Extremely developed "picture" from Lam Dong sea

Lam Dong blue sea (formerly Binh Thuan province) is in the top of Vietnam in terms of long coastline, large fishery, wind energy, sea tourism, islands and sand tourism. Along with the system of type II seaports, clusters, industrial zones... are oriented to become a dynamic, strong and rich area from the sea, with the core being "developing a marine economic center" for the whole region with diverse marine economic sectors.

Opportunity to get rich from Lam Dong sea

Before the merger, the old Lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces were both landlocked. This caused many difficulties in the socio-economic development of these two provinces. Because of the distance from the seaport, calling for investment was limited, and goods lacked competitive and export advantages. The merger of the three provinces opened up great opportunities for the space to connect the advantages of the sea with the agricultural, industrial and tourism potential of the Southwest and Southern Central Highlands.

"Front of the house"

Imagine Lam Dong today with the blue sea area considered as the "house facade" after the merger. And when that house has a "balcony" overlooking the vast sea and islands with a length of more than 190 km along the mainland, it is not only a gateway for trade but also a way to reach the outside world, in line with the trend of international integration in all aspects. Therefore, according to economic experts, the blue sea area of ​​Lam Dong - meets the conditions to become a center for developing diverse marine economic sectors including: exploitation and aquaculture, sea and island tourism, maritime transport services, logistics and seaports, renewable energy (offshore wind power, coastal solar power) ... Along with that are new marine economic sectors such as: marine biology, marine pharmaceuticals and exploitation of marine digital resources, especially affirming its strategic position in the East Sea and regional supply chain.

Economic experts also believe that Lam Dong at present opens up a new development space, a unique opportunity to resonate with the specific advantages of each locality, creating a special geo-economic space, where three major geographical elements converge: plateau - plain - sea, coast and island. "In particular, the blue sea area of ​​Lam Dong is not only the only gateway to the East Sea but also the national strategic defense belt in the Southeast, playing a central role in connecting the mainland space with the sea and islands, ensuring security in coastal areas and protecting territorial sovereignty" - Professor, Doctor, People's Teacher Mai Trong Nhuan - former Director of Hanoi National University said.

“Blue economy”

The ocean economy, or “blue economy”, is a multifaceted concept that encompasses all economic activities based on the ocean and coastal areas, aiming at sustainable and inclusive development. According to the World Bank, the ocean economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources to generate economic growth, improve livelihoods and employment, and ensure the health of the ocean ecosystem. This concept emphasizes the balance between three pillars: economic, social and environmental, shifting from the traditional resource exploitation model to a more comprehensive approach, focusing on innovation, value addition and ecosystem protection.

The components of the marine economy are very diverse, from traditional industries such as: exploitation and aquaculture, maritime transport, marine tourism, to emerging fields such as: marine renewable energy, marine biotechnology and high-tech marine services...

According to Professor, Doctor, People's Teacher Mai Trong Nhuan: With Lam Dong's blue sea, in the context of merging 3 provinces, these connections become even more essential, connecting marine and coastal economic activities with the agricultural and industrial potential of the highlands.

Strengths and weaknesses

Lam Dong has many inherent advantages to develop the marine economy. First of all, it is the rich natural potential with a long coastline, a sunny and windy climate favorable for tourism and renewable energy development, and diverse marine resources including valuable seafood and minerals. Notably, the province is also building a prestigious Mui Ne tourism brand, which is the foundation to attract domestic and foreign tourists. Next, it is the province's strong political commitment clearly demonstrated through the "Planning of Binh Thuan province for the period 2021 - 2030, vision to 2050" with the goal of becoming a "strong and rich from the sea" locality, a center of green energy and tourism of national and international stature.

In addition, investment in strategic infrastructure development is being promoted, with key projects such as Phan Thiet Airport, Vinh Tan and Son My seaports. On the other hand, proactive planning and investment in key infrastructure projects is an important factor, capable of creating a big push, accelerating the development of the marine economy. And, finally, the blue sea area has affirmed its pioneering position in the field of renewable energy, with many large-scale wind and solar power projects that have been and are being implemented, in line with the global green development trend.

However, besides its strengths, Lam Dong also faces some limitations. That is, the infrastructure within the province and specialized for some marine economic sectors, specifically deep-water ports and complex logistics, although being improved, still has certain gaps, which may not be able to meet the needs of rapid development. High-quality human resources, especially for high-tech marine industries, high-end tourism services and research and development activities, is a big challenge, similar to many other localities that are moving towards developing a modern marine economy. Environmental management capacity, especially the marine environment, needs to be strengthened to ensure sustainable development in parallel with rapid economic growth, avoiding negative impacts on the marine ecosystem. Among these weaknesses, the gap in skilled human resources is one of the biggest barriers, which could slow down the transition to higher value-added marine economic activities, an important goal identified in the provincial planning and also a common challenge for emerging marine economic centers...

Therefore, “The strategy for developing Lam Dong's marine economic center needs to be multidimensional, not only focusing on GRDP indicators but also a harmonious whole, covering the fields of marine environmental protection, ecosystem conservation and sustainable development...”, said Professor, Doctor, People's Teacher Mai Trong Nhuan.

Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW/2018 on the Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, has shifted the focus to sustainable development, setting specific targets for the contribution of the marine economy to the country's GDP of about 10%; at the same time, identifying priority sectors such as: tourism and marine services, maritime economy, oil and gas exploitation and marine minerals, aquaculture, coastal industry, renewable energy and new marine economic sectors.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/buc-tranh-cuc-phat-trien-tu-bien-lam-dong-391349.html