Breakthrough in marine economic development Part 1: Development of the marine economy to become the province's economic center

Purchase of seafood at Tan Son Fishing Port, Thai Thuy District.

Thai Binh has about 52km of coastline and 5 large estuaries flowing into the sea, creating an intertidal zone of over 16,000ha, thereby creating a lot of potentials and strengths for marine economic development. Promoting these advantages, over the years, Thai Binh has had many policies and solutions to promote marine economic development in association with firmly protecting national sovereignty and improving people's living standards in coastal areas.

This is an area with a favorable position for multi-sector, multi-field general economic development; convenient waterway and road traffic connections with provinces and cities in the Northern key economic region; with national highways 37, 37B, 39, provincial road 456 passing through and especially the coastal road (started construction from the beginning of 2019 according to the Government's policy), significantly shortening the distance and travel time from the coastal area of ​​Thai Binh to Dinh Vu, Lach Huyen deep sea ports and Cat Bi international airport (Hai Phong), Van Don airport, Mong Cai border gate (Quang Ninh) and the provinces and cities in the Northern coastal region, very convenient for the circulation and exchange of goods. At the same time, the coastal area of ​​Thai Binh has great advantages in terms of electricity, coal and natural gas energy sources with large reserves, which can be exploited in the long term, along with coastal land fund and abundant local human resources, convenient for the development of energy-intensive industries such as: production of ceramic tiles, sanitary ware, civil porcelain, high-grade glass, mine gas, chemicals, etc. In addition, Thai Binh also has the advantage of long coastline, wide tidal flats, pure coastal natural landscape and biodiversity, favorable for aquaculture, fishing and development of eco-tourism and resort services.

The Resolution of the 19^th Provincial Party Congress for the 2015-2020 term and the Resolution of the 20^th Provincial Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term both specify and agree on the goal of focusing on developing the marine economy to become the province's economic center, making an important contribution to socio-economic development, consolidating national defense and security, firmly protecting maritime sovereignty and national border security. The programs and plans to develop the marine economy of Thai Binh over the past time have clearly defined the tasks to be performed; in which focus on building a system of trunk roads connecting with external traffic axes and industrial - urban - service areas in the economic zone; investment projects in high-tech aquaculture, trade, tourism, service, and marine economic sectors with great added value associated with protection of coastal protection forest, sovereignty and maritime border security.
 

Boats of fishermen in Thai Thuy District catching seafood.

In order to exploit and promote the potentials and advantages mentioned above, over the years, the Party committees, authorities, agencies and localities in the province have strengthened their leadership, concretized direction and effectively organized the implementation of programs and plans for marine economic development within their respective localities, agencies and units. At the same time, regularly propagandize, educate and disseminate the guidelines and lines of the Party and the policies and laws of the State so that the people unify the ideology, awareness, and determine the tasks of sustainable economic development in association with national defense and security, maintaining independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity is the responsibility of the whole political system and the right of all organizations, enterprises and people. Agencies and localities have focused on leading and directing to promote investment attraction and economic development in coastal areas; give priority to investment in developing the socio-economic infrastructure system, especially infrastructures connecting the coastal area with localities in the province and other provinces and cities in the region. A number of large-scale and dynamic projects in the region have been completed and put into operation, initially achieving positive results; commercial and service activities developed stably, basically meeting the production and life needs of the people in the area. The coastal districts have based on the actual local conditions to propose policies and solutions to attract investment, creating fundamental changes in investment and development of the synchronous and comprehensive socio-economic infrastructure system. At the same time, focus on reviewing the structure of the economy and the master plans and strategies for developing local key products, on that basis, focus on developing implementation plan, roadmap and resources for the implementation of the plan; select effective projects to focus on investment; strengthen the management and control of construction investment in order to limit losses and waste in the investment process; promptly settle the lawful and legitimate interests of the people; strengthen administrative reform, especially administrative procedure reform in order to create the most favorable conditions for people and enterprises. Strengthen guidance and mobilize all people to work together to conserve ecosystems, biodiversity, protect the marine environment, actively respond to climate change, sea level rise and prevent and control natural disasters in sea and coastal areas. Strengthen national defense and security assurance, and comply with legal regulations in the sea and coastal areas of the province.

(to be continued)