Ocean farming at UNESCO World Natural Heritage Hạ Long Bay in Quảng Ninh Province. VNA/VNS File Photo
HANOI: The northern province of Quang Ninh has set an objective to become Vietnam’s leading ocean-economic hub in the future, according to a report on the province’s strategic development released by the local authority.
Among Vietnam’s numerous coastal provinces, Quang Ninh possesses the most dynamic mix of elements that have the potential to turn it into a key player in transportation, ship-building, tourism and aquaculture.
Close proximity to Vietnam’s northern port city of Hai Phong allowed the province to take advantage of its major sea routes, modern port and road infrastructure.
Cai Lan International Container Terminal Limited Liability Company or CICT, the province’s largest port, has been upgraded to receive large ships, including some of Maersk’s container ships.
Since the beginning of last year, the port has been operating four large container ships to transport goods to the European Union and the United States.
Meanwhile, the province has been in talks with prospective investors to expand the deep-water Con Ong Hòn Nét Port Project located in Cam Pha City.
Other infrastructure upgrades included the Van Đon-Mong Cai Highway and the Quang Yen-Đong Trieu Highway to support the establishment of the Coastal Economic Zone Quang Yen, approved by the prime minister’s office in September 2020, which will serve as a major economic and development driver for the province in the future.
Nguyen Tuong Van, chairman of the province’s People Committee, said Quang Ninh’s strategic development focus was on “turning the province into the country’s leading coastal economic hub, the gateway to the Red River Delta and a major tourism centre with connections to regional and international popular tourism spots by sea”.
Van said the province encourages investors from the private sector in building coastal economic and commercial zones and will be working closely with them every step of the way.
In February 2022, Ha Long Shipbuilding Company delivered Emerald Azzurra, a US$30mil (RM134mil) cruise ship with a capacity of 100 guests, the first cruise ship built by the company.
The luxurious cruiser, equipped with top-of-the-line amenities, is part of Scenic Group, an Australian-based cruise line company.
In addition, the shipyard said it has secured contracts and promised on-time deliveries to a number of Vietnam’s cruise operators by the end of 2023, just in time for a reboot of tourism activities in Ha Long Bay, a Unesco World Natural Heritage site, after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The province, a popular tourism destination among both international and domestic travellers, has set a target to welcome 11 million visitors in 2022.
Quang Ninh, traditionally a large aquaculture production centre in Northern Vietnam, is to stay committed to the expansion and modernisation of its aquaculture.
According to the province’s agriculture and rural development department, the province has been working on the establishment of centralised and high-tech production centres with a focus on creating added value to the supply chain. There are over 32,000ha of aquaculture surface in the province. — Viet Nam News/ANN
