Based on the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1287 approving the Da Nang Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Le Trung Chinh has just issued a decision approving the integrated component proposing economic development linkages between Da Nang and the provinces in the South Central Coast - Central Highlands regions and the East-West Economic Corridor 2. The move aims to help the city turn itself into one of the major socio-economic centres of the country and Southeast Asia.

Tien Sa Port is operating as a multi-functional port as serving as a cargo port and a cruise port. Photo: PHUONG UYEN

Development goals and perspectives

With the abovementioned goal, Da Nang is identified as a hub for startups, innovation, tourism, trade, finance, logistics, high-tech, information technology, and supporting industry; one of the developing science and technology centres of the country; a centre for regional and international events; a seaport city and an international coastal city as being the core of the urban chain and growth pole of the North Central and Central Coast regions and the North Central Highlands region at Asian level; and an ecological, modern and smart urban area, and a liveable city. Da Nang has set out a number of orientations for future development linkages.

Da Nang will innovate thinking about regional development linkages, considering regional development linkages as an inevitable trend, and a driving force for connecting and guiding the development of localities in the region in leadership, direction and operation. Promoting regional development linkages will open up new development spaces, and maximise the potential and advantages of each locality, especially advantages in the marine economy.

At the same time, priority will be given to fostering linkages and cooperation in economic development and growth with the provinces of the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands regions, and the East-West Economic Corridor 2, in line with the national master plan and the planning of the North Central and Central Coast regions to 2030, with a vision to 2050.

In particular, linkage and cooperation in economic development will be based on the effective exploitation and use of all resources, potentials, and advantages, especially the potential of the marine economy, and the important geo-economic and geo-strategic position of the city.

Boosting intra-regional linkage, and expanding foreign relations, especially with countries on the East-West Economic Corridor 2, will gradually contribute to building and reaffirming the role and central position of Da Nang, as well as developing the city into a growth pole of the Central dynamic zone, with close connections with growth poles, development centres, and major cities in the country and the region.

In addition, economic development cooperation and linkage must be based on market rules with the participation of the State, enterprises and the community, in which, the private economic sector must be the nucleus to promote regional and extra-regional linkage. Meanwhile, the State plays the role of a promoter and supporter of linkage and in some specific cases is a party in implementing the commitment responsibility.

Lien Chieu Port is under construction. Photo: THANH LAN

Organization of linkage and cooperation

Regarding orientation on spatial linkage, the dynamic zone of the Central region will be developed, including coastal areas of the provinces and centrally-governed cities, namely Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai; in which Da Nang will be the growth pole.

The Lao Bao - Dong Ha - Da Nang economic corridor in conjunction with the East - West economic corridor of the Greater Mekong Subregion will be established, connecting the localities south of Myanmar, and the central regions of Thailand and Laos, with the seaports of Central Viet Nam. This will help promote trade, tourism and investment exchanges between countries, and develop the localities of the North Central region and the Central Coast.

Importance will be attached to completing synchronous infrastructure to develop the Da Nang - Quang Nam - Quang Ngai - Nam Giang Border Gate - Dak Ta Oc - Laos - Thailand corridor via National Highways 14B, 14E and 14D, and the Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway.

At the same time, heed will be on building the Bo Y - Quang Nam - Da Nang economic corridor which will connect the provinces of the North Central Highlands with the mid-Central region and seaports, thereby boosting the socio-economic development of the Central Highlands and mid-Central regions.

As for industry clusters,  coastal tourism and island tourism clusters combined with heritage tourism, and cultural and historical relics, will be developed. The coastal tourism area south of Thua Thien Hue  and Da Nang and north of Quang Nam will become a centre for eco-tourism, sea resorts and world cultural heritage tourism of high international stature in Asia - Pacific.

Cluster of domestic and international container transshipment ports and tourist seaports will be formed. International and domestic sea transport and services will be associated with seaports with the centre being the Lien Chieu - Tien Sa - Chan May seaport area.

In particular, the focus will be on forming international seaport urban areas, and science and technology zones training technical human resources in the marine economy, as well as setting up free trade zones, duty-free zones, and international financial centres in the area of ​​Da Nang city - Hue city - Chan May Economic Zone.

The Decision also clearly states the establishment of an industrial cluster for specialized shipbuilding and repair, precision mechanical engineering, machine manufacturing, automation equipment with the centre in Da Nang; an industrial cluster for electronics industry, information technology, pharmaceutical industry, chemicals, and drug production concentrated in Da Nang - Hue; and an industrial cluster for steel industry, automobile assembly industry, mechanical engineering support industry, petrochemical industry, and chemicals in southern Quang Nam - northern Quang Ngai.

An urban system including Da Nang and neighbouring cities will be built into a centre for startups, innovation, tourism, trade, finance, logistics, high-tech industry, information technology; one of the centres of education, training, high-quality healthcare, science, technology of the country; and a centre for organizing regional and international events. Efforts will be made to make Da Nang become a growth pole, and an important driving force, playing a role in promoting socio-economic development in North Central Coast, Central Coast and North Central Highlands regions.

In addition, the decision also clearly states the orientations for linkage and cooperation in developing such economic sectors as tourism, trade; transportation, logistics; information technology industry; agriculture; and science and technology.

Reporting by PHUONG UYEN - Translating by M.DUNG