Awakening the potential of the marine economy

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Construction Dao Huy Hiep, the province is synchronously implementing and building transport infrastructure according to the planning, reasonably between roads, waterways, airways... to connect traffic smoothly between localities inside and outside the province, connecting the marine economic zone with key traffic axes. Through infrastructure investment, it creates a driving force to promote sustainable development of the marine economy, attract investment capital, promote and effectively exploit the potential of the marine economy.

Many breakthrough projects in developing transport infrastructure to promote the development of the marine economy have been implemented by the province, such as the investment project to upgrade the Lo Te - Rach Soi route to meet standards and manage and operate according to expressway standards, expected to be put into operation in the fourth quarter of 2025; the Ho Chi Minh road project, Rach Soi - Ben Nhut, Go Quao - Vinh Thuan sections. The province continues to coordinate the implementation of the Hau Giang - Ca Mau section component project of the North - South expressway construction investment project in the eastern part of the 2021 - 2025 period, the section through Vinh Thuan district is 23.24 km long, expected to be completed in 2025. In particular, investing in the coastal road system through the old Kien Giang province, with a total length of 204 km, the province has invested in building the 109 km Rach Gia - Ha Tien section...

A corner of Ha Tien beach. Photo: HANH CHAU

According to the Department of Construction, the Ha Tien - Rach Gia - Bac Lieu expressway project is expected by the government and people to promote the development of the marine economy. The My Thuan Project Management Board is implementing the pre-feasibility phase of the project, expected to start construction of the Ha Tien - Rach Gia section in 2026 and complete in 2030. Along with that, the province invests in upgrading and regularly maintaining national highways 80, 61, 63, N1, and provincial roads to ensure smooth traffic, including completing the investment project to build and upgrade national highway 61 in 2024. At the same time, starting a new project on the main coastal road to the center of Ha Tien city.

Regarding the seaport and inland waterway system, the province has focused on implementing a series of investment projects and upgrading ports, inland waterway terminals and sea routes, including upgrading and expanding Rach Gia Passenger Port, expected to be completed and put into operation in the fourth quarter; operating Phu Quoc International Passenger Port; receiving and managing An Thoi Seaport. The construction sector also coordinates with relevant sectors and units to establish detailed planning and gradually invest in upgrading and constructing inland waterway port infrastructure: Ha Tien, Nam Du, Tho Chau, Xeo Nhau, Linh Huynh port clusters. Constructing seaport infrastructure such as Bai Vong, Mui Dat Do, Hon Chong... and dredging and clearing inland waterways and port entrances and exits, including marinas and seaplane terminals in the provincial planning.

With the dynamism of the province, many large projects and works have been completed and put into use such as: Phu Quoc International Airport; national power grid to Phu Quoc, Hon Tre, Lai Son, Hon Nghe, Son Hai islands; exploitation of fishing ports, coastal traffic systems and on Phu Quoc, Hon Nghe, Hon Tre, Nam Du islands... promoting the development of marine and island economy. In the bright spot, Phu Quoc has attracted investment in many important projects, especially bringing the province to the level of strong development of the "smokeless industry" from the effectiveness of attracting investment in Vinpearl, the leading entertainment area in Southeast Asia - Phu Quoc United Center, Safari area, An Thoi - Hon Thom cable car... Along with investing in building economic and social infrastructure in coastal and island areas, in 2021, the province will build and implement a project to develop sustainable marine aquaculture in the area until 2030 and a project to investigate coastal and offshore fishing occupations, and rearrange the structure of fishing occupations.

The province has a large passenger transport fleet of 36 passenger transport vehicles from the mainland to the island by sea and more than 150 cargo transport vehicles. The average passenger transport output increases by 7-9% per year, promoting the development of the maritime transport system.

To awaken the potential of the marine economy in the coming time, the province continues to research and advise the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Government and the Ministry of Construction to sign agreements and protocols to open the Vietnam - Cambodia - Thailand coastal transport route. Organize the establishment of specialized technical projects such as: Developing transport infrastructure, developing transport associated with green transport, managing water transport activities serving tourism in Phu Quoc, exploiting An Thoi Port... Calling for investment in developing a fleet of ships to connect transport between the mainland and the islands, between countries in the region such as Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, contributing to promoting the development of the marine economy, effectively exploiting the province's marine tourism potential.

With many strategies for marine economic development and the implementation of 21 projects serving APEC 2027, An Giang is gradually shaping itself into a multi-sector, multi-field marine economic center of the Southwest region.

HANH CHAU

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/danh-thuc-tiem-nang-kinh-te-bien-a427380.html