Trade is quiet
In early November 2023, we arrived at Nam Can International Border Gate. Usually, the end of October is the time to start preparing for Tet goods, but activities here are still quiet. Apart from trucks carrying ore from Laos to Vietnam to clear customs, some people come back and forth to visit relatives, the amount of goods exchanged between the two sides is very small.
Ms. Y Khan, a resident of Noong De village who specializes in purchasing brocade and selling groceries, said that almost every household in Nam Can produces brocade; every month, Nam Can market opens on weekends, but the amount of goods allowed to be brought from Vietnam to trade at this market is not much. The same goes for other agricultural products.
A commercial center building has been built at the Nam Can border gate economic zone, but this building is currently almost empty, without any booths or trading activities. Inside the commercial center are empty spaces, no one passes by and is deteriorating and old.
In addition, in Nam Can commune, there is no accommodation facility to serve the sleeping needs of tourists and people passing through this area.
According to Mr. Lang Luong - Secretary of the Party Committee of Nam Can Commune, currently, the trade and goods between the two sides through Nam Can International Border Gate is still limited. Vietnamese people passing through Nam Can Border Gate once a month are allowed to bring goods worth no more than 2 million VND, which has not yet promoted the commercial efficiency worthy of an international border gate. Therefore, people mainly go to the border market for entertainment and sightseeing, and there are not many traders. Although the service sector of the commune accounts for 55%, it is still a modest number compared to the potential.
In Nghe An , in addition to Nam Can International Border Gate, Thanh Thuy Border Gate is also one of the potential locations for economic development in the province. Currently, although the infrastructure around the border gate has been planned for construction, it has not yet been implemented in practice. In addition to security control on both sides of the border gate, there are almost no trading activities.
One of the reasons why Thanh Thuy border gate area has not been developed, according to the leader of Thanh Thuy Commune People's Committee (Thanh Chuong District), is partly because Laos has not upgraded Nam On border gate to an international border gate.
Solutions to promote economic potential of border gates
Nghe An has 4 border gates, including Nam Can - Ky Son international border gate; Thanh Thuy - Thanh Chuong national border gate; 2 other border gates: Tam Hop - Tuong Duong and Cao Veu - Anh Son, located in the Southwest region of the province with cultural diversity, natural resources favorable for the development of forest economy, tourism as well as border gate economic development.
According to statistics from the Department of Industry and Trade, in recent times, with the attention and timely close direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the security and defense situation in border areas has been ensured, national border sovereignty has been maintained, creating favorable conditions for the development of border gate economy, contributing to the overall economic development of the province.
Specifically, border areas and border districts still maintain positive economic growth. The exchange of goods by residents and traders through border markets, especially on holidays and market days, is more.
The import-export turnover between Nghe An and Laos in the first 9 months of 2023 is estimated to reach 78.82 million USD (Exports are estimated to reach 44.63 million USD, imports are estimated to reach 34.19 million USD); estimated to reach 100 million USD this year. Previously, in 2022, the import-export turnover between Nghe An and Laos reached 73.47 million USD.
Resolution 39-NQ/TW dated July 18, 2023 of the Politburo on the construction and development of Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2045, has determined the development direction of the western region of Nghe An as the Ho Chi Minh trail economic corridor, National Highway 7 economic corridor, including border gate economy. For border gate economy, it is necessary to develop in the direction of regional development, regional linkage with neighboring Laos associated with national defense and security in border areas.
For districts with border gates, the current transportation system in the region has vital routes such as National Highway 7 to Laos and the Ho Chi Minh trail connecting districts and the Western region.
In the coming time, when the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway project is built, including the expressway section connecting Vinh - Thanh Thuy (Thanh Chuong), it will increase the advantage for the development of the region. Most recently, the Government included the Vinh - Thanh Thuy expressway project in the investment portfolio for the period 2026 - 2030, as a component project with a length of 61km, belonging to the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway project with a total length of 688km.
This is an advantage in linking regional development and with neighboring Laos. When the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway is completed, passing through Thanh Thuy border gate to the West, connecting with the North-South road and railway, with Cua Lo seaport and Vinh airport in the provincial planning approved by the Government. At the same time, the expressway is located near the Vinh - Cua Lo - Nam Dan development triangle, creating advantages and motivation for Thanh Chuong to develop rapidly, sustainably and promote the border gate economic zone.
At the recent scientific conference on the development of the Southwest region of Nghe An, scientists also proposed many solutions to promote the border gate economy in Nghe An. According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Tu - Director of the Center for Social Sciences and Humanities of Nghe An, in addition to the potential for economic development from tourism, high-tech agricultural production, and forest economy, the border gate economy is also an effective strategic direction for the Southwest region of Nghe An. Therefore, Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Tu proposed to develop the border gate economic zone associated with Thanh Thuy National Border Gate; at the same time, continue to invest in the infrastructure of Nam Can International Border Gate.
According to the proposal of Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Chu - Former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the East Asia University of Technology, in terms of border economic development, expanding cooperation with Laos and Thailand is a priority strategic direction. Because, trade between Nghe An with Laos and Thailand through the Southwest region of Nghe An has a history of many centuries. In today's digital age, barriers in transport infrastructure and communication have been reduced, creating more favorable conditions for expanding development cooperation. Many Nghe An people have businesses in Laos, and through Laos they trade with Thailand. The province needs to have preferential policies to encourage Nghe An people to expand their businesses in Laos and Thailand.
In addition, many opinions suggest that it is necessary to continue to encourage and create conditions for economic sectors to participate in investing in developing potential areas in the border gate area. Prioritize investment capital to build Nam Can International Border Gate and complete the infrastructure of Thanh Thuy National Border Gate to prepare conditions for the formation of the Border Gate Economic Zone. Develop specific investment incentive policies for border infrastructure development, focusing on the policy of developing the province's land border trade infrastructure.
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