Developing Phu Quoc to new heights

On March 31, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference to review the implementation of Decision No. 178/2004/QD-TTg dated October 5, 2004 of the Prime Minister approving the overall development project of Phu Quoc Island ( Kien Giang ) until 2010 and vision to 2020.

Affirming the brand on the world tourism map

Reporting at the conference, Mr. Do Thanh Binh, Secretary of Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee, said that after nearly 20 years of implementing Decision No. 178, Phu Quoc's economy has developed remarkably, maintaining its leading position in the province, becoming a driving force for development not only for Kien Giang but also for the Mekong Delta region and the whole country.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Phu Quoc's typical products

Specifically, the economic growth rate reached nearly 19.6%/year. The economic structure shifted in the right direction, rapidly increasing the proportion of trade - services, industry - construction, and decreasing agriculture. If in 2004, Phu Quoc's total budget revenue only reached over 38.5 billion VND, not enough to cover expenses, then by 2023 the budget revenue reached over 7,812 billion VND. In the past 5 years, Phu Quoc has not only been self-sufficient in budget but also regulated for Kien Giang province.

"From a little-known island district, in 2004 there were only over 130,000 tourists, by 2023, Phu Quoc welcomed about 5.57 million tourists. Phu Quoc has affirmed its brand on the world tourism map, many tourism products are of regional and international stature...", Mr. Do Thanh Binh added.

At the conference, Kien Giang province proposed that the Government make a decision to decentralize and authorize localities in planning management; land management; and consider organizing an urban government model for Phu Quoc. Regarding infrastructure, there should be a policy to support Phu Quoc in investing in the development of a coastal road longer than 26 km with a total investment of more than VND7,000 billion and a forest belt road with a total investment of about VND920 billion. At the same time, transit flights to Phu Quoc should be allowed and Vietnamese people should be allowed to play in casinos after the pilot period in Phu Quoc.

Developing Phu Quoc is a common task of the whole country.

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed the position and importance of Phu Quoc on the world tourism map and its important position in terms of security and defense. Therefore, the Party and State always pay attention and have consistent mechanisms and policies for island development, including Decision No. 178.

The Prime Minister pointed out "six advantages" of Phu Quoc after 20 years of implementing Decision 178, which are: enhanced potential; more synchronous development of strategic infrastructure; more attention, support and assistance from the Party, State, people at home and the international community; increased prestige, role and position of Phu Quoc; greater contribution to GDP, budget revenue and improved material and spiritual life of the people; more favorable opportunities.

However, the Prime Minister also pointed out many difficulties and challenges of Phu Quoc in developing rapidly and sustainably, developing green, developing digital economy, circular economy, knowledge economy and sharing economy. Phu Quoc has not developed to its full potential, still developing "hotly", developing unsustainably, and developing infrastructure is not synchronous. The potential is great but policies are still limited, human resources still have many challenges. The resource mobilization mechanism is not on par with development requirements. A part of the people still have difficult lives.

From there, the Prime Minister stated: "Developing Phu Quoc is not the task of Kien Giang province or Phu Quoc alone, but it is the common task of the whole country with the spirit of sharing, understanding and paying attention to investing in developing Phu Quoc, promoting the development of Kien Giang and the Mekong Delta. Developing Phu Quoc quickly and sustainably, building Phu Quoc into a national and international tourism center and developing Phu Quoc into a modern - civilized, green - clean - beautiful - safe city and a livable place. Arousing and enhancing the aspiration to develop Phu Quoc among cadres, leaders, the political system and the people to develop Phu Quoc to a new height. It is necessary to choose the focus, key points, and prioritize new growth drivers for development. Harmoniously developing the socio-economic linkage, national security and defense, improving the material and spiritual life of the people. Maintaining political stability, order, social security, sovereignty and territorial integrity so that investors can feel secure in investing".

To carry out the above tasks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested ministries, branches and Kien Giang province to promote investment and support; decentralize and delegate power to Phu Quoc in development.

Phu Quoc should be considered a special national asset.

Speaking at the conference, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, Vietnam Institute of Economics, commented that Phu Quoc has received investment attention, but there are still institutional problems because it is still at the level of a district-level administrative unit, so the investment attraction mechanism has not been fully effective. According to him, it is necessary to consider Phu Quoc as a special national asset and one with global international value in order to have more special policies. It is necessary to aim to build Phu Quoc into a center of convergence, integration, and global competition.

Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Minister of Home Affairs, said that the Ministry will coordinate with Kien Giang province to develop a pilot project of urban government in the province for Phu Quoc city to create space and advantages for the pearl island. She suggested that the province pay attention to training human resources to attract talented people to the urban administrative apparatus.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/phat-trien-phu-quoc-len-tam-cao-moi-185240331232318612.htm