Potential and advantages create the foundation.
In the context of a rapidly aging population, the demand for healthcare, recreation, and rehabilitation services for the elderly is increasing, creating a specialized service market with significant growth potential.
For Ninh Binh, after the administrative boundary consolidation, the population is over 4.4 million people, of which the elderly account for about 20%, higher than the national average. This not only creates a need for social welfare adaptation but also serves as an important prerequisite for the formation of a local "silver economy " market.
Besides its large population, Ninh Binh also possesses unique and distinctive conditions that create an important foundation for economic development.
First and foremost, Ninh Binh boasts a diverse natural ecosystem and pristine environment, featuring limestone mountains, primeval forests, mineral springs, and unique landscapes. This gives Ninh Binh a distinct advantage as the only locality in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to possess a dual World Heritage site – the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex – along with a rich system of historical sites, scenic spots, and spiritual and cultural spaces. This opens up significant potential for developing wellness tourism and health care services for the elderly.
Furthermore, the enduring cultural tradition of "respecting and honoring the elderly" within the community provides a favorable foundation for the development of senior-friendly services.
The province also boasts a rich system of traditional craft villages such as Ninh Van stone carving, Van Lam embroidery, Kim Son pottery, Tong Xa bronze casting, La Xuyen wood carving, etc., with the participation of many elderly artisans. These artisans are not only a core force in preserving and passing on the craft, but also contribute to creating products and services associated with cultural experiences, thereby enhancing the spiritual life of the elderly.
In particular, the elderly population in the province continues to play an active role in socio-economic life. From building new rural areas and developing OCOP products to production, business, and tourism services, the elderly are both active participants and an important resource for economic development.
In fact, in the former Ha Nam region, many economic models run by elderly people have generated hundreds of billions of dong in revenue each year, providing employment for thousands of workers.
These advantages are gradually being realized through investment projects. A prime example is the Cuc Phuong ForestJapan high-end resort and senior healthcare complex project in Dong Tam village (Cuc Phuong commune), covering 20 hectares with a total investment of approximately 2,010 billion VND. The project aims to serve approximately 2,610 guests daily, developing a resort model combined with healthcare according to Japanese standards – a new direction in line with the global trend of population aging.
According to Mr. Le Quoc Thinh, the investor of Vedana Resort, after the Ninh Binh Provincial Tourism Promotion Conference in Tokyo in 2024, the company signed a cooperation agreement with OCS Corporation (Japan) to build a high-end international health care center, taking advantage of the climate, hot mineral water sources, and the ecosystem of Cuc Phuong National Park. This approach shows that, if given favorable conditions, Ninh Binh can completely become an attractive destination for investment capital in the silver industry.
To create a service ecosystem for the elderly.
However, the actual implementation also shows that the silver economy in Ninh Binh is in its formative stage, revealing many difficulties that need to be addressed.
Mr. Le Quoc Thinh, the investor of Vedana Resort, stated that: Healthcare and wellness models for the elderly are highly integrated, simultaneously involving tourism, healthcare, and social welfare. However, the current legal system lacks a specific regulatory framework, leading to overlapping and inconsistent application. Furthermore, procedures related to land and the environment, especially in ecologically sensitive areas like Cuc Phuong, require rigorous assessment processes, prolonging the investment preparation time.
As one of the businesses that previously invested in a nursing home project in Ninh Binh, Mr. Tran Son of Kim Phat Co., Ltd. expressed: Currently, the incentive mechanisms for the silver industry are not clearly defined, while this is a sector that requires large capital, a long payback period, and a sufficiently strong incentive mechanism to attract investors.
Furthermore, the demand for geriatric nurses, rehabilitation specialists, and long-term care personnel is increasing, but the specialized training system remains limited. Simultaneously, the lack of a suitable mechanism for transferring and recognizing international standards is also affecting the implementation of elderly care projects.
Based on a clear understanding of the aging population trend and the unique advantages of the locality, at the online conference on the development of the "silver economy" in the world and the adaptation of policies and strategies in Vietnam, Ms. Ha Lan Anh, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, stated: Ninh Binh province identifies the development of the silver economy in a synchronized manner, closely linking social welfare goals with creating new growth drivers. The focus is on continuing to improve the healthcare service system for the elderly in a comprehensive and modern way, with an emphasis on developing geriatrics specialties, expanding community-based care services, and promoting the application of information technology and digital healthcare.
At the same time, the province is orienting the development of tourism products focused on wellness and health care, linked to heritage resources, ecological environment, and unique cultural and spiritual values, thereby attracting high-quality investment projects to serve both domestic and international markets.
Furthermore, promoting the role and experience of the elderly in production, business, preservation, and transmission of traditional crafts continues to receive attention, linked to the development of heritage economy and community tourism.
Alongside the above solutions, the province is promoting digital transformation, building a friendly living environment, and gradually improving urban infrastructure, transportation, and public works suitable for the elderly. This is a strategic direction aimed at turning the challenge of an aging population into an opportunity, making the silver economy a sustainable development advantage for Ninh Binh in the future.
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/khai-thac-tiem-nang-de-phat-trien-kinh-te-bac-260508075049737.html
Comment (0)