From the foundation of the Central Key Economic Zone

After the arrangement of provincial administrative boundaries, the Central Dynamic Region is facing new opportunities for rapid and sustainable development with a number of changes and research orientations to expand the scope of the region after 2030.

The Central dynamic region is defined as the coastal area of ​​4 provinces and cities in the region. In the photo: A coastal strip of Da Nang city. Photo: QUOC TUAN

New dynamic zone on old platform

In 2004, the Central Key Economic Zone was established in Decision No. 148 dated August 13, 2004 of the Prime Minister, including 5 provinces and cities: Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam , Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh. According to Resolution No. 306/NQ-CP of the Government on adjusting the National Master Plan for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, the Central Dynamic Zone will be formed and developed, including coastal areas of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government: Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai.

Basically, the Central Dynamic Zone was formed on the basis of the former Central Key Economic Zone, in which Binh Dinh province (old) is now Gia Lai province. A notable difference is that the Central Dynamic Zone is defined as the coastal area of ​​4 provinces and cities in the region. This is understandable because the coastal strip of this area is where strategic infrastructure as well as the development drivers of the region such as industry, tourism - services, logistics, etc. are concentrated.

According to the plan, in the period after 2030, research will be conducted to expand the scope of the Central Dynamic Zone. It can be seen that the future expansion orientation of the dynamic zone places high expectations on the western region, where after the reorganization, this region will have the additional provinces of Kon Tum and Gia Lai (old). The western region of the Central Dynamic Zone currently possesses outstanding advantages in terms of land, energy, large timber forests and raw materials and medicinal herbs of high economic value, but the connection with the eastern region is still quite fragmented.

The mountainous region has not yet made a substantial contribution to the overall growth of the region and has not yet participated deeply in the supply and service value chain of the Central Dynamic Region. Photo: QUOC TUAN

According to the Da Nang Institute for Socio-Economic Development Research, the current east-west linkage in the region is mainly single-line, in the direction of "west supply - east consumption", causing the mountainous area to not contribute substantially to the overall growth of the region and not participate deeply in the supply-service value chain.

To create momentum for the expansion of the Central Dynamic Region in the future, it is necessary to comprehensively connect the two east-west regions through the East-West International Corridor (EWEC) and intra-regional corridors.

At the 6th Regional Logistics Forum recently held in Hue City, Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) suggested that it is necessary to build a plan to build a "Central Logistics Alliance" to create a close coordination mechanism between provinces and cities in the region. Specifically, it is necessary to establish a joint executive board with the participation of provincial leaders, build a unified inter-regional logistics plan, develop a shared logistics information system and implement a common logistics human resource training program. At the same time, create a "green corridor" for agricultural exports to build a complete supply chain from production areas to export ports...

Efforts to increase contributions

Over the past 20 years, the Central Dynamic Region has achieved many positive results in socio-economic development, however, the region's contribution to Vietnam's economy is still modest. In most indicators, the Central Dynamic Region ranked 3rd, much lower than the Northern Dynamic Region and the Southern Dynamic Region, so it only plays the role of a secondary growth pole. To contribute to Vietnam's breakthrough growth target in the new period as well as increase the region's contribution, the Party Congresses of provinces and cities in the Central Dynamic Region that just took place all determined a double-digit growth target.

Da Nang City targets double-digit growth in the 2026 - 2030 period. Photo: XUAN SON

According to the Da Nang Institute for Socio-Economic Development Research, to achieve the economic growth target of more than 10% in the 2026-2030 period, localities in the region need policies to develop key areas such as: manufacturing and processing industry, tourism, logistics, finance and trade, information and communication, renewable energy, etc.

In addition, it is necessary to form a comprehensive financial ecosystem and an “incubator” for the private economy, in which capital and land resources are reallocated. At the same time, there should be policies to encourage a number of large-scale private corporations with enough potential to lead the value chain and invest abroad.

According to experts, the traditional growth model based on heavy industry, large investment and resource exploitation is gradually revealing its limits. Data shows that the industrial and construction sector, which used to be the main driving force of the region, is rapidly declining in proportion from a peak of more than 50% in 2022 to about 30% in 2024.

This clearly reflects the exhaustion of growth potential if we continue to depend on heavy industries such as petrochemicals, metallurgy, and mechanics - which are highly cyclical and vulnerable to global fluctuations. Therefore, it is necessary to gradually shift to a high-tech, energy-saving, low-emission industrial model... to adapt and contribute to creating growth momentum for the region.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/tu-nen-tang-vung-kinh-te-trong-diem-mien-trung-3306627.html