Q: What are some important results of socio-economic development in Tay Ninh Province, a border area facing numerous difficulties, in 2020 and the recent period?
A: The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected the implementation of tasks in 2020 but also the development during the 2016-2020 period. In order to overcome difficulties and complete tasks, the provincial authorities clearly defined the potentials and advantages of the locality to synchronously implement four breakthrough strategic programme on the development of transport infrastructure; developed hi-tech agriculture; and boosted tourism, administrative reform and information technology application.
In 2020, Tay Ninh's economy continued to grow with a GRDP growth rate of 3.98% and the labour productivity and quality of the economy doubled compared to the previous period. The province’s average growth increased by 7.2% during 2016-2020 period, higher than the rate of the whole country. Its GRDP per capita reached over US$3.1 in 2020. The economic structure has changed positively, with the proportion of construction and services sectors accounting for more than 75% of the GRDP.The local investment capital for social development increased by 1.5% and reached 40.1% of GRDP, the highest rate ever. Tay Ninh’s State budget revenue exceeded VND10 trillion last year, reaching 114% of the estimate assigned by the central government. The investment environment has been improved strongly with the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) ranking 15th out of 63 provinces and cities and 3rd among the 8 provinces and cities in the southeast region in 2019.
The province had attracted 330 foreign-invested projects with total capital of US$7.5 billion and 565 domestic investment projects with total registered capital of nearly VND80 trillion by 2020. Its export turnover reached over US$4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7%. The locality has not 6,051 enterprises and 141 cooperatives.
Through regional cooperation and linkage from the tourism linkage programme with other provinces in the southeast region and Ho Chi Minh City, we have more diverse tourist products and gradually formed and connected the value chains. The local tourism sector agreed to boost the investment to develop the Ba Den Mountain national tourist area into a focal point for the connection and spread of local and regional tourism. The province’s revenue from tourism has increased by 15.1% per year and the number of visitors to the locality has increased 15% per year.
The urbanisation rate of Tay Ninh increased from 22.2% in 2015 to 41.8% in 2020. Its poverty rate was reduced to less than 1%. The political security in the province and on the border has been maintained.
Q: What experiences and solutions need to be implemented to maintain the sustainable growth in the coming time?
A: It is crucial to focus on thoroughly grasping and effectively implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the 11th Party Congress of the provincial Party Committee during the 2020-2025 tenure with high political determination right from the beginning of the year and tenure. Especially, the functional agencies determine to maintain the achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic as well as successfully implementing the dual goal of preventing and controlling the pandemic while restoring socio-economic development.
Tay Ninh will continue to boost the implementation of four strategic breakthroughs; and will enhance economic restructuring and active linkage to improve the quality and efficiency of regional linkage programme. The potentials and advantages of the locality will be effectively upheld, and the mobilisation of resources will be promoted to create a new driving force for more rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. The locality will maintain the pace of growth; increase the scale, capacity and competitiveness of the economy; improve labour productivity; synchronously develop traffic infrastructure, focusing on completing major transport projects; and form an urban and industrial corridor along the Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai Expressway.
The relevant agencies will propose a new driving force to promote the strong development of the Moc Bai border-gate economic zone as well as gradually developing a digital economy, society and smart city. The province will continue to accelerate administrative reform in association with strongly improving the investment environment. The local authorities will pay great attention to the realisation of social progress and equity; the building of a healthy and civilised cultural and social environment; and the assurance of social security, striving to beamong provinces and cities leading in the reduction of poor households. In addition, the province will make efforts to improve both material and spiritual lives of people; effectively manage and use the natural resources; and protect the environment, biodiversity and ecosystem. The people's mastery right, the strength of the great unity bloc and social consensus will be promoted widely.
