Platform for expanding sustainable development space

Lam Dong province has open space from the plateau to the sea, diverse natural resources, converging potential and strengths in sea, forest, climate, and minerals. The province has a foundation for development on three economic pillars: Industry, agriculture and tourism-services.

To promote that potential, the connecting transport system is considered the foundation and "key" to open up new development space for Lam Dong and the region.

Promoting geographical advantages

With a very special geographical position, stretching from the southwestern gateway of the Central Highlands, bordering Cambodia, to the coastline of more than 190 km in the east, the province currently has all four types of transportation, including railway, road, waterway and air. The total length of the road is more than 20.8 thousand km, of which 180 km is invested according to expressway standards, 10 national highways with a total length of 1,469 km; more than 270 km of the north-south railway passing through the area, along with Lien Khuong International Airport and Phan Thiet Airport are preparing to be put into operation. The east of the province has three operating seaports: Phan Thiet, Phu Quy, Vinh Tan and an inland waterway system with inter-regional connectivity.

Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association Tran Ngoc Chinh said: “The completion and upgrading of national highways, intra-provincial, inter-regional and expressway connections will ensure seamless inter-provincial connections, bringing Lam Dong a huge advantage. At the same time, it will create an economic corridor connecting the “golden forests” and the “silver seas”, opening up opportunities for comprehensive and sustainable development.”

Many experts affirm that good transport infrastructure will contribute to attracting investment and be the foundation for socio-economic development, logistics system, intra-regional and inter-regional tourism connection... Tra Tan commune is an example, this is the locality leading the province in industrial development, with five industrial clusters, one industrial park, of which two industrial clusters have been filled.

During the inspection of industrial clusters in Tra Tan commune, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai highly appreciated the efforts of the locality and the investors of the industrial cluster projects in helping the land with little economic value become a vibrant industrial zone of the province. That result is thanks to the factor of synchronous investment in technical infrastructure and connecting traffic.

However, in reality, Lam Dong's transportation system still has many limitations, failing to meet the socio-economic development needs of the province, such as weak connections, overloading, and winding, narrow roads. Traffic connecting the province between the highlands and the blue sea is via the main national highways 28, 28B and 55, but these routes have not yet completed upgrading and expanding; many sections are seriously degraded. Traffic connecting rural areas with urban areas, or to national highways and expressways is still limited.

Provincial Party Secretary Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam frankly said: Due to the low starting point, infrastructure and transportation difficulties, the locality hopes that the Central Government will continue to pay attention and prioritize support for investment capital for key infrastructure projects, especially the intra-provincial and inter-regional transportation systems... so that Lam Dong has the opportunity to make a breakthrough...

The appearance of the new land

At the 1st Congress of Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee, term 2025-2030, Politburo member, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh emphasized that Lam Dong is rich in potential, has outstanding and distinct advantages in tourism, renewable energy and exploitation and processing of bauxite and titanium minerals... To maximize the available potential and advantages, connecting infrastructure must be one step ahead. It is necessary to prioritize all resources, speed up the progress of strategic transport projects, such as the Dau Giay-Lien Khuong, Gia Nghia-Chon Thanh, Nha Trang-Lien Khuong expressways; upgrade national highways and especially the two airports Lien Khuong and Phan Thiet. These are the lifelines to connect economic zones in the province and open the door to trade with both the country and internationally.

To promote the potential and strengths of the land, the connecting traffic system is the foundation and key to opening up new development space for Lam Dong and the whole region. Architect Tran Ngoc Chinh said: "In Lam Dong, the connection from the plateau to the sea is still limited, lacking horizontal routes. Therefore, it is necessary to prioritize solving the problem of connecting traffic". Dr. Le Trung Chon, Institute for Sustainable Development Research, Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment, suggested that Lam Dong province needs to re-plan a synchronous traffic network, connecting the strengths of the province, such as deep-water seaports, airports, expressways, national highways and railways (in the future); develop logistics into a key economic sector based on multimodal connections, improving the competitiveness of goods in the whole region.

In the new development phase, Lam Dong aims to become a fairly developed province by 2030, one of the dynamic growth poles of the region. The province strives to achieve an average GRDP growth rate of 10 to 10.5% in the 2025-2030 period; GRDP per capita by 2030 reaching 6,700 to 7,500 USD. Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi said: One of the three development breakthroughs of the province in the 2025-2030 period is to mobilize all resources to invest in building and developing a synchronous and modern infrastructure system; prioritizing investment in strategic transport infrastructure, inter-regional connectivity associated with the construction and development of new urban areas, concentrated residential areas, tourism and service complexes of regional and international stature.

Transport infrastructure is the pillar, playing the role of "backbone" in regional connectivity and promoting sustainable growth. The action program to implement the Resolution of the 1st Lam Dong Provincial Party Congress clearly stated that maximum resources should be mobilized to complete the handover of the site for the North-South high-speed railway project through the area; complete the Dau Giay-Lien Khuong expressway sections Tan Phu-Bao Loc and Bao Loc-Lien Khuong; the western North-South expressway section Gia Nghia-Chon Thanh; National Highways 27, 28, 55; the Gia Nghia-Bao Lam dynamic route; the national coastal road and attract investment in the Phan Thiet-Gia Nghia expressway project. At the same time, open new international and domestic flights to Lien Khuong International Airport, operate Phan Thiet Airport.

The province is focusing on forming a modern, multi-modal transportation network. Roads are being opened, highways are being built, and projects are being initiated, calling for investment… will contribute to creating a modern, dynamic and sustainable Lam Dong.

Article and photos: Mai Van Bao

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/nen-tang-mo-rong-khong-gian-phat-trien-ben-vung-400870.html