A new era is driving accelerated economic development in Vinh Long.

The implementation of a two-tiered local government system, in line with the general policy, has opened up opportunities for the newly established Vinh Long province. Within this province, the industry and trade sector is continuing to innovate, reorganize its structure, streamline its system, and operate effectively and efficiently to better serve the needs of the people and businesses.

Secretary of the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee Ngo Chi Cuong (in blue shirt) visits the province's OCOP booth.

The import-export market is booming in the first months of 2025.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Long province, the export situation and production and business activities of enterprises in Vinh Long province (after the merger of Tra Vinh and Ben Tre) in the first six months of 2025 continued to grow significantly. Increased global market demand contributed to boosting exports, achieving a considerable increase compared to the same period in 2024.

In the first six months of 2025, Vinh Long province's export turnover is estimated at US$1,863.65 million, an increase of 17.64% compared to the same period in 2024. Of this total: Vinh Long province (formerly) is estimated at US$578.8 million, an increase of 6.65%; Tra Vinh province (formerly) at US$275.05 million, an increase of 12.48%; and Ben Tre province (formerly) at US$1,009.8 million, an increase of 26.7% compared to the same period in 2024.

The province's export items showed a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024, including leather shoes; transport vehicles and parts; handbags, suitcases, hats and umbrellas; machinery, equipment and spare parts... The total export turnover of Vinh Long province (after merger) for the whole year of 2025 is estimated to reach 3,604 million USD, an increase of 7.94% compared to the same period in 2024.

Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, stated that the department is determined to complete the tasks and targets for 2025 and the entire term, making a positive contribution to economic growth.

According to the plan for the development of industrial parks and clusters in Vinh Long province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (integrated into the approved Vinh Long provincial planning), during the period 2021-2030, Vinh Long province is planned to develop 9 industrial clusters with a total area of ​​535.16 hectares. Of these, 3 industrial clusters have been established with a total area of ​​151.54 hectares; the remaining industrial clusters are currently seeking investment.

Thus, after the merger, Vinh Long province has planned the development of 31 industrial clusters with a total area of ​​1,655.86 hectares. Of these, 4 industrial clusters have become operational with a total area of ​​188.98 hectares, including: Trung Nghia Industrial Cluster (specializing in energy) with an area of ​​47.98 hectares; Phong Nam Industrial and Handicraft Cluster with an area of ​​72 hectares; An Duc Town Industrial Cluster with an area of ​​36 hectares; and Tan Thanh Binh Industrial Cluster with an area of ​​33 hectares.

The remaining industrial clusters are urgently completing procedures, preparing land, and actively inviting investment.

Currently, Vinh Long province has 401 markets (including 6 Class 1 markets; 40 Class 2 markets; 338 Class 3 markets and a number of temporary markets), 16 supermarkets (including 9 general supermarkets and 7 specialized supermarkets), 6 shopping centers, 1 shopping mall, and 139 convenience stores selling a variety of goods (114 Bach Hoa Xanh stores; 23 Winmart+ stores; 1 Co.op Food store and 1 Hoa Sao store)... These establishments effectively serve the consumer needs and the consumption of agricultural products in the province and the region.

To date, the Department of Industry and Trade has streamlined its organization, reducing the number of internal departments and units from 9 to 6, and has taken over the Market Management Sub-Department.

Regarding the implementation of the reorganization of provincial and commune-level administrative units and the organization of a two-tiered local government system: Based on Plan No. 47-KH/BCĐ dated April 14, 2025, of the Central Steering Committee on summarizing Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW and Document No. 4019-CV/TU dated April 18, 2025, of the Standing Committee of the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee, the province is implementing the reorganization and merger of provincial and commune-level administrative units and the organization of a two-tiered local government system in a streamlined and efficient manner.

The tasks and solutions for the last six months of 2025 for the Industry and Trade sector of Vinh Long province include continuing to implement legal documents from the central and local governments to ensure the national growth target for all sectors and fields in 2025 reaches 8% or higher. Simultaneously, the province will comprehensively implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, of the Politburo on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 153/NQ-CP, dated May 31, 2025, of the Government promulgating the Action Program to implement Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW, dated January 24, 2025, of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation; and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW, dated May 4, 2025, of the Politburo on the development of the private economy.

The sector continues to implement trade promotion and market development programs; and carry out solutions according to its functions and tasks to achieve the targets for growth in total retail sales of goods and services revenue assigned by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. It will focus on stimulating consumer demand in 2025; and coordinate with relevant departments, sectors, and localities to survey the situation of businesses and provide timely support and address difficulties.

The Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Long Province is in charge of coordinating and supporting businesses in technological innovation, enhancing competitiveness; promoting export products, connecting with domestic and international partners, expanding markets, and reducing dependence on traditional markets.

The Department recommends that the State Bank of Vietnam issue policies to support credit, reduce interest rates, and extend or postpone taxes for export businesses; and requests that ministries and agencies organize key trade promotion programs and seek alternative markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Continue providing training, legal and technical support to help businesses respond to commercial lawsuits; maintain the one-stop shop mechanism, integrated one-stop shop, and level 4 online public services.

The sector will continue to implement key projects and programs in 2025 such as restructuring the industry and trade sector; international economic integration; enhancing the value chain of the red ceramic industry; developing supporting industries; industrial promotion; trade promotion; developing e-commerce; and improving export capacity. At the same time, it will coordinate with the Management Board of Industrial Parks, relevant departments and localities to implement Program No. 13-CTr/TU of the Provincial Party Committee on the development of industrial parks and clusters in the 2021-2025 period and propose directions for the 2026-2030 period.

Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Long province, said that the industry is determined to complete the tasks and targets for 2025 and the entire term; focusing on developing key export items; effectively developing industrial parks and clusters, prioritizing key industries; structuring industries towards processing export goods, processing agricultural products, producing high value-added consumer goods and supporting industries.

The industry is also stepping up trade promotion, participating in trade fairs and exhibitions, and supply-demand connection conferences; connecting with distributors and supermarket chains in Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta region.

A new growth hub for the region and the country.

According to Decision No. 759/QD-TTg dated April 14, 2025, of the Prime Minister approving the Project on Rearranging and Reorganizing Administrative Units at all Levels and Building a Two-Tier Local Government Organization Model, the merger of Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, and Vinh Long provinces into a new province named Vinh Long has received high consensus from the political system, the people, and the business community. This is an important step towards streamlining the government apparatus to be more efficient and effective; closer to the people and businesses; and simultaneously opening up many new opportunities in an expanded development space, maximizing potential and attracting investment for socio-economic development, making Vinh Long a strong growth pole of the region and the country.

Experts believe that the merger of the three provinces creates a continuous 130-kilometer-long "coastal strip along the East Sea," allowing the (new) Vinh Long to expand its development space towards the sea. This will not only leverage agricultural advantages but also strongly promote the marine economy.

With an area of ​​nearly 6,300 km², over 4.1 million inhabitants, and 124 commune-level administrative units, the province has great appeal in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as developing industries such as agricultural and aquatic product processing, logistics, and clean, renewable energy. The Mekong River connectivity system, the network of expressways, national highways, and the eastern coastal road will create a solid framework, shaping the economic development space for both the province and the Mekong Delta region.

The political and administrative center of Vinh Long province is located between the Tien and Hau rivers, in the heart of the Mekong Delta, serving as a hub for trade and logistics. Its favorable transportation infrastructure includes National Highway 1, the Trung Luong - My Thuan - Can Tho expressway, the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway line (expected to start construction in 2027), and a system of inland waterways, creating optimal conditions for goods transportation.

Developing a green and sustainable economy is one of the province's strategic directions. Vinh Long aims to become a high-tech, ecological agricultural province by 2030, and one of the agricultural economic centers of the Mekong Delta region. Along with existing industrial parks such as Hoa Phu Industrial Park, Binh Minh Industrial Park, and the developing Dong Binh Industrial Park, Gilimex Vinh Long Industrial Park, and An Dinh Industrial Park; and industrial clusters meeting the demand for "clean land" to attract investment, the province is also leveraging the potential of the Dinh An Economic Zone and other large industrial parks in the area such as Long Duc Industrial Park, Cau Quan Industrial Park, Co Chien Industrial Park, Giao Long Industrial Park, Phu Thuan Industrial Park, An Hiep Industrial Park, and other industrial clusters.

The former Ben Tre province, once the "coconut capital" of Vietnam, boasts over 79,000 hectares of coconut plantations, exporting to 90 countries and generating nearly $500 million USD annually. After the merger, Vinh Long province has approximately 119,270 hectares (22 million trees), accounting for nearly 50% of the country's coconut area and making a significant contribution to export revenue (reaching $1.75 billion USD in 2024). Many key infrastructure projects are underway, such as the Ba Lai 8 Bridge, Dinh Khao Bridge, Cua Dai Bridge, the coastal road network, and the Rach Mieu 2 Bridge (expected to be operational on September 2nd, 2025), which will shorten travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to the eastern coastal provinces. A highlight is the 50,000-hectare land reclamation project, expanding the space for marine economic development.

Tra Vinh (formerly) is an emerging energy hub in the Mekong Delta, with large-scale wind and solar power projects, the Duyen Hai thermal power plant complex with thousands of MW, and a GRDP growth rate of 10.04% in 2024, the highest in the Mekong Delta region. With its extensive river system and coastline stretching over 130 km, the new Vinh Long has a significant advantage in developing its marine economy, logistics, seaports, and wind power.

Experts believe that, with its central location, diverse ecosystem, and resources, Vinh Long has many opportunities to become a new growth pole of the Mekong Delta. During the 2026-2030 period, the province needs to prioritize the development of industry, services, transportation infrastructure, high technology, and digital transformation; while simultaneously developing a comprehensive industrial-commercial-service infrastructure and improving the quality of human resources to promote sustainable growth.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/ky-nguyen-moi-dua-kinh-te-vinh-long-tang-toc-phat-trien-d355890.html