Following achievements recorded in the first quarter of 2022, Da Nang is strongly determined to well perform key tasks and solutions to complete targets and plans for 2022 under the theme ‘Year of Safe Adaptation, Flexibility, Effective Control of COVID-19 and socio-economic recovery and development’.

In the first quarter of 2022, Da Nang drastically implemented many solutions for socio-economic recovery and development, so that a number of industries and fields recorded good growth. An attractive, modern corner of Da Nang is seen from the western bank of the Han River. Photo: XUAN SON

Some economic sectors recovering well

Right from the beginning of 2022, besides implementing flexible adaptation solutions, effectively controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, the city has focused on implementing the programme of socio-economic recovery and development in the new normal.

In parallel with that, the city has actively performed main tasks and solutions to reach the State budget estimates set for 2022.

Thanks to these, socio-economic activities have gradually recovered and grown quite well in a number of fields.

As reported by the Da Nang Department of Planning and Investment, in the first quarter of 2022, the city’s gross domestic product (GRDP) was estimated to increase by 0.89% over the same period in 2021. The total capital disbursement value reached VND790 billion out of the total VND5,963 billion, fulfilling 13.2% of the plan assigned by the national government and hit VND790 billion out of the VND7,880 billion, fullfilling 10% of the plan assigned by the Da Nang People’s Council.

Many key projects have been accelerated, such as the Western Ring Road, the section from National Highway 14B to Ho Chi Minh Road, the renovation of Ngo Quyen and Ngu Hanh Son streets, Software Park No. 2 (Phase 1) and the installation of a wastewater collection pipeline along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street.

Notably, tourism has come back to track with a series of events launched to attract many domestic and foreign tourists.

According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, as of March 2022, there had been about 800 tourism businesses operating again, reaching a rate of nearly 50%.

The number of guests served by local accommodation establishments in March reached more than 109,000, up 58% from the same period in 2021.

The number of visitors served by travel agencies stood at 3,800, a rise of  29.4% over the same period in 2021. Accommodation and food service revenue in March was generated at over VND1,084 billion, up 8.4% as compared to the previous month.

Especially, with the effective policy of attracting M.I.C.E guests, Da Nang welcomed 4,241 M.I.C.E tourists in the first quarter of 2022, 6 times higher than the figure recorded in the same period in 2021.

Average room occupancy on weekends at some hotels coastal areas reached 50 - 60%. Some tourist attractions and hotels have attracted tourists back, equivalent to the time in 2019 when there was no pandemic such as the Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park receiving  more than 28,000 visitors and the Sun World  Ba Na Hills tourist area welcoming more than 30,000 ones.

Many new investment projects taking the shape

In the first quarter, the municipal authorities have issued the Decision on Investment Policy and Investment Registration Certificates for 10 domestic projects with a total investment capital of over VND 3,358 billion and  8 new FDI ones totalling over US$5,9 million. Five FDI ones raised capital with an additional of nearly US$1,5 million.

Accumulated up to now, the city has attracted 350 domestically-invested projects outside industrial parks (IPs) with a total investment capital of VND131,400 billion, 378 domestic projects in IPs, the Da Nang Hi-tech Park and the concentrated IT Park totalling VND28,624 billion, and 919 still-valid FDI ones worth over US$3.9 billion.

Also in the first quarter, the Da Nang Department of Planning and Investment has granted new certificates of business registration to 1,128 enterprises, branches and representative offices with a total registered charter capital of VN 7,594 billion; up 4.1% in the number of enterprises and down 0.46% in the capital amount over the same period in 2021.

The number of enterprises returning to operation increased by 59.7% over the same period in 2021 (equivalent to 1,228 enterprises).

Accumulated to March 31, the city has housed 33,884 businesses, branches and representative offices in operation with a total registered capital of VND230,142 billion.

The total state budget revenue in the city in the first quarter of 2022 was over VND7,241 billion, reaching 36.93% of this year’s estimate. Of this, domestic revenue was VND5,749 billion, making up for 38.05% of the estimate, whilst import and export tax collection was recorded at over VND1,492 billion, reaching 33.16% of the estimate;  contributions from the community were mobilised at VND204 million and aids channelled into the city were VND320 million.

Da Nang budget collection results in the first 3 months of 2022 show that the production and business situation in the city has gradually recovered. Manufacturing scene is captured at the Ha Giang Phuoc Tuong Mechanical JSC based in the Hoa Cam Industrial Park, Cam Le District, Da Nang. Photo: MAI QUE

On course implementing economic development solutions

Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh said that her agency has also oriented businesses to renew existing products matching trends and tastes of visitors with many forms and creative ideas.

It is expected that in the coming time, the tourism industry will organize many large-scale, attractive and unique events to attract visitors such as IRONMAN 70.3, Sunrise SPRINT and IRONKIDS Viet Nam 2022 in May; ‘Fantastic Da Nang  2022’, ‘Colorful Run’ in June, and sailing competition on the Han River in August.

Besides, businesses have upgraded and developed new and special types of entertainment and festival services at the Sun World Ba Na Hills, Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park and the Da Nang-Mikazuki Japanese Resorts & Spa.

According to Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Tran Thi Thanh Tam, focus is being placed on speeding up the implementation progress, putting into use dynamic, key projects revitalising the city’s socio-economic development as well as important national regional and inter-regional projects in the city.

Included are the Lien Chieu Port, the urban area of Da Nang University Village, the Hoa Lien - Tuy Loan section of the La Son - Tuy Loan Expressway, the upgrading of passenger terminal T1 at the Da Nang International Airport, the expansion of the remaining section of National Highway 14B passing through Da Nang territory, and the expansion of Tho Quang fishing port (Phase 2).

The Department is also setting sight on developing infrastructure of IPs, industrial clusters (ICs) and modern technical infrastructure of information technology. In the 2021  2025 period, more appeals for investment into the High-Tech Park and the Concentrated IT Park will be promoted.

Also, heed will be paid to accelerating infrastructure construction of new IPs such as Phase 2 of Hoa Cam IP and the Hoa Ninh IP), new Hoa Nhon and Cam Le ICs and the city’s fine art stone carving village.

Reporting by HOANG LINH, MAI QUE- Translating by A.THU