Sustainable development of marine economy

In recent times, Quang Ninh has actively invested resources to develop the marine economy . Thereby, it aims to soon realize the goal of becoming one of the marine economic centers, a transit gateway of the Southeast Asia region, a driving force for the development of the region and the whole country with a synchronous and modern deep-water seaport system associated with economic development, a chain of economic zones, industrial parks, coastal urban areas...

Two international super cruise ships carrying more than 4,700 tourists to Ha Long City, November 2024. Photo: Hoang Quynh

Based on its outstanding potential and advantages, the province prioritizes allocating resources to the development of seaports and port services; encourages the mobilization of all resources to develop seaport infrastructure, wharves, and port connectivity infrastructure in a synchronized and modern manner; and facilitates businesses to improve quality, reduce time and costs of transportation and logistics services.

In particular, in 2019, the Provincial Party Committee issued a separate resolution on the development of seaports and port services (Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU) with the goal of developing Quang Ninh province into one of the country's strong maritime economic centers, a gateway and driving force for the development of the Northern Key Economic Region, linked with a system of deep-water seaports; focusing on the localities of Ha Long, Cam Pha, Mong Cai, Quang Yen, Van Don, Co To, and Hai Ha, associated with marine economic sectors; and becoming a tourism center. To date, after 5 years of implementing the Resolution, the strategic orientation for the development of Quang Ninh's marine economy has basically developed comprehensively and in the right direction, gradually taking shape clearly and achieving positive results.

The total revenue from seaport services in the 2019-2023 period of the province reached over 14,840 billion VND. The contribution of seaport services is about 0.49% of the province's GRDP, an increase of 0.07% compared to 2018. From 2019 to June 2024, the total number of tourists to Quang Ninh reached 64.75 million, an average of 12.95 million visitors per year. The total number of sea and island tourists reached 43.3 million, equal to 184% of the plan, exceeding the target by 2025 of the Resolution. Many 4-5 star hotels and quality, unique, diverse tourism types with high added value in sea and island tourism associated with promoting the value of the World Heritage - Natural Wonder of Ha Long Bay have been completed and put into operation. The scale of the maritime economy is increasing, accounting for a growing proportion of the added value of the marine economy. Total cargo throughput at ports over the five years (2019-2023) reached 627.7 million tons, averaging 124.1 million tons per year, exceeding the target set for 2025. The fisheries sector has developed comprehensively in aquaculture, fishing, and processing. The province's coastal industries are developing sustainably, applying modern technology in production, improving efficiency, protecting the environment, and increasing the proportion of processing and manufacturing industries.

Cargo loading and unloading activities at Cai Lan Port. *Photo: Minh Duc*

The province is expanding cooperation with many large domestic and foreign investors to invest in the construction and development of seaport systems, such as Cai Lan Port, Ha Long International Passenger Port, Tuan Chau International Passenger Port, Cam Pha Port, Van Ninh Port, and Hai Ha Seaport; and is continuing to attract investment in Hon Net - Con Ong Port... Along with that, the province is promoting the development of new high-value-added services, such as: shopping malls in the Bai Chay area, marinas, completing infrastructure in the Tran Quoc Nghien coastal area, Hon Gai beach, and Cam Pha; and investing in new 4-5 star standard hotels...

In particular, thanks to the promotion of investment in the road system connecting industrial parks, economic zones, large production areas and areas with potential for seaport development, seaport services, tourism (road connecting Cai Lan Industrial Park to Ha Long - Van Don Expressway; road connecting Provincial Road 331 with Provincial Road 338 - Quang Yen Town; the second main axis of Hai Ha Industrial Park and Ha Long - Cam Pha coastal road...); inter-regional and international traffic system (Hai Phong - Ha Long - Van Don - Mong Cai Expressway; Van Don Airport)... Quang Ninh has created a system of interconnected, synchronous, modern infrastructure, creating all favorable conditions for the development of the marine economy. The scale of the province's maritime economic sector is increasing, accounting for an increasingly large proportion of the added value of the marine economy. Up to now, many marine and coastal economic sectors have become growth drivers. In particular, the tourism and marine services sector overcame difficulties during the pandemic, continued to develop, and affirmed the province's brand and position as one of the major tourism centers in the country.

Despite positive results, the development of the marine economy has not been commensurate with the province's potential and advantages, especially in logistics, seaports, seafood exploitation and island tourism development. The contribution of marine economic sectors to the province's budget revenue and economic scale is not commensurate with the geographical location of a locality with 250km of coastline, 9/13 district-level localities are coastal...

To continue to awaken the potential and strengths of the sea, the province is focusing on reviewing and realizing plans and development perspectives 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. Along with that, the province continues to allocate resources, prioritize the synchronous construction and upgrading of multi-purpose infrastructure systems, to ensure "dual benefits" in development. In particular, the province continues to review, research, and promulgate strong enough policies to attract investment in industrial parks and economic zones; grasp the plan to shift manufacturing factories of some countries that are tending to shift to ASEAN countries to invest in production to promptly attract them to the province's industrial parks, 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-service business according to international standards, such as maritime agency services, warehousing services, container handling, cargo transshipment and loading and unloading, and ship supply.

The province directs specialized agencies to develop projects to issue additional resolutions and action programs related to the development of the marine economy; strengthen efforts to attract and encourage businesses with experience, financial capacity, and innovative investment ideas to develop a comprehensive system of seaports, logistics, and multi-service businesses in a chain that meets international standards. It will continue to implement solutions to promote and position the brand of Quang Ninh's seaport system to major shipping lines and port service providers worldwide. This will accelerate the development of each sector and field of the marine economy in a concrete way, contributing to the overall sustainable economic growth of the province. In particular, the marine economic development strategy always emphasizes preserving and promoting the historical traditions and cultural identity of Quang Ninh's coastal region.

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