“INAUVENILE NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY” WRITING CONTEST: Enriching the outpost island

There needs to be a master plan for socio-economic development, linking the protection of sea and island sovereignty with the development of people's livelihoods on the islands.

The sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands is reinforced by political will, national defense potential and socio-economic strength. Creating conditions for economic activities to develop strongly on the sea and islands, especially on the outpost islands, is the most effective and vivid way to affirm national sovereignty in the new context.

Core product development

President Ho Chi Minh always considered the sea and islands as sacred and inseparable territories. Applying his ideology, the Party and the State soon brought people to the islands, established and developed 12 island districts, creating an important premise for developing the marine space and economy of the coastal island system. The Party's policy is to turn Vietnam into a strong maritime nation, rich from the sea. This includes accelerating urbanization, building strong maritime economic centers; developing diverse service industries, especially those with high added value, suitable to the location, potential and advantages of each island.

As in Ly Son island district, Quang Ngai province, along with tourism, onions and garlic are two key agricultural products that the locality focuses on developing. According to Ms. Pham Thi Huong, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Ly Son district, garlic here is considered "white gold" because of its high economic value, is in the Top 10 famous gift products and has been granted geographical indications by the Department of Intellectual Property. The local government has implemented many solutions to develop and protect the brand and included the clean garlic growing model in the resolution. This year, Ly Son farmers planted about 320 hectares of garlic, with an estimated output of 3,000 tons.

Mr. Vu Van Quan (second from right) on the oil tanker that received a loan from the Social Policy Bank.

Or in Bach Long Vi (Hai Phong City), we have exploited the advantage of the most offshore outpost island of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin, the nearest place to supply food, fuel, and shelter from storms for offshore fishing boats. Thanks to that, the island's economy has developed strongly thanks to fishing logistics services. Mr. Vu Van Quan and his wife came to Bach Long Vi island to live with nothing. Since receiving a loan of 100 million VND from the Bank for Social Policies to buy an oil tanker, his family has had the conditions to do business and become well-off. Up to now, his family has a 140 m3 diesel tanker and a cargo ship to trade in necessities.

Along with the Social Policy Bank, the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) is also present on many islands and archipelagos across the country. Ms. Phung Thi Binh, Deputy General Director of Agribank, said that to date, Agribank has invested credit capital for more than 25,000 offshore fishing vessels nationwide, demonstrating a strong commitment to developing a sustainable marine economy, contributing to ensuring social security in strategic areas.

According to Mr. Le Anh Xuan, Director of the State Bank of Vietnam, Branch 9, on Ly Son Island there are 3 banks: the Social Policy Bank, Agribank and Loc Phat Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank. As of April 30, the total outstanding debt on the island district was 914.7 billion VND. Banks are oriented to focus credit capital on key areas such as exploitation, aquaculture, marine tourism, fishing logistics and coastal agriculture; creating the most favorable conditions for people to develop the marine economy.

Difficult access to capital

Capital is one of the key factors to open up the flow of the marine economy. However, this is also a big challenge. As the first and only source of bank capital on the outpost island of Bach Long Vi, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Director of the Social Policy Bank, Hai Phong City Branch, said that people have difficulty accessing commercial bank capital for two reasons. Firstly, there is no collateral because houses and land are under state management. Secondly, difficult travel conditions lead to commercial banks being reluctant to grasp loan needs, appraise assets and monitor the purpose of capital use. The People's Committee of Bach Long Vy district has invited a number of banks to survey and even sign memorandums of understanding, but no bank has yet established a branch here.

Fish farming in Ly Son sea brings good income to people

That is also the reason why the current capital source for banks on the outpost islands mainly comes from the Social Policy Bank. Mr. Le Anh Xuan said that on the islands, the capital demand is quite large, especially the initial investment capital for equipment, technology in exploitation, farming, processing and tourism infrastructure. The obstacle is that people have difficulty accessing loans.

After all, wherever we want to develop and improve people's lives, commercial credit must be the mainstay, while social policy credit focuses on poverty reduction and initial support for livelihoods. To do so, we need a master plan for socio-economic development, linking the protection of sea and island sovereignty with attracting business investment and developing people's livelihoods based on advantages (tourism, seafood, etc.).

This planning will be the foundation to attract investors, pave the way for commercial credit development, thereby promoting production and business and changing the socio-economic face of the islands. By doing so, life on the outpost islands will improve, people will feel secure in sticking to the sea and the islands, contributing to socio-economic development, strengthening national defense and security and confidence in the leadership of the Party and State.

Creating new life for the island

Remember, during his visit to Bach Long Vi Island on November 14, 2024, General Secretary To Lam stated that the 8th Conference of the 12th Central Executive Committee on the strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, determined: "Vietnam must become a strong maritime nation, rich from the sea, with sustainable development, prosperity, security and safety, sustainable development of the marine economy associated with ensuring national defense, security, maintaining independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity".

From the development practice on Bach Long Vi Island, the General Secretary also noted the issue of creating new vitality for the island, continuing to plant trees, build freshwater reservoirs, protect the environment and biodiversity of the islands. At the same time, strengthen social foundations, constantly consolidate solidarity between Party committees, authorities, forces and people on the island. In particular, attention must be paid to the material and spiritual life of cadres, soldiers and people on the island. People's lives need to be improved in all aspects, ensuring social security.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cuoc-thi-viet-chu-quyen-quoc-gia-bat-kha-xam-pham-lam-giau-cho-dao-tien-tieu-196250607201433572.htm