In Ha Noi on Thursday, the Party General Secretary, Mr Nguyen Phu Trong, and some of Da Nang’s leaders reviewed the city’s first 10 years of building and developing the city in the context of industrialisation and modernisation. 

Over that period, the city has seen rapid economic growth despite the global economic downturn.  It has also shifted its economic structure more towards services, industry and agriculture. 

During the review period, the city focused on promoting the development of hi-tech industries and products, and those with added value and a highly competitive advantage.

Party General Secretary Trong and the Standing Board of the city’s Party Committee

The city’s average annual GDP growth rate is estimated to have been 11.5%, and this year its total GDP is predicted to reach 40 trillion VND, a 3-fold increase compared to 2003.  GDP per capita is estimated at around 56 million VND, a 5.4-fold increase in comparison with 2003 and 1.6 times higher than the national average.

A high growth rate of 15.5% per year was also recorded in the local service sector over the period.  The city has given top priority to developing tourism as the local spearhead economic sector.  The sector’s annual revenue is expected to have increased by 23.5% per year.

Party General Secretary Trong stressed the need for the city’s government and its residents to strengthen their solidarity in order to fully tap its great advantages and potential for promoting the city’s progress. 

He added that top priority should be given to developing Da Nang into a typical centrally-governed city, as well as a high-quality commercial and service hub in the central region and the country as a whole.  Special attention should be paid to promoting the development of the tourism sector and creating an international-standard seaside tourism centre.  The emphasis should also be on turning the city into a maritime economic centre in combination with ensuring the country’s sovereignty over its islands and seas.