Da Nang will give priority to boosting its tourism, information technology (IT), sea port, and logistics in 2018 to build a foundation for the next period of development in a sustainable way.

An overview of the event (Photo: VNA)

In his remarks at the Spring Dialogue on Thursday, the city’s Party Secretary, Mr Truong Quang Nghia, said that the year 2018 will serve as a benchmark for the next development stage after 20 years of rapid growth between 1997-2017.

The top city leader noted the dialogue was an open discussion for local administration and businesses to share ideas ahead of the 2030-2050 period.

Secretary Nghia (1st, right) talking with some participants (Photo: Dang No)

The Director of the city’s branch of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Mr Nguyen Tien Quang, underlined the need for the city authorities to recheck the plans for the local socio-economic development, and ensure the effective management of public land and assets.  Importance should be attached to enhancing the city’s support policies for businesses, and hastening the implementation of the one-door mechanism in trade and investment promotion activities.

Chairman of the Japanese Business Association in Da Nang, Mr Satoru Takizawa, remarked that the city’s too-rapid industrialisation recently set challenges for foreign investors when they struggled to recruit a skilled labour force.  He, therefore, highlighted the significance of improving high-quality labour training systems to supply enough quality manpower for investors, establishing more educational institutes, and enhancing living conditions of local workers.

The General Director of Indochina Capital property group, Mr Peter R Ryder, underlined the importance of continuing to promote the city’s tourism development in a sustainable way, and to reduce the impact of construction on coastal buildings and projects.

Sun Group’s General Director Dang Minh Truong pointed out that the focus should be on appealing for more domestic and foreign investment into night markets and pedestrian streets, and issuing more incentive policies to attract investment in tourism.

The Spanish Deputy Consul General in Da Nang, Mr Jose Sanchez Barroso Gonzalez, remarked that importance should be attached to developing even more attractive tourism products to meet the diversified demands of domestic and foreign visitors. 

General Director of the Da Nang Port Nguyen Huu Sia, said that Lien Chieu Port should be soon developed as a key port and logistic centre in central Viet Nam.

Meanwhile, other participants said that greater efforts should be made to establishing international-standard healthcare centres and hospitals to serve foreign investors and visitors to the city.

In his closing speech at the event, Secretary Nghia spoke highly of constructive ideas and recommendations given by participating businesses in developing the local economy, creating more job opportunities, accelerating economic structure shifting, and expanding markets.

Mr Nghia, remarked “The city will take more positive measures supporting investors and businesses, creating more rooms for rapid and sustainable development with ‘green growth’ target”.

The city Party chief said that Da Nang is planning to develop the Lien Chieu Port as the first urban port and a key cargo port in Viet Nam, in a bid to ease congestion at the overloaded Tien Sa Port.

Mr Nghia underlined the importance of enhancing the training of human resources, especially for tourism, high technology, education and healthcare sectors, as well as infrastructure for tourism and industry.

Importance should be attached to completely handling the discharge of waste into the sea, and publicising the planning of land lots which is appealing for investment.  In addition, heed should be paid to strictly undertaking the administrative reform in the areas of bidding, land use auction and investment and business procedures.

The top city leader said he hopes that businesses and businesses’ associations operating in the city will continue joining their efforts with the city authorities and its residents for the local progress, as well as giving more ideas to make the city wealthier.