From pristine sea to key industrial center
Nearly two decades ago, Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa) was still a remote area, with poor fishing villages nestled on the shore. From a coastal area with many difficulties, today Nghi Son has risen to become one of the key industrial and energy centers of Vietnam, with a deep-water seaport, modern industrial park and Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex - a symbol of Thanh Hoa's strong transformation on the national economic map.
Nghi Son Economic Zone (EZ) was established in 2006, with a planned area of over 180 thousand hectares (including 66 thousand hectares of land and 114 thousand hectares of sea surface). After nearly 20 years of development, Nghi Son has become the largest heavy industry, energy, petrochemical and integrated seaport center in the Central region.
With 55 functional sub-zones, Nghi Son is identified as one of the eight key coastal economic zones of the country. Since its establishment, the Economic Zone has attracted 733 investment projects, including 75 FDI projects. Currently, many large-scale projects in the Economic Zone have been operating stably, playing the role of key growth drivers, such as Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, Nghi Son Thermal Power Plant 1 and 2, Nghi Son Cement, metallurgical projects, construction materials... These projects contribute to promoting the formation of a complete industrial ecosystem in the Nam Thanh - Bac Nghe area. Along with that, the technical infrastructure system in the Economic Zone has been gradually invested synchronously. The whole area has more than 100,000 workers, with an average income of 7.5 million VND/month.
The most important highlight of the KTT is the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, a national key project with a total investment of more than 9 billion USD, with a capacity of 10 million tons of crude oil/year, meeting about 35-40% of domestic gasoline demand.
The factory's operation has created a strong boost for Thanh Hoa's economy, increasing industrial production value many times over, GRDP increasing by an average of over 10%/year, helping Thanh Hoa become one of the four provinces with the highest growth rate in the country. Many supporting industries such as mechanics, transportation, construction, logistics... have also developed, forming a closed industrial value chain around Nghi Son port area.
Thanks to the development of enterprises in the economic zone, Thanh Hoa's state budget revenue has increased sharply, and for many consecutive years it has been among the top 10 localities with the highest revenue in the country. In 2024, the province's total budget revenue is estimated to reach more than 50,000 billion VND, of which Nghi Son area alone contributes more than half.
Towards a national integrated seaport
In its development orientation to 2030, Thanh Hoa has identified Nghi Son Economic Zone as a driving force, but not only focusing on oil and gas and heavy industry as before. The province is attracting strategic investors in the fields of clean energy, new materials industry, LNG electricity, deep processing and high technology.
According to Mr. Trinh Huy Trieu - Head of Nghi Son Economic Zone Management Board, in his report at the recent Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Congress, besides the achieved results, Nghi Son's development is still not commensurate with its potential and advantages. Some strategic infrastructures have not been completed, many projects are slow to implement. Site clearance is still difficult. High-quality human resources are lacking, while administrative procedures still need to continue to be strongly reformed. These are "bottlenecks" that need to be resolved soon in the coming period.
To realize the goal of turning Nghi Son into a green, smart, modern urban-industrial and service center; turning Nghi Son general port into a national general port, a regional logistics center, one of the international seaport centers in the North, according to Mr. Trieu, it is necessary to complete the master plan for the development of Nghi Son Economic Zone with a long-term vision, closely linked to the general development strategy of the province and the whole country. The planning must be one step ahead, ensuring synchronization, modernity and regional connectivity.
The focus is on developing strategic infrastructure, especially the seaport system and logistics services, to turn Nghi Son into an international trade center and an important economic gateway of the North Central region.
Along with that is the construction of synchronous technical infrastructure, modernization of the transportation system, expansion of seaports and development of urban areas and service areas around the economic zone. The completion of infrastructure not only serves Nghi Son but also connects the entire Nam Thanh - Bac Nghe region, forming a growth axis of the North Central Coast.
“In the coming period, Thanh Hoa needs to continue restructuring its economy, improving the capacity of enterprises in the province, encouraging the private sector and small businesses to participate more deeply in the Nghi Son industrial supply chain. With its strategic location, great potential, the attention of the Central Government and the direct and comprehensive guidance of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee, Nghi Son Economic Zone will soon become a green, smart and modern urban - industrial and service center; contributing significantly to the successful implementation of the goal of turning Thanh Hoa into a modern industrial province by 2030, and by 2045 becoming a rich, beautiful, civilized and happy province,” Mr. Trieu affirmed in the report.
Le Duong
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/khu-kinh-te-nghi-son-dau-tau-tang-truong-dong-gop-lon-cho-ngan-sach-tinh-2463442.html
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