 72/2016/QD-UBND dated December 8, 2016 of the Provincial People's Committee on promulgating regulations on the process of converting the model of organization, management, exploitation and business of markets in Nghe An because it is not consistent with the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets 2017.