Unblocking "bottlenecks", creating a breakthrough in An Giang's border trade economy - Last article: Unblocking "golden veins", creating the future

An Giang has clearly identified the “bottlenecks” hindering the border trade economy and is gradually opening the way with solutions. When infrastructure is invested synchronously, logistics operates effectively, regional and international connections are promoted, the border trade economy will have the opportunity to break through and become a new growth driver for the province.

Accelerate infrastructure investment and attract investment

Transport infrastructure is identified as a key lever to promote the circulation of goods, attract investment, reduce logistics costs and create momentum for the border economy. According to the alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Mung, in the 2025 - 2030 term, the province will focus maximum resources to complete the synchronous and modern infrastructure system, ensuring the progress of expressway projects such as Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang , Ha Tien - Rach Gia - Bac Lieu, along with internal traffic projects connecting with major economic centers, industrial parks, clusters, border economic zones... These routes, when completed, will form a complete infrastructure system serving cross-border freight transport, creating a lever to promote rapid economic development of the province.

A key project is the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway, when completed, will become a vital cross-section connecting the An Giang border with Tran De seaport. According to the Provincial Project Management Board, component project 1, the 57km section through An Giang is expected to be technically open to traffic before December 10, 2025 and complete auxiliary items before December 19, 2025. In parallel, vital routes such as National Highway N1, National Highway 80B, provincial roads, riverside roads, roads connecting production areas and border economic zones are also being planned and upgraded synchronously.

Fruit vendors at Vinh Xuong border market, Vinh Xuong commune. Photo: DANH THANH

Not only developing infrastructure, An Giang is aiming to build a modern logistics ecosystem, creating a foundation for sustainable border trade development. Head of the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board Tran Minh Nhut said: "In the coming time, the province will develop a modern logistics ecosystem, build logistics centers in Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong, connecting with Tran De port and Phu Quoc airport. The Tinh Bien logistics center project is planned according to international standards, with the function of storing, distributing and controlling imported and exported goods."

Border economic zones are also being planned in a multi-sector, multi-sector direction, linked to border advantages and the need to connect with Cambodia. The Provincial Party Committee has determined that in the 2025-2030 term, the province will focus resources and attract investment to develop An Giang border economic zones to become an important trading hub, a center for economic development and exchange between the countries of the Mekong Sub-region, especially in relations with Cambodia. The province will upgrade Khanh Binh National Border Gate to an international border gate. At the same time, it will continue to invest in developing important technical infrastructure and social infrastructure systems in Vinh Xuong, Tinh Bien, Khanh Binh and Ha Tien border economic zones to attract investors.

The Provincial Economic Zone Management Board is tasked with completing the detailed planning, ensuring the connection between the sub-zones and the ability to expand border gates. Mr. Tran Minh Nhut shared: “We prioritize attracting projects in agricultural and aquatic product processing, logistics, and border trade to create a breakthrough in land use efficiency and sustainable development.”

Connect to develop, reform to break through

In the development orientation for the 2025 - 2030 term, the Provincial Party Committee identified the connection with Cambodia through border gates as one of the strategic pillars. The province will promote cooperation with provinces bordering Cambodia to expand the market and improve common infrastructure, coordinate cross-border trade and tourism activities. Along with that, the province builds a chain of links from raw material areas - processing - export to increase the value of border trade.

Regional connectivity is also strongly promoted. An Giang is proactively connecting with localities to form a cross-border East-West economic corridor. The province coordinates to build a common development strategy with the Mekong Sub-region provinces, creating a regional value chain linked to the ASEAN market. Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien - Member of the Prime Minister's Policy Advisory Council, said that An Giang needs to pay attention to establishing the Vietnam - Cambodia - ASEAN economic - logistics corridor, linked to border gates, seaports, airports and highways passing through the province. Effective connectivity will create competitive advantages for goods, expand markets, and increase investment attraction.

In the context of digitalization and deep integration, An Giang has identified administrative reform and modernization of customs clearance procedures as key tasks. The Provincial People's Committee has identified the need to implement the national single window mechanism, ASEAN single window, e-customs and modern monitoring systems at border gates. The goal is to shorten customs clearance time, reduce costs, and create a more favorable and transparent business environment for enterprises. Along with that, the province has developed a strategy to train high-quality human resources for the logistics, international trade, customs and information technology sectors. Small and medium-sized enterprises are supported to access capital, technology and markets to participate in the export value chain.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade, in the coming time, the Department will closely monitor developments in border trade policies, promptly forecast and guide businesses to adapt flexibly. In addition, the province also promotes cross-border e-commerce, supports the development of digital business models and logistics services at border gates. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tan Duong - Head of the Border Guard Station of Ha Tien International Border Gate said: "We will promote the application of information technology in border gate management. When applied synchronously, the inspection process will be faster, more transparent, limiting procedures, paperwork, and direct contact; thereby reducing negativity and saving time for people and businesses".

The synchronous participation from the central to local levels, from the government to enterprises is creating momentum for the border economy of An Giang to change strongly. From highways, national highways, logistics centers to border economic zones, all are aiming at the common goal: Turning border advantages into real development drivers, opening up a "golden vein" connecting An Giang with the Mekong Delta and the Mekong Sub-region countries.

“In the coming time, the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board will coordinate with departments, branches and localities to remove bottlenecks in land and investment policies. At the same time, promote international trade with border provinces of Cambodia, Thailand and further Laos,” said Tran Minh Nhut, Head of the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board.

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Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/khoi-thong-diem-nghen-but-pha-kinh-te-bien-mau-an-giang-bai-cuoi-khoi-thong-mach-vang-kien--a463009.html