The central province of Quang Binh awarded investment licences and cooperation deals for 66 projects worth nearly 169 trillion VND (over 7.34 billion USD) at an investment promotion conference on August 27. 

 

On the occasion, a ceremony was also held to hand over a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in building Quang Binh’s e-government for the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group and the Vietnam Military Telecommunications Group.

 

The Ministry of Information and Communications also granted a MoU on cooperation in developing Quang Binh’s e-government to a representative from the provincial authorities. 

 

This year, the province gives priority to projects in tourism - services, high-tech, renewable energy and green agriculture. It has partnered with McKinsey and Company Ltd - the US’s leading consultant, to build a master plan on the provincial socio-economic development till 2030 with vision to 2050. 

 

Addressing the conference, which attracted more than 700 foreign and domestic firms and investors, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested that Quang Binh considers tourism-services, high-tech agriculture and processing industry the driving forces for growth. 

 

He said he was impressed by the 71 percent increase in the number of tourist arrivals in Quang Binh last year and a 110 percent increase in foreign arrivals. The PM asked the Transport Ministry to promptly study a plan to upgrade Dong Hoi airport into an international one that allows foreigners to enter and leave the country by e-visas. 

 

The leader said Quang Binh’s tourism, famous for its caves, along with natural and cultural diversity in Ha Long, Sa Pa, Hue ancient capital city, Quang Nam and the Mekong Delta, will empower Vietnam to become a tourism magnet beyond ASEAN. 

 

He suggested that the province should further develop its tourism services while preserving and upholding cultural and natural values, working closely with other localities to move Vietnam’s tourism forward. 

 

The PM also lauded Quang Binh, together with Ha Tinh and Quang Tri, have become examples of overcoming difficulties following the marine environment incident.  

 

To achieve development goals, the PM urged Quang Binh to not only perform well in State management but also attentively listen to public feedback and continue improving business environment. 

 

The provincial authorities need to acquire feedback, especially those regarding preservation and upholding of heritage values, as well as choose qualified investors to help Quang Binh shine in the world’s tourism map. 

 

The PM requested that each business commitment in the province should go along with drastic and prompt actions. 

 

Hailing Quang Binh’s important geo-economic location on national and international aspects, he said apart from tourism, the province should not neglect its strength in forestry development and high-tech agriculture. 

 

The PM added that the province also holds advantages in developing renewable energy with about 1,800 hours of sunlight each year and average wind speed of 5.5 – 6m per second. 

 

At the same time, the Government leader reminded the province to pay more attention to poverty reduction, especially in ethnic minority groups in the province.-VNA