Maximizing the economic potential of border gates.

Diverse solutions for promoting border trade.

According to data from the Gia Lai Provincial Department of Industry and Trade, in the first eight months of 2024, the total import and export turnover through Le Thanh International Border Gate reached US$148.72 million, an increase of 56% compared to the same period in 2023 (US$95.37 million). Of this, import turnover reached US$118.7 million, an increase of 103%; export turnover reached US$30.02 million, a decrease of 19%.

Trade through the Le Thanh International Border Gate has been quite vibrant recently (Photo: Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee Information Portal)

The Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone in Duc Co district, bordering Cambodia, is currently a gateway for trade and a driving force for economic development. Every year, thousands of tons of goods and agricultural products such as bananas, cassava chips, durian, cashews, etc., are transported through the border gate into the interior of Vietnam or to Quy Nhon port in Binh Dinh province for export to other countries around the world .

Recognizing border trade as a crucial component of the local economy, Gia Lai province has implemented numerous solutions to enhance the effectiveness of border trade. According to the Gia Lai Department of Industry and Trade, trade between Gia Lai province and Ratanakiri province (Kingdom of Cambodia) has been very close. From 2022 to the present, the Gia Lai Department of Industry and Trade has collaborated with the Ratanakiri Department of Commerce to organize two border trade fairs. In November 2023, the Gia Lai Department of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Departments of Commerce of three northeastern Cambodian provinces, organized a trade conference to promote the export of goods from the Central Highlands region to foreign businesses, resulting in the signing of 12 memoranda of cooperation…

In addition, the border market is now held once a year, providing an opportunity to enhance trade between border localities of the two countries.

To enhance the effectiveness of border trade, in May of this year, the People's Committee of Gia Lai province issued a plan to implement Decision No. 294/QD-TTg dated April 9, 2024, of the Prime Minister approving the plan for implementing the Border Trade Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Accordingly, regarding the construction and development of border trade infrastructure, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee directed relevant departments, agencies, and localities to review the list of border trade infrastructure such as: border markets, trade centers, supermarkets, convenience stores; and supporting services: warehousing, delivery, transportation, processing, preservation of goods, banking and financial services…

At the same time, we propose mechanisms and policies to encourage investment from businesses in the province and in Cambodian provinces to develop the Vietnam-Cambodia border trade infrastructure. In particular, we aim to attract investment in agricultural product processing and manufacturing plants in the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone, which will serve as a basis for attracting labor and people to the border area.

Promote border market activities at the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone to become a large-scale goods exchange point, attracting traders from border provinces. Build and improve infrastructure in the Le Thanh International Border Gate area and border control stations in accordance with the Central Government's Land Border Gate Planning and the Gia Lai Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

Regarding trade promotion and investment development for border trade infrastructure, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee has assigned relevant departments, agencies, and localities to organize and participate in trade and investment promotion activities between Gia Lai province and Cambodian border provinces, and to promote the construction and development of border trade infrastructure in the border area between Gia Lai province and Ratanakiri province (Kingdom of Cambodia).

Support local traders in the province in organizing the introduction, promotion, and distribution of goods at border markets, trade centers, fairs, and exhibitions in the two border provinces of Gia Lai and Ratanakiri. Annually, organize a border market at the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone to introduce, promote, and trade products from Vietnam and Cambodia.

At the same time, effectively implement cooperation agreements and investment projects with Cambodia that the province has signed, actively support businesses in expanding cross-border investment and trade activities with Cambodia to encourage organizations and individuals to invest in the construction and socio-economic development of the border areas of Gia Lai province and the provinces of Cambodia.

In addition, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee directed a focus on reviewing and reforming administrative procedures to facilitate the entry and exit of people and vehicles, and the import and export of goods; creating a favorable and open investment environment to enhance the attraction of domestic and foreign investment (including from Cambodia) into the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone; focusing on reviewing and reforming administrative procedures in project appraisal, investment licensing, business registration, land allocation, land leasing, etc., in order to facilitate businesses investing in infrastructure development in the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone.

Promoting the development of border gate economy.

From now until the end of the year, the Gia Lai Department of Industry and Trade aims to register a meeting with the Ratanakiri Department of Commerce to discuss signing a cooperation agreement between the two departments to promote cross-border trade. In addition, they will seek opinions from relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, on increasing the frequency of border markets to monthly or weekly levels to improve the efficiency of goods consumption for border residents.

Simultaneously, according to the Gia Lai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, the unit is urgently completing the infrastructure project and planning scheme for the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, the infrastructure project for the Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone for the period 2022-2025 has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee and allocated 20 billion VND in capital for 2024. Once the planning is completed and the infrastructure is finished, Gia Lai province will attract investors to operate within the economic zone, thereby improving the efficiency of import and export through the border gate.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/gia-lai-khai-thac-hieu-qua-kinh-te-cua-khau-343450.html