Journey to connect coastal cities with the Central Highlands

OCOP products of Tuy Hoa City are introduced in Buon Ma Thuot City. Photo: TRANG DIEM

Set up cooperation

According to Mr. Pham Tien Hung, Permanent Vice Chairman of Buon Ma Thuot City People's Committee, on June 25, 2022, in Pleiku City (Gia Lai Province), the cities of Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen Province), Gia Nghia (Dak Nong Province), Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak Province), Kon Tum (Kon Tum Province) and Pleiku (Gia Lai Province) signed a memorandum of understanding on the development program between the 5 cities, opening the cooperation process between the localities. Accordingly, Tuy Hoa City and the Central Highlands provinces have been implementing tasks and solutions to gradually turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, actively contributing to the socio-economic development of the region, contributing to promoting linkages and cooperation to promote the strengths of the 5 cities to form and effectively exploit the East-West economic corridor.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Thanh, Vice Chairman of Tuy Hoa City People's Committee, said: The time to start cooperation is also the time when Phu Yen province in particular and the whole country in general enter the new normal period after the COVID-19 pandemic. For Tuy Hoa City, this is a move demonstrating the determination to restore the economy and stabilize people's lives. Tuy Hoa proactively seeks out the Central Highlands with the aim of further promoting solidarity, friendship, and cooperation; taking the promotion of tourism development cooperation as the foundation, taking the strengthening of connections to create opportunities for promotion and investment promotion.

Up to now, after 3 years of cooperation, the cities have achieved the initial goal of forming a link between the Central Highlands provinces and the South Central Coast region; promoting existing potentials and strengths to create fundamental changes. In addition, people can exchange and enjoy the unique cultural, spiritual and culinary products of each region. All five cities are also facing a historical moment of the revolution of streamlining the organizational apparatus, arranging administrative units, organizing 2-level local governments, and entering a new era with the whole country. The cooperation between Tuy Hoa City and the Central Highlands cities has become a "fate" that brings the great Central Highlands and the beauty of the blue ocean together under one roof. These cooperations are becoming one of the materials that create a strong bond for the process of striving for development in the future.

Promote trade

Along with tourism development are investment promotion, trade and business connection activities through a series of fairs, exhibitions, introductions and promotion of OCOP products, typical cuisine; cultural and traditional cultural exchanges, etc. In particular, OCOP products and local specialties are focused on introducing and attracting the attention of people and businesses.

According to the People's Committee of Buon Ma Thuot City, currently, 5 cities have a total of 264 5-star, 4-star, and 3-star OCOP products. In the past 3 years, regardless of which city the activity is held in, that locality always prioritizes booths and areas to introduce and promote local OCOP products.

Notably, from Tuy Hoa City, the connection process with the Central Highlands cities has expanded to localities in the province such as Song Cau Town, Dong Hoa Town, Tay Hoa District, etc. According to the People's Committee of Dong Hoa Town, the locality has 44 3-star OCOP products. To promote the consumption of these products, Dong Hoa Town actively participates in fairs inside and outside the province. From 2024, local OCOP products will participate in the Fair to display and introduce OCOP products and typical products in 2024 in Kon Tum City and in 2025 in Buon Ma Thuot City.

All five cities are facing a historic moment of a revolution to streamline the organizational apparatus, reorganize administrative units, organize two-level local governments, and enter a new era with the whole country. The cooperation between Tuy Hoa City and the Central Highlands cities has become a "fate" that brings the great Central Highlands and the beauty of the blue ocean together. These cooperations are becoming one of the materials that create a strong bond for the process of striving to develop in the future.

Ms. Ngo Thi Thoa, a dry goods seller at Buon Ma Thuot City Central Market, shared: In the past, I often ordered dried shrimp, dried fish, fish sauce, etc. from Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau. Now, when I went to the fair and saw that Phu Yen's booth had many dried seafood products with beautiful packaging, fresh quality and reasonable prices, I immediately contacted households and production units to get goods and sell them long-term.

Mr. Huynh Ngoc Oanh, Standing Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Tuy Hoa City, said: This cooperation brings benefits to both coastal cities and cities in the Central Highlands. Because one side is forest products and the other side is marine products, they attract each other and the supply and demand from both sides are large. Only 3 years of cooperation but has brought unique and interesting things. That is, when you are at Tuy Hoa beach, you can still enjoy Ngoc Linh ginseng, wine, coffee..., and in the middle of the Central Highlands mountains, you can still enjoy the delicious taste of fresh tuna with mustard, cool bird's nest...

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/kinh-te/202505/hanh-trinh-ket-noi-cac-do-thi-bien-voi-tay-nguyen-e634d96/