Golden opportunity for Can Tho to "take off"

The merger of three localities (Can Tho City, Soc Trang Province, Hau Giang Province) into the new Can Tho City marks an important turning point in the development process of the central city of the Mekong Delta, establishing its role as a dynamic growth pole of the country. Can Tho City after the merger is assessed to have a "golden" opportunity with many strengths and potentials. However, to fully exploit those strengths and potentials, along with high determination and great efforts, requires practical and feasible solutions to clear the "bottlenecks".

Lesson 1: Returning to the "common home" with a new position

The merger of Can Tho City, Hau Giang Province and Soc Trang Province in this administrative unit adjustment can be seen as a step of "returning to the common roof" of the localities but with a completely different position. Can Tho City after the merger has full potential, advantages and has a "golden" opportunity for breakthrough development in the future.

Expressways open up opportunities for Can Tho City to develop rapidly in the future. In the photo: The Can Tho - Ca Mau Expressway passing through Can Tho City is being accelerated in construction progress.

Convergence of many potentials and advantages

The reason for saying so is because in the past, these three administrative units had a period of "sharing the same roof". After the complete liberation of the South and the unification of the country, the Government issued Decree No. 03/ND-76 dated March 24, 1976, deciding to merge Can Tho province, Soc Trang province and Can Tho city to form a new province named Hau Giang . In response to the reality and development requirements, in December 1991, the 8th National Assembly issued a Resolution to separate Hau Giang province into two new administrative units: Can Tho province and Soc Trang province. On January 1, 2004, Can Tho province continued to have its administrative boundaries adjusted. This time, Can Tho was separated into Hau Giang province and Can Tho city.

Looking back, we can see that these three administrative units have been separated and merged many times depending on the management and development requirements of the country at each stage. This merger not only has administrative significance, but also represents the resumption of the existing connection, aiming to exploit to the maximum the potential and advantages of a land rich in tradition and vitality in the Mekong Delta.

Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, said that with its central location, Can Tho City is conveniently connected to Ho Chi Minh City and provinces in the Mekong Delta region; at the same time, it plays the role of a gateway to the region connecting with the international community. Can Tho contributes significantly to the output of aquatic products and rice exports of the Mekong Delta region. Traffic infrastructure is being heavily invested in with expressways, creating a network of quick connections with major industrial centers. In addition, Can Tho is also an educational center, with many universities and research institutes, convenient for training high-quality human resources and technology transfer. With its location and rich natural resources, the city has a lot of potential and convenience for developing agriculture, processing and exporting agricultural and aquatic products, industry, services, tourism, trade, etc.

Dr. Tran Khac Tam, Delegate of Can Tho City People's Council, Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry, Vice Chairman of the Council of Mekong Delta Business Associations, said that after the merger, Can Tho City will have a fairly large area of ​​agricultural land. Enterprises that are investing or are about to invest will easily expand their cultivation area and deploy high-tech applications. Especially in the areas of Soc Trang province and the former Hau Giang province - 2 provinces with large areas of agricultural land, with strengths in rice, fruit trees and aquaculture.

According to Mr. Tran Khac Tam, with this advantage, businesses and investors producing and trading in a big city like Can Tho will have a seamless agricultural supply chain, convenient for storage and deep processing. Another important thing is that businesses will have many opportunities to promote investment and cooperation with foreign businesses, thereby having a larger consumer market. In addition, businesses and investors will find it very convenient to export agricultural products through available ports (Cai Cui Port, Tra Noc Port), Can Tho International Airport, highways through the area, logistics centers, Tran De Port...

According to experts, with its current scale, Can Tho possesses rich natural resources, favorable for strong development of the tourism industry. In recent years, many famous destinations have left their mark on tourists such as Cai Rang floating market, My Khanh tourist village, Con Son, ecological gardens along Xa No canal, Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve or Cu Lao Dung sea and ecosystem. Each location is effectively exploited by tourism businesses through designing tours and routes associated with local ecological and cultural characteristics, creating unique experiences.

Major orientations

The 1st Congress of Can Tho City Party Committee, term 2025-2030, has set the goal: Can Tho City strives to become a national growth pole by 2030, playing the role of a driving force for development, spreading and leading the whole region. Being the center of the region for trade, tourism, logistics, marine economy, processing industry, concentrated digital technology, high-tech agriculture, education and training, specialized healthcare, startup center, science and technology and innovation, cultural and sports development; being the core urban area of ​​the region; building Can Tho people with rich identity, revolutionary ideals, ethics, intelligence, a prosperous and happy life. Building a clean and strong party organization and political system in all aspects; ensuring solid national defense and security, maintaining political stability, social order and safety. By 2045, to be an ecological, civilized, modern city, striving to be among the group of fairly developed cities in Asia, becoming a livable city in Vietnam.

Through the 28 targets set by the Congress, we can see the city's strong and breakthrough development aspirations. Specifically, the total gross regional domestic product (GRDP) calculated at current prices by 2030 will reach at least 717,000 billion VND; GRDP per capita by 2030 strives to reach about 215 million VND/person/year; average GRDP in the 2025-2030 period will reach 10-10.5%/year or more; export turnover, services and foreign currency revenue strives to reach 8.2 billion USD by 2030, in the 2025-2030 period strives to increase by an average of 11%/year; average income per capita by 2030 will reach at least 8,500,000 VND/person/month; total annual budget revenue increases by about 15%; Strive to reach an estimated 57,000 billion VND by 2030...

Mr. Dong Van Thanh, Standing Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Can Tho City, affirmed that the City Party Committee is steadfast and firm in the ideological foundation and principles of the Party. Continue to perfect the organization and apparatus of the political system to be streamlined, effective, efficient, and suitable for the two-level government. Review and promulgate policies to attract resources, develop the digital economy, green economy, and circular economy; promote the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

In addition, promptly and effectively deploy approved plans; maximize potential and advantages, create breakthroughs in development. Complete strategic infrastructure, especially synchronous and modern transport infrastructure, connecting key national transport. Develop marine economic sectors, waterway transport and logistics systems; form multi-sector marine economic clusters, associated with the construction of marine economic centers in coastal communes and wards...

Speaking at the 1st Congress of the Can Tho City Party Committee, term 2025-2030, Mr. Tran Thanh Man, Politburo member, Chairman of the National Assembly, emphasized: “Can Tho has many advantages and potentials that few other places have, a system of road, waterway, aviation, seaport, unique river culture, dynamic and friendly people. Therefore, the requirements for the city must be higher and more comprehensive than other localities. To achieve the goal by 2030, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, our country will become a developing country with modern industry and high average income, and by 2045, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country, to become a developed country with high income, the City Party Committee must have a vision not only for a few years or a term, but must look further, longer term, with appropriate methods and steps for each specific stage”.

TRUONG SON - CAM LINH

Lesson 2: Trust from local government at two levels

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/co-hoi-vang-de-can-tho-cat-canh--a192403.html