Soc Trang province is developing its coastal economy until 2020 with vision until 2030. (Photo: VNA)Soc Trang (VNA) – Bestowed with more than 72 kilometres of coast andthree estuaries, the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang has built a master planto develop its coastal economy until 2020 with vision until 2030.
Per the plan, four coastal localities including Vinh Chau town and Tran De,Long Phu and Cu Lao Dung districts will be zoned off to form a marine economicregion, covering 1,182 square kilometres. Its core activity will be to developseaports for import-export activities.
The province is asking for the Prime Minister’s approval to construct adeep-water seaport in the locality and encouraging investors with strongfinancial capacity to get involved in the project.
The province will prioritise connectivity among the seaport system, urbanareas, industrial parks and tourism sites along the Hau River, while developingspearhead economic sectors like aquaculture cultivation, sea tourism, energy industryand thermoelectricity.
As aquaculture is a major pillar in local economic development, the provincewill build a pilot irrigational model for specialised shrimp farming in Tran Dedistrict and Vinh Chau town. Soc Trang is home to more than 74,000 hectares ofaquaculture land, 50,000 hectares of which were set aside for brackished-watershrimp breeding, mostly in coastal areas.
According to Luong Minh Quyet, Director of the provincial Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development, alongside calling for investment inaquaculture breeding, the province will support local businesses in rearrangingaquaculture production towards intensive farming, while linking farmers withprocessing and export companies.
Soc Trang province also poses potential to develop clean energy. Accordingto the province’s wind-power development plan, some 37,340 hectares in Tran Dedistrict, Cu Lao Dung district and Vinh Chau town will be zoned off forwind-power development.
Earlier this year, the Super Wind Energy Cong Ly Soc Trang Joint Stock Companybegan building a wind farm in Lai Hoa commune, Vinh Chau town. The project hasa total capacity of 98 MW and is invested in three phases at a total cost ofmore than 5.39 trillion VND (237 million USD).
The project aims for long-lasting and sustainable benefits, not onlycontributing to power resources in the Mekong Delta, but more importantly,contributing to the economic restructuring of the region and boosting tourism.
Regarding tourism development, the province has joined hands with Con Daodistrict in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province to operate a speedboat connecting the twolocalities. In addition, investment has been promoted at many eco-tourism siteslike Ho Be-Vinh Chau and Mo O-Tran De.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Chuyen said the provincewill roll out the red carpet for both domestic and foreign investors who committo clean, green and sustainable development.-VNA
VNA
