Dong Thap aims to become a model province in ecological agriculture

According to Dong Thap provincial planning for the years between 2021 and 2030, with a vision towards 2050, the province aims to become an exemplary, pioneering, and model province in the development of ecological agriculture, cultured farmers, and modern rural areas. Accordingly, Dong Thap aims to act as a central hub for economic exchange between the Mekong Delta region and countries within the Mekong sub-region to contribute to the improvement of region's general welfare. The Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper conducted an interview with Mr. Le Quoc Phong, Secretary of the Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee, regarding this matter.

Earlier this year, Dong Thap ceremoniously announced the provincial planning for the years between 2021 and 2030, with a vision towards 2050. This event holds significant importance for the development of Dong Thap Province. What are your comments on the matter?

The Prime Minister's approval of the Dong Thap provincial planning for the years between 2021 and 2030, with a vision towards 2050 allows the province to demonstrate a new mindset and vision which complements the national development orientation, the national 10-year socio-economic development strategy (2021 - 2030), as well as other national strategies, and national-level planning. On the other hand, this planning also complies with the Mekong Delta region's planning for the years between 2021 and 2030, with a vision towards 2050, and the Resolution of the 11th Dong Thap Provincial Party Congress.

The planning serves as a crucial tool for Dong Thap to establish direction, coordinate, and manage all socio-economic development activities and spatial development within the province in the immediate future. Consequently, it ensures comprehensive connectivity, maximizes the potential and advantages of the province, addresses bottlenecks, and mobilizes resources for balanced, harmonious, effective and sustainable development.

Dong Thap provincial planning is the combined result of the intelligence, responsibility, and proactive creativity of experts, consulting agencies, business communities, and the political system. The planning plays a crucial role in the overall development of Dong Thap province, serving as a foundation for institutionalization. Furthermore, it illustrates the vision, perspectives, objectives, and development directions for the province as a whole, and for each sector, industry, and region within the province.

This is also the most important legal foundation for spatial arrangement, investment attraction, resource allocation, with an emphasis on maximizing the utilization of potentials and strengths to position Dong Thap as a well-developed province within the Mekong Delta region by 2030.

We also acknowledge and commend the sense of responsibility, proactiveness, creativity, concerted efforts and intellect of the political system and consulting agencies. Most notably, the planning received the dedicated contributions of experts, scientists, organizations, individuals, business communities, and local residents throughout the drafting process, all of whom were motivated by the common goal of building and developing Dong Thap province with clear, specific visions and objectives.

What directives do you have to assist local residents and businesses in their investment strategies for the development of Dong Thap province in the near future?

In compliance with the directives from Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, the Provincial Party Committee, local governments and residents will focus on implementing several key tasks to effectively implement the contents of the planning, and incorporate the vision, planning orientation and development aspirations of Dong Thap province

Firstly, stakeholders will strengthen communication efforts with regards to the content of the provincial planning, which will foster an unified sense of responsibility across all levels, sectors, business communities, and residents. Consequently, effective communication efforts will lead to practical activities and high efficiency in planning implementation. Following the announcement of the provincial planning, the leaders of Dong Thap province has instructed local departments, sectors, and governments to effectively carry out information dissemination activities and publicize the content of the planning in accordance with their scope of authority.

It is essential for all levels, sectors, and localities to coordinate in constructing implementation plans to ensure unity, coherence, and effectiveness. The leaders of local Party Committees, governments and agencies must clearly define the key and essential tasks of their respective areas. Subsequently, they need to focus on directing the implementation of the provincial planning through programs and plans with detailed objectives, tasks, and timelines. Additionally, they must assign responsibilities to each organization and individual as a basis for leadership, guidance, and organization in implementation.

Secondly, Dong Thap will promptly review and adjust specialized planning; actively research and amend existing mechanisms and policies; establish and promulgate new economic and social development mechanisms and policies to create new impetus for the province's development.

The province will focus resources on implementing strategic breakthroughs from 2023 to 2025, and subsequent years. Additionally, the province will review and adjust the goals and content of the strategic breakthroughs to comply with the approved provincial planning. This mission will involve both surpassing targets outlined under the Resolution of the 11th Provincial Party Congress and making preparations for the years between 2025 and 2030, which is the term of the 12th Provincial Party Congress.

Dong Thap province will efficiently utilize the central budget resources for development investment, with a focus on key sectors and pivotal fields, infrastructure projects, with the potential for breakthrough and extensive impact such as major transportation axes in urban areas, transportation axes connecting dynamic economic regions, and climate change-adaptive infrastructure projects.

The province will focus on building and developing a high-quality and abundant workforce; promote investment in the development of industry, urban, commercial - service, tourism, environmental protection, green economy, digital economy, circular economy to enhance the efficiency of natural resource exploitation.

We will focus on developing modern, synchronized information infrastructure, scientific databases, and technology in the province. Furthermore, the province will support and establish connections between startup innovation programs, projects, and businesses.

Dong Thap aims to implement the agricultural restructuring project with various innovative approaches, reinforce the agricultural economy's foundational role, supplemented by industrial processing and services. We strive to make Dong Thap an exemplary, pioneering, and model province in developing ecological agriculture, cultured farmers, and modern rural areas.

Thirdly, in addition to its potentials, and the collective efforts of the political system and community, Dong Thap province will fully utilize every external resource available. This mission includes emphasizing the promotion of cooperative programs and partnerships with provinces and cities within the Mekong Delta region; responsibly and efficiently participating in relevant tasks within the regional planning; viewing regional development as both a responsibility and an opportunity in implementing the Dong Thap provincial planning.

The province will maintain and foster new cooperative activities with major research, consulting, and training institutions in the region and Ho Chi Minh city; provide suggestions and introduce effective  breakthrough solutions for planning implementation.

How will Dong Thap province plan to implement the provincial planning until 2030, with a vision towards 2050?

Dong Thap will dedicate its greatest effort to the provincial planning, and attach responsibility and emotion into every decision and action to rapidly generate new, higher-value outcomes across all sectors. This will facilitate faster development for the province and ensure a prosperous, happier life for its residents.

During this journey, Dong Thap province hopes to receive further attention and guidance from the Prime Minister, as well as the support from the central ministries and sectors, and from neighboring provinces. This collaboration is crucial for the successful implementation of the provincial planning, thereby contributing to the development of Dong Thap into a province with a moderate level of development, a center for agricultural and ecological tourism, an economic exchange hub, and a happy and livable destination in the Mekong Delta region.