Marine economy – The driving force of a dynamic and developing economy

With the advantage of owning 250km of coastline and over 6,000km2 ^of water surface, Quang Ninh has identified the marine economy as an important spearhead of a dynamic and developing economy. On the basis of effectively exploiting its own potentials and developing the marine economy in a sustainable manner, the province has issued Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU on the development of seaports and seaport services to clearly and comprehensively orient the goals for action. After 5 years, the resolution has truly come into life, becoming an important guideline, marking many outstanding development marks, contributing to the growth of the province.

The effectiveness of a suitable decision

Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU (dated April 23, 2019) of the Provincial Party Committee on the development of seaports and seaport services in the province until 2025, with a vision to 2030, was issued in the context of Quang Ninh possessing diverse seaport infrastructure, from deep-water ports, liquefied gas ports, sea cargo transit ports to ports in border areas. However, the potential and advantages of the province's seaports have not been effectively exploited, while the demand for international sea transport tends to increase strongly, shipping lines use large ships to save on transportation costs and waiting time for cargo handling because they do not have to transship goods at intermediate ports.

Cargo loading and unloading activities at CICT Cai Lan Port.

Keeping pace with the general development trend, completing infrastructure and improving the quality of seaports is considered one of the urgent requirements to open up new opportunities in seaport economic development. Implementing the spirit of Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU, Quang Ninh has reviewed and developed a seaport development plan associated with socio-economic activities and growth. The province has established a Steering Committee for seaport and seaport services development; proposed 59 main tasks and 31 specific tasks, clearly assigned responsibilities to the presiding agencies and coordinating agencies to implement according to the Resolution's roadmap; promoted dissemination and propaganda of the spirit of the Resolution to resonate consensus and join hands in building and developing seaports in the business community and people...

Up to now, after 5 years, Quang Ninh has affirmed itself as one of the strong maritime economic centers, with the core being port activities, coastal services and industries, developing commercial zones associated with the coastal economic belt of the Gulf of Tonkin. Total revenue from seaport services reached nearly 15,000 billion VND, an average increase of 17.4%/year; the contribution ratio of seaport services reached about 0.49% in the province's GRDP; total output of goods through ports reached about 679 million tons, an average of 132.1 million tons/year, equal to 107.87% compared to the target by 2025; total import-export turnover through seaports reached 50.38 billion USD, an average of 10.08 billion USD per year...

Impressively, in the 5 years of implementing the spirit of the Resolution, there were 3 years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a time in 2021 when there were no international visitors to Quang Ninh by ship... however, the total number of tourists to Quang Ninh still reached over 40 million, an increase of 71.1% compared to the Resolution's plan (The plan by 2025, the total number of sea and island tourists reached 23.5 million).

Ao Tien Port, Van Don district put into operation, becoming the gateway to tourism of the island routes of Quang Ninh province.

Along with the indicators of total cargo output and passengers through the port remaining stable, with outstanding growth, achieving the Resolution's target, Quang Ninh also owns a synchronous and modern seaport infrastructure, many new high-value services have been put into service for tourists, such as: Hon Gai International Passenger Port, Tuan Chau International Passenger Port, Ha Long International Passenger Port; Vung Duc Port; Ao Tien Port; Yacht Bay Wharf. Many new constructions have appeared in the coastal area such as Hon Gai and Cam Pha beaches; 4-5 star hotel systems have also been put into service to welcome guests... For cargo services, key seaport services and strengths are being formed and developed, such as warehousing, loading and unloading of goods, and models of enterprises providing ship supply services. From there, it contributes to the formation of modern infrastructure, creating highlights in landscape architecture, meeting the needs of tourists and shipping units.

Another clear change in the implementation of a suitable resolution is that the awareness of the role and special significance in the strategy for developing seaports and seaport services has been gradually raised; administrative reform and application of information technology have been basically completed according to the requirements of the new period; continued investment and development of seaport infrastructure have been strongly implemented, closely linked with socio-economic activities; investment promotion and promotion of seaport brands have been improved through many forms, thereby forming business associations associated with the marine economy; forming a tourism chain connecting sea routes through domestic and international shipping lines...

International cruise ships take visitors to Ha Long.

With its existing infrastructure, Quang Ninh has the ideal conditions to be a logistics center and the focal point of the Northern Key Economic Zone, an important connection point in maritime transport activities and goods circulation with neighboring regions. Quang Ninh's maritime economy is gradually asserting its outstanding competitive advantage compared to other localities; in line with the development trend of freight transport that is popular in the world, which is by sea, to achieve the highest business efficiency.

Driving force for dynamic economy

As the gateway to the sea of the entire Red River Delta - the midland and mountainous region of the North, the marine economy of Quang Ninh province always plays an important role, is the driving force for the development of the Northern key economic region in general, and the economic development of Quang Ninh province in particular. This is a growth driver that has contributed significantly to the socio-economic achievements of the province.

The effective implementation of Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee on the development of seaports and seaport services in the province until 2025, with a vision to 2030, in the past 5 years has gradually removed the "bottlenecks" in infrastructure and mechanisms, creating new opportunities for development of each locality, taking on about 8.3% of the volume of freight transport and 11.3% of the volume of passenger transport, accounting for 40.5% of the total volume of goods through seaports in the Northern region. From there, it has created a driving force for the development of economic sectors related to the sea such as seafood, tourism, logistics, etc.

Quang Ninh Maritime Port Authority and related state management units dialogue and resolve difficulties with seaport service businesses.

Continuing this development momentum, Quang Ninh has identified marine economic development as one of the key tasks with long-term orientations and solutions. In particular, the development perspective is still towards green growth; building and developing Quang Ninh into a sustainable marine economic center of the country, a regional sea-oriented transit gateway on the basis of developing tourism - services connecting the region and the world; being one of the key logistics centers of the country. At the same time, developing coastal and marine aquaculture and exploitation using high technology, effectively and sustainably to create added value for marine products, contributing to saving marine resources; planning coastal and inshore spaces for sustainable tourism development combined with the development of economic - service sectors based on marine conservation is an outstanding strength in Quang Ninh.

At the same time, the province continues to allocate resources, prioritize the synchronous construction and upgrading of multi-purpose infrastructure systems, to ensure "dual benefits" in development; gradually shift to strong development of renewable energy; reorganize the space for marine economic development based on spatial zoning based on ecosystems and functions of using sea, islands and coastal areas; allocate marine space, coastal areas and islands to industries and fields according to the principle of ensuring harmony of interests and reducing spatial conflicts in the exploitation and use of the same coastal, island and sea areas, between groups and individuals. Clearly identify the breakthroughs as: Marine tourism associated with marine economy; driving force from industrial parks, economic zones and coastal urban areas based on the advantage of synchronous infrastructure connection; renewable energy industry and new marine economic sector.

Van Ninh General Port Project (Mong Cai City) is being invested and constructed.

In particular, the province continues to review, research and issue strong enough policies to attract investment in industrial parks and economic zones; grasp the plan to shift manufacturing plants of some countries that are tending to shift to ASEAN countries to invest in production to promptly attract them to industrial parks in the province, in order to create a source of goods for shipping lines to handle goods at Quang Ninh ports. At the same time, focus on attracting and calling on businesses with experience, financial capacity and ideas to invest in a synchronous system of seaports, logistics, and multi-type business services according to international standards, such as: Maritime agency services, warehouse services, container handling, cargo transshipment and unloading, ship supply... during the implementation process, avoiding small-scale, scattered investments, not creating a competitive scale and qualified service quality to meet business needs and the development orientation of the province; Implement sustainable management of the province's marine economy according to the method of spatial-based, interdisciplinary marine governance with the substantial participation of residential communities and businesses...

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