Expanding the Southeast Economic Zone: Unlocking resources, driving growth.
The Prime Minister's issuance of Decision No. 490/QD-TTg dated March 27, 2026, approving the expansion of the Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone to over 104,000 hectares, is not only an adjustment in development space but also opens up opportunities to unlock and restructure resources for growth.
Forming new growth corridors
With Decision No. 490/QD-TTg dated March 27, 2026, the Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone is being repositioned as an integrated development space, where resources in land, infrastructure, finance, and investment are connected and effectively utilized, creating a foundation for breakthroughs in industry, urbanization, and services in the coming period.
In particular, in the context of the whole country implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Party with the requirement for rapid and sustainable development based on innovation, digital transformation and the completion of a synchronous infrastructure, the expansion of the Southeast Economic Zone takes on even greater strategic significance.
This is not only a concrete step in implementing Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW of the Politburo on building and developing Nghe An until 2030, with a vision to 2045, but also demonstrates the province's determination to realize the major goals set by the 14th National Congress, making Nghe An an important growth pole of the North Central region.
Speaking about the major changes in the Southeast Economic Zone following Decision 490/QD/Ttg/2026, Mr. Nguyen Manh Loi, Deputy Head of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board, said: “One of the landmark changes is the reorganization of development space along economic corridors. Instead of scattered development, industrial parks, urban areas, and service areas are arranged along strategic transportation axes such as National Highway 1A, the coastal road, the North-South expressway, the Ho Chi Minh Highway, and the North-South railway line. In particular, the inclusion of the entire seaport system within the economic zone is a groundbreaking decision. This approach not only optimizes infrastructure but also creates strong linkages between regions, promoting the efficient flow of goods and services, in line with the economic spatial development orientation along the driving axis emphasized in the Resolution of the 14th National Congress.”
With the advantage of owning Cua Lo Port and Dong Hoi wharf area, Nghe An has the conditions to develop a modern seaport cluster, playing the role of a gateway for import and export for the entire region. When the seaport is integrated into the economic zone, preferential policies will be applied synchronously, creating a strong attraction for strategic investors, especially in the context of the whole country promoting the development of the marine economy.
"In parallel, the industrial space is also being restructured towards concentration and specialization. Dynamic production zones are being formed in conjunction with economic corridors, with the Hoang Mai - Dong Hoi area emerging as an important growth pole, directly connected to the Nghi Son Economic Zone. This linkage opens up the possibility of forming inter-regional value chains, improving investment efficiency and creating a ripple effect, in line with the spirit of regional linkages defined by the Central Government," Mr. Nguyen Manh Loi added.
Along with industry, the service sector is oriented towards modern, diversified, and sustainable development. Logistics is identified as a key service sector, playing the role of "soft infrastructure" connecting all production activities and goods circulation.
When logistics costs are minimized, the competitiveness of businesses will be enhanced, thereby attracting significant domestic and foreign investment. In addition, tourism will be prioritized for development, contributing to the diversification of the economic structure and the effective exploitation of coastal potential.
Enabling investment
To realize these major objectives, mobilizing resources and investing in key infrastructure has been identified as a central task. Given the limited budget, Nghe An has chosen a flexible approach, combining state resources with socialized investment. Auctioning land use rights in urban and service areas is considered a crucial solution to generate investment capital and simultaneously improve the efficiency of land use.
According to the leaders of the Nghe An Department of Finance, the unit has proactively advised the Provincial People's Committee on balancing, allocating, and mobilizing resources for the Southeast Economic Zone in a focused and efficient manner. This includes prioritizing resources for key infrastructure projects, while also proposing mechanisms to exploit revenue from land and public assets for reinvestment and development.
The flexible use of financial instruments not only contributes to securing funding for large-scale projects but also creates room for Nghe An to proactively manage its budget, meeting the requirements of rapid and sustainable development in the new phase.
In addition, the province has issued specific mechanisms to mobilize and effectively utilize resources, including Resolution No. 66/NQ-HĐND of the Provincial People's Council on using revenue from land to invest in key projects such as Vinh International Airport, the breakwater of Cua Lo deep-water port, and the Vinh - Thanh Thuy expressway. At the same time, the province is actively seeking medium-term central government funding for the Southeast Economic Zone for the period 2021-2030.
Nghe An province is also actively attracting potential investors to develop port and logistics infrastructure. Several port projects have been and are being implemented, and many large investors are interested in the Dong Hoi Port area. The province is determined to select capable and experienced partners to ensure the progress and quality of the projects, thereby quickly forming a synchronous and modern infrastructure system.
Nghe An province is developing a plan to become a logistics hub for the North Central region, aiming to complete over 80% of its logistics infrastructure by 2026-2030, reduce intra-provincial logistics costs by 15-20%, and establish a regional logistics center within the Southeast Economic Zone. This is a strategic step, creating a foundation for the economic zone to not only be a production center but also a large-scale goods transit and distribution hub.
It is clear that the strategic and infrastructure changes following the expansion are gradually reshaping the role of the Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone.
The economic zone is gradually transforming into a multi-sectoral growth pole, capable of regional connectivity and international integration. In the process of achieving the goals of the 14th National Congress of the Party, the Southeast Economic Zone is not only a new development space but also contributes to Nghe An's strong breakthrough in the coming time.
