Seeking drivers for sustainable development

Quang Nam province is striving to preserve and promote cultural values, aiming towards cultural tourism and community-based tourism. IN THE PHOTO: The Gong Festival organized by Nam Giang district in 2024. Photo: PHUONG GIANG

Quang Nam is facing new demands and challenges for its development journey: renewing what is old and venturing into pioneering solutions to achieve the goals of the 2025-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Renew old motivations...

For over two decades, Quang Nam has marked a breakthrough journey by effectively leveraging the strengths and advantages of its "treasures." Economic growth drivers such as industry, tourism, services, and agriculture have not only contributed to boosting GRDP growth but also shaped Quang Nam's strategic role in the national economic structure.

In particular, the emergence of the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, along with the effective exploitation of world cultural heritage sites such as the Hoi An Ancient Town and the My Son Sanctuary, has created outstanding milestones, boosting the province's economic prosperity.

However, many experts and researchers believe that some of Quang Nam's traditional growth drivers have reached saturation point and are no longer capable of ensuring sustainable growth. So how can we breathe new life into these old drivers? Infrastructure, which previously only served basic agricultural production and goods transportation, needs a significant transformation.

At the recent scientific conference "The current state of contribution of economic growth drivers from 2000 to the present, identifying and proposing solutions to mobilize growth in Quang Nam province in the period 2025 - 2030 and vision to 2050" organized by the Provincial People's Committee, Associate Professor Dr. Bui Quang Binh (University of Economics - Da Nang University) affirmed that modern infrastructure is not only a bridge for goods and services but also a foundation for sustainable development.

“Quang Nam currently has a ratio of national highways of 0.58km/1,000 people, far exceeding the national average (0.22km). But to turn this into a new driving force, the province needs to overcome the East-West disparity, where the eastern region is developing vibrantly while the western region remains quiet.”

Investing in highways, upgrading the rural transport network (which accounts for up to 62% of the total road length), and expanding logistics infrastructure in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone will help Quang Nam not only connect inter-regionally but also reach out to the global market. This is how infrastructure can transform from a silent support into a leading spearhead,” analyzed Associate Professor Bui Quang Binh.

High technology is being applied to production, creating new drivers of growth. IN THE PHOTO: Workers at a THACO Group factory. Photo: THANH CONG

Tourism also needs a "new look" to maintain its position. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hong - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism shared that tourism not only brings revenue but also acts as a catalyst for local services, trade and production.

While the province previously relied primarily on tourists flocking to admire the ancient town of Hoi An or explore My Son, it now needs to broaden its horizons with ecotourism, community-based experiences, and unique cultural products.

At the same time, it is necessary to develop new types of tourism, including about 10 golf courses that meet standards for serving domestic and international sports tourism, developing healthcare services associated with resort tourism, event tourism, sports conferences, and rural and mountainous tourism.

To achieve this, Quang Nam needs to upgrade its infrastructure, boost international promotion, and transform tourism from a single "star" like Hoi An and My Son into a shining network that is both visually stunning and economically valuable. This is not just about renewal, but a revolution to revitalize old driving forces.

Stay ahead of the trend.

Alongside renewing the old, Quang Nam needs to venture into uncharted territories to embrace the future. Digital transformation, a concept almost alien in the early days of the 21st century, has now become the gateway to the 4.0 era.

Urban infrastructure is being invested in, aiming for green and sustainable development. In the photo: The current state of Tam Ky city. Photo: THANH CONG

In their paper on innovation, authors Ms. Bui Thi Thuan and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Kieu emphasized: “In the context of rapid global socio-economic development, innovation has become the main driving force for sustainable development and enhancing the competitiveness of nations. It is identified as a key factor in transforming the economy, from a growth model based on cheap labor and natural resource exploitation to a knowledge-based economy, based on high technology and high-quality human resources.”

For digitalization to truly become a driving force, the province needs to invest heavily in high-speed network infrastructure, encourage e-commerce, and build innovation research centers connecting businesses with universities. This is how Quang Nam can not only catch up but also surpass, attract high-tech investors, and escape the shadow of traditional industries that are gradually becoming obsolete.

Businesses and labor productivity are also indispensable pieces in the new growth picture. Quang Nam needs businesses that are competitive globally. To bring about change, the province needs to support businesses through tax incentives, access to capital, and truly groundbreaking policy mechanisms.

Dr. Nguyen Chin - former Standing Committee member of the Provincial Party Committee, former Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department - analyzed the perspective from the perspective of total factor productivity (TFP), a core element for growth: Quang Nam in the last 6 years has both recovered and ensured rapid growth.

During this period, it is necessary to both maintain and strengthen resources, especially capital, to restore and expand production capacity and continue to address labor issues; and to make breakthroughs, develop in-depth capabilities, increase productivity, and create new capacities to achieve growth.

"Besides solutions to enhance the contribution of total factor productivity, the province needs to strengthen the mobilization of social investment capital into the economy. At the same time, it needs to improve the efficiency of allocating and using state investment capital."

"The priority areas with strong potential for investment are investment in development planning, transportation infrastructure, essential technical and social infrastructure, and urban development; industrial zones and clusters. Focus on investing in infrastructure and effective mechanisms to attract a number of large-scale projects with breakthrough potential in terms of total industrial output, tourism services, and urban development," shared Dr. Nguyen Chin.

Green human resources are another bright spot for sustainable development. Ms. Nguyen Ho Phuong Nhat and Ms. Phan Thi Thu affirmed that green human resources both boost the economy and protect the environment, enhancing the image of Quang Nam.

Unlike the past when labor was primarily focused on agriculture and light industry, Quang Nam now needs to train a young generation with green skills and ecological awareness. This serves as both an economic driving force and a commitment to the future, through a pioneering workforce for green growth.

Quang Nam is determined to become one of the bright spots in the Central Vietnam economy in particular, and the whole country in general. With the decisive actions of the government and the strong consensus from the people and businesses, many expectations are being sown for the journey of green and sustainable development...

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/tim-kiem-dong-luc-phat-trien-ben-vung-3151217.html