Scientists offer advice on economic development in the Southwest region of Nghe An

On the afternoon of October 30, the Provincial People's Committee organized a scientific workshop on Arguments for economic development in the Southwest region of Nghe An. Comrades: Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien - Former Director of the Vietnam Economic Institute; Dr. Le Van Hung - Deputy Director, in charge of the Institute for Regional Sustainable Development Studies; Nguyen Quy Linh - Director of the Department of Science and Technology chaired the workshop.

Conference scene. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The Southwest region of Nghe An includes 5 districts: Thanh Chuong, Anh Son, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong and Ky Son, with borders with Xieng Khouang and Bolikhamxay provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The area of ​​the Southwest region is about 8,377 ^km2 , accounting for 50.7% of the province's area. The population of the region is 602,680 people, accounting for about 17.9% of the province's population. The forest land area of ​​the region is 693,411 ha, accounting for 68% of the province's forest land area.

The Southwest region is located in the Western Nghe An World Biosphere Reserve, officially recognized by the United NationsEducational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on September 18, 2007 and is the largest biosphere reserve in Southeast Asia.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien - Former Director of the Vietnam Economic Institute; Dr. Le Van Hung - Deputy Director, in charge of the Institute for Regional Sustainable Development Studies; Nguyen Quy Linh - Director of the Department of Science and Technology chaired the workshop. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The Southwest region of Nghe An has rich terrain, high biodiversity, many specialty products and endemic medicinal herbs and 4 border gates.

With such potentials, the region has conditions to develop forest economy, develop eco-tourism, adventure tourism, explore landscapes associated with cultural experiences of ethnic communities; has advantages in developing production of specialty products, endemic genetic resources and developing border gate economy.

Delegates attending the workshop. Photo: Xuan Hoang

However, the development of key economic zones/dynamic zones and regional linkages currently still faces many difficulties and inadequacies in planning; investment in infrastructure development, perfecting policy mechanisms and implementing intra-regional and inter-regional linkages .

Resolution 39-NQ/TW dated July 18, 2023 of the Politburo on building and developing Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2045, identifies tasks and solutions for the Western region such as focusing investment resources to form and develop 4 economic corridors.

In particular, the Ho Chi Minh Trail Economic Corridor focuses on developing high-tech agriculture, agricultural and forestry processing industry, construction materials and eco-tourism.

Economic corridor of National Highway 7 with a focus on developing large-scale agricultural commodities associated with processing industry; developing eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and community tourism. Rapid and sustainable development of the Western region based on maximizing potentials and advantages, especially advantages in forest economy, forest canopy economy, border gate economy, historical and cultural resources.

At the workshop, scientists provided theoretical basis for regional economic development and regional development linkage. Experience in regional economic development and suggestions for the Southwest region in association with neighboring regions and with neighboring Laos.

Mr. Tran Quoc Thanh - Former Director of the Department of Science and Technology delivered a speech at the workshop. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Identifying potentials, opportunities and challenges for regional economic development and regional linkage; Issues arising in the process of economic development and regional linkage in the following areas: Border gate economic development - Development of medicinal herbs and valuable genetic resources - Forest economic development - Tourism development - Biodiversity - Exploitation and development of indigenous knowledge of ethnic minorities... Regional development and regional linkage with Laos associated with national security and defense in border areas .

Proposing solutions for sustainable economic development in the Southwest region such as orienting priority development sectors and industries based on advantages, potentials and opportunities for regional development linkages; attracting investment; mechanisms, policies and coordination mechanisms...

According to Dr. Nguyen Dinh Chu - Former Chairman of the Board of Directors of East Asia University of Technology, the Southwest region of Nghe An needs to strongly develop livestock farming and grow crops for animal feed such as corn and soybeans. Exported products must comply with environmental conditions.

The Southwest region of Nghe An has great potential for socio-economic development. Photo: Archive

Mr. Tran Quoc Thanh - Former Director of the Department of Science and Technology said: From now until 2030, priority will be given to development in the two districts of Ky Son and Tuong Duong to take advantage of resources from the National Target Program. Priority will be given to medicinal plant varieties that have been tested in the area and are available in the market such as: Dang sam, Dang quy, Sam khoai, Panax notoginseng, Bay la mot hoa, Vietnamese ginseng, Hoai son, Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Khoi purple, Che day, Ky Son ginger, red turmeric, purple Morinda officinalis, Bo bo, purple Amomum, wild bitter melon, red Polygonum multiflorum, yellow flower tea...

Through that, representatives of some localities and businesses have responded to some opinions revolving around the proposals of scientists and researchers so that local authorities have a basis to issue appropriate development policies for the Southwest Nghe An region./.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/cac-nha-khoa-hoc-hien-ke-phat-trien-kinh-te-vung-tay-nam-nghe-an-post279154.html