Strengthening socio-economic development cooperation between the northern and north-central provinces.

Promoting socio -economic development between Ho Chi Minh City and the northern and north-central provinces.

To promote cooperation for socio-economic development, in March 2023, Ho Chi Minh City and nine localities: Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri , Thanh Hoa, and Thua Thien Hue signed an agreement on socio-economic development cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and several localities in the North and North Central regions until 2025.

After more than a year of implementation, cooperation activities between Ho Chi Minh City and localities in the North and North Central regions have yielded many practical results in various fields. Areas of cooperation include trade, industry, agriculture , investment promotion, tourism, healthcare, education, science and technology, and many others, contributing positively to the overall development of the country.

Cooperation programs, ranging from promoting local products in Ho Chi Minh City to collaborative projects in human resource training and digital transformation, have yielded practical results. Specifically, localities successfully implemented three regional-level cooperation initiatives in 2023. Regarding bilateral cooperation activities with nine provinces in the North and North Central regions, 26 out of 33 cooperation initiatives were implemented in 2023, with the remaining seven to be implemented in 2024 and 2025…

According to Dao Minh Chanh, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Center: The implementation of the socio-economic development cooperation agreement between Ho Chi Minh City and the northern and North Central provinces has achieved many important results. Ho Chi Minh City's departments and agencies have closely coordinated with the northern and North Central provinces, especially in areas such as investment, trade, tourism, and healthcare.

Showcasing typical products from the North Central provinces.

The successful organization of conferences, trade fairs, and supply-demand networking events has significantly contributed to promoting economic cooperation and strengthening linkages between businesses. Communication efforts have been intensified, helping to spread the image and brand of provinces and cities, positively impacting the business community and the public.

Despite achieving significant results, some limitations remain that need to be addressed, such as the fact that many cooperation initiatives have not progressed as desired. The role of businesses, especially large enterprises, in promoting cooperation has not been truly prominent, leading to a lack of incentive for small and medium-sized enterprises.

At the same time, support for businesses will be strengthened, creating favorable conditions for localities to develop, expand markets, and cooperate in many fields. Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, Bui Thanh An, stated: In 2023 and the first nine months of 2024, Nghe An actively directed all levels and sectors to implement the contents of the agreement to leverage potential and strengths, contributing to the socio-economic development of Ho Chi Minh City and Nghe An province, and strengthening the long-term cooperative relationship between the two localities.

Delegates visit the OCOP product display booth of Nghe An.

Departments, agencies, and relevant units on both sides have proactively exchanged information and experiences, actively coordinated in organizing and participating in the implementation of cooperation events. Businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and Nghe An have proactively surveyed and sought opportunities for cooperation and investment. In the period 2023-2024, Nghe An province attracted three projects from investors in Ho Chi Minh City with a total capital of nearly 615 billion VND. Many agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, specialty products, and OCOP (One Commune One Product) products from Nghe An have been sold in Ho Chi Minh City.

Conversely, many high-tech agricultural products such as seeds, agricultural supplies, machinery and equipment... from businesses in Ho Chi Minh City have been widely consumed in Nghe An. Activities such as networking, signing memoranda of cooperation, and support in the fields of culture and social welfare have also yielded many practical and effective results.

Meanwhile, Bac Kan province hopes that Ho Chi Minh City and the northern and North Central provinces will continue to strengthen cooperation, support, and linkages to effectively exploit and promote the potential and strengths of the localities, developing their economy, culture, and society, especially in investment promotion, agricultural development, industry and trade, and tourism. Bac Kan has many scenic spots, historical relics, and unique and diverse ethnic cultural heritage, which are potentials for the province to develop tourism.

Furthermore, with abundant mineral resources, especially lead and zinc reserves exceeding 3.5 million tons, the largest in the country; a large forest area with a forest cover rate of over 73% (nearly 3/4 of Bac Kan's natural area)... this presents potential for the development of mining and processing industries, forest-based economic development, and carbon credit generation. The locality is attracting investment in industrial zones and clusters, wind power, biomass power, residential areas, eco-tourism and resort areas, golf courses, horse breeding and racing areas, off-road motorcycle racing areas, and commercial centers…

Northern localities also actively participated in displaying and promoting their products.

Through the socio-economic development cooperation agreement between Ho Chi Minh City and several northern and North Central provinces, Bac Kan hopes that Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces will consider introducing businesses and investors to research, survey, and implement investment, business, and tourism development projects; and connect trade and consumption of Bac Kan's products.

To ensure the effective and in-depth implementation of the cooperation agreement in the remaining months of 2024 and throughout 2025, Ho Chi Minh City and the northern and North Central provinces agreed to continue promoting trade, expanding supply chains, and advertising local products in Ho Chi Minh City. The city is committed to continuing its partnership with the nine northern and North Central provinces, implementing extensive cooperation activities to maximize the potential of each locality.

Strengthening economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, creating a strategic breakthrough commensurate with the scale of the relationship.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/tang-cuong-hop-tac-phat-trien-kinh-te-xa-hoi-giua-cac-tinh-phia-bac-va-bac-trung-bo-1728618510943.htm