Decision No. 21/2007/QD-TTg Approving the Master Plan for Socio-Economic Development of Can Tho City Period 2006-2020

Pursuant to …;

Approving the Master Plan for Socio-Economic Development of Can Tho City for the Period 2006-2020

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the People's Committee of Can Tho City at the report number 56/TTr-UBND dated December 7, 2005, report number 15/TTr-UBND dated May 24, 2006, letter number 4694/UBND-QH dated November 20, 2006 and the recommendations of the Ministry of Planning and Investment at letters number 6750 BKH/TĐ&GSĐT dated September 12, 2006, letter number 9224/BKH-TĐ&GSĐT dated December 12, 2006, regarding the request to the Prime Minister to approve the Master Plan for Socio-Economic Development of Can Tho City for the period 2006-2020 Article 1. Approve the Master Plan for Socio-Economic Development of Can Tho City for the period 2006-2020 with the following main contents: I. DEVELOPMENT VIEWS.

Pursuant to …;

The Master Plan for Socio-Economic Development of Can Tho City for the period 2006-2020 ensures principles consistent with the overall strategy for socio-economic development of the country and the Mekong Delta region; building Can Tho into an industrial city, modernizing it, making it a center and driving force for the region’s development; ensuring the relationship between economic growth and addressing social issues, particularly employment, reducing poverty rates, and doing well ethnic and religious affairs; between economic development and ensuring national defense and security, consolidating the political system and state administration; protecting the environment.

Accelerate the pace of economic growth, transform the economic structure towards industrialization and modernization; develop production industries and services with high productivity and value-added; improve the quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy.

Develop socio-economic activities based on leveraging the strengths and advantages of the city; mobilize internal resources while attracting external resources, especially investment capital and science and technology. Encourage the development of all forms of ownership.

Invest comprehensively in development, accelerate the pace of urbanization while improving the quality of urban life.

Implement the strategy for human resource development, raise educational levels and the quality of human resources; continuously improve and enhance people's living standards.

Build Can Tho into a modern and civilized city, a Class I city before 2010 and basically an industrial city before 2020; a socio-economic center, education and training center, science and technology center, healthcare and cultural center of the Mekong Delta region; an important hub for regional transportation and international transit; a key area holding a strategic position for national defense and security of the Mekong Delta region and the whole country; a growth pole playing a dynamic role in promoting the development of the entire Mekong Delta region.

Exploit and maximize potential and advantages to achieve rapid, sustainable, effective, and highly competitive economic development; quickly transform the economic structure towards industry-service-high-tech agriculture.

II. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

1. General Objective

Maintain and accelerate the pace of economic growth higher than the national average. The average GDP growth rate for the period 2006-2010 is 16% per year, for the period 2011-2015 is 17.1% per year, and for the period 2016-2020 is 18% per year.

2. Specific objectives

Per capita GDP (current prices) reaches 1,210 USD in 2010, 2,318 USD in 2015, and 4,611 USD in 2020.

The economic structure will rapidly transform towards increasing the share of services and industry. The growth rates of the agriculture-forestry-fishery sector, industry-construction, and services are respectively 5.5%, 20%, and 16.2% during the period 2006-2010; 6.2%, 20.6%, and 16.2% during the period 2011-2015; 6.5%, 19.3%, and 18.1% during the period 2016-2020. The economic structure in 2010 is: agriculture-forestry-fishery 10.7%, industry-construction 45.1%, services 44.2%; by 2020, it will be: agriculture-forestry-fishery 3.7%, industry-construction 53.8%, services 42.5%.

The average ratio of budget revenue to GDP for the period 2006-2020 is approximately 17.1%.

Export turnover for the period 2006-2020 increases by an average of 20.8% per year; of which, the period 2006-2010 increases by an average of 20.2% per year, the period 2011-2015 increases by an average of 21.8% per year, and the period 2016-2020 increases by an average of 21.3% per year. The average export value reaches 690 USD/person in 2010; 1,540 USD/person in 2015, and 3,520 USD/person in 2020.

III. DIRECTION FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SECTORS AND FIELDS

1. Economic sectors and fields

- Agriculture

Vigorously transform the structure of the sector towards intensive farming and diversification of crops and livestock; develop integrated garden economies combined with aquaculture and various forms of eco-tourism, creating green and clean landscapes in suburban areas. Establish high-tech agricultural zones. Strongly develop technical service types serving agriculture, especially seedling and ornamental plant supply services for urban and tourism needs.

Agricultural production value (based on 1994 price index) averages 2,900-3,000 USD/ha in 2010; 6,100-6,200 USD/ha in 2020.

Agricultural land area in 2020 remains about 97,000 ha, accounting for 69.1%; non-agricultural land area increases to about 43,000 ha, accounting for 30.9% of total natural area.

- Industry - Construction - Small-scale Industries

The focus of development is processing industry. Gradually invest deeply, invest in high technology and clean technology. Concentrate on developing leading industries: food processing, energy, machinery and equipment manufacturing, chemical products and bio-products, electricity and electronics, information technology and new materials.

Produce production goods serving agriculture and fisheries and post-harvest processing of agricultural and aquatic products for the city and neighboring provinces. Produce consumer goods serving the needs of the city and the region. Develop industrial products oriented towards exports based on competitive advantages in resources and labor.

The focus of development is on processing industry. Gradually invest in depth, high technology, and clean technology. Concentrate on developing key industries: food processing, energy, machinery and equipment manufacturing, chemical products and biochemical products, biotechnology, electricity and electronics, information technology, and new materials.

Production of production materials serving agriculture and fisheries production and post-harvest processing of agricultural and aquatic products for the City and neighboring provinces. Production of consumer goods to meet the needs of the City and the Region. Develop industrial products oriented towards export based on competitive advantages in resources and labor.

Establishing high-tech zones; completing industrial parks and industrial-cottage industry centers at the city, district, and county levels. Building and promoting brands for products with competitive advantages in domestic markets and for export.

- Commerce and services sector.

Vigorously developing commerce and services to make the city a commercial and service center for the Mekong Delta region; linking the market of Can Tho with those of major cities, the Southern Key Economic Region, the whole country, and neighboring countries; implementing strategies to boost exports, expand domestic markets while integrating internationally. Developing commerce with the participation of various economic sectors. Reorganizing retail networks and services. Encouraging the development of commercial and service businesses in suburban areas in conjunction with planning new residential areas, improving transportation, building towns, marketplaces, and promoting the development of industries, reallocating labor.

Developing tourism: striving for Can Tho to be an "Ideal - Safe - Friendly" tourist destination, a convergence point of "Mekong River Civilization." Constructing eco-tourism zones, comprehensive entertainment complexes, West Capital Cultural Center, International Conference Center, and high-end hotels. Expanding suburban tourism space with garden tours, rural tourism systems. Diversifying tourism products, culinary types, weekend shopping and entertainment activities. Combining tourism with seminars, conferences, cultural-historical tours, and regional and international tourism routes. Training a professional tourism staff with civilized and courteous service styles.

Diversifying service forms. Vigorously developing high-value-added services that promote other production and service sectors and have a ripple effect on the entire region. Rapidly developing transportation services (road, waterway, air, rail, ports); focusing on developing telecommunications, science and technology services, consulting, financial, banking, insurance, auditing, training, healthcare, cultural, and sports services.

2. On infrastructure development

Mobilizing resources to rapidly develop economic and social infrastructure. Constructing a synchronized transportation system, upgrading power grids, communication networks, urban infrastructure, and industrial zone infrastructure while protecting and improving the environment.

By 2010, the density of motor vehicle roads will reach 1.3 - 1.5 km/km²; telephone density will reach 35.65 units per 100 people; the proportion of households using electricity will reach 99.5%; the proportion of urban residents supplied with centralized clean water will be 100%, and rural residents will be 84%. By 2020, the density of motor vehicle roads will reach 2 - 2.5 km/km²; telephone density will reach 64 units per 100 people; the proportion of households using electricity will reach 99.8%; the proportion of rural residents supplied with centralized clean water will be 90%.

- Transportation

Vigorously developing technical infrastructure for transportation, including road, waterway, sea, and air transport, sufficient to serve intra-regional and international intermodal transport, making Can Tho City truly the gateway for the entire lower Mekong Delta region. Urban transportation infrastructure planning must ensure compatibility with approved specialized plans, especially with the expressway connecting the Can Tho Bridge under construction.

+ Roadways: investing in upgrading National Highway 1A, 91, 91B, 80, and the Southern Mekong Highway to Class II standards by 2020; constructing expressways from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, Vị Thanh to Can Tho, and Bốn Tổng to Một Ngàn (through Can Tho). Investing in building and upgrading provincial roads, opening new ring roads and main roads connecting industrial zones to main traffic axes. Constructing and upgrading urban roads according to the city's planning, upgrading district and county roads to urban road standards. Constructing and upgrading county roads to Class V and VI plain standards, reaching 95% by 2010 and 100% by 2020; opening new important district and county roads; completing inter-village and town roads.

+ Railways: investing in constructing the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway line.

+ Sea transport: upgrading and effectively utilizing the Can Tho port cluster to meet transportation needs and comply with the Mekong Delta coastal port planning.

+ Inland waterways: concentrating on fully exploiting the strengths of inland waterway transport. Upgrading national inland waterways: Ho Chi Minh City - Ca Mau (Xa No Channel) and Ho Chi Minh City - Kien Giang (Cai San Channel) to Class I inland waterway standards; provincial and district inland waterways: O Mon Canal, Thi Doi Canal (managed by the central government) to Class II inland waterway standards; provincial inland waterways to Class IV standards and district inland waterways to Class V standards.

+ Air transport: upgrading Tra Noc Airport to an international airport.

+ Transport terminals and wharfs: bus and boat terminals will be constructed in all districts and counties to meet the transportation needs of goods and people, serving the requirements of economic and social development.

- Potable water supply: expanding capacity and completing distribution systems in districts and counties, constructing water supply systems for new urban areas and newly established towns and wards; building water supply systems in village centers and concentrated residential areas.

- Power supply: constructing the Om Mon Power Center to meet electricity demand for the city and surrounding provinces. Developing the city's power grid to meet the economic and social development requirements of the city according to each planning phase.

- Telecommunications: continuing modernization and diversification of service forms; expanding networks while applying advanced technology in postal and telecommunications fields; quickly bringing internet services to communal cultural post offices.

- Waste management

+ Construct wastewater treatment stations in urban areas to ensure environmental hygiene according to current standards and criteria; renovate and invest in building separate systems for stormwater drainage from sewage drainage, especially in industrial zones and new urban areas. The wastewater treatment rate should reach 60% by 2010 and 98% by 2020.

+ Arrange centralized waste disposal sites with appropriate scale and location in some suburban districts. Invest in specialized equipment for waste collection and treatment; build waste processing plants with advanced technology to minimize environmental pollution. The waste collection rate in urban areas should reach 90% by 2010 and 95-98% by 2020.

3. Social sectors

- Population development

The population will increase rapidly based on controlled natural growth, mechanical growth serving urban and industrial-service economic development, with a projected population size of 1.3 to 1.4 million people by 2010 and 1.65 to 1.8 million people by 2020. The urban-rural population structure will be 60%-40% by 2010 and 70%-30% by 2020.

- Education and training

Vigorously develop the education and training sector; strengthen investment in building new schools and equipping them with facilities; diversify school types, accelerate the development of private schools; standardize teachers and management staff.

+ By 2010, 80% of kindergartens, 70% of primary schools, and 40% of secondary schools will meet national standards; by 2020, all levels and grades of schools will meet national standards. Universalize secondary education by 2010. Starting from 2010, 100% of teachers will meet the standards.

+ By 2010, over 40% of the total workforce will have received training, striving for 100% of cadres at all levels to graduate from secondary school and receive political and vocational training. By 2020, the proportion of trained workers among those of working age will be 47.7%, including 25.1% with diplomas and certificates, 21.1% with vocational high school degrees, 8.8% with college degrees, and 45% with university and post-university degrees.

Consolidate and expand the Comprehensive Technical Training Center - Vocational Guidance Center; establish Continuing Education Centers in newly formed districts; upgrade the Medical High School and Cultural-Arts High School to Colleges; form a multi-disciplinary College based on the Teacher College; open additional vocational training schools, high schools, colleges, universities, and international universities; upgrade Can Tho University to become a national key university; propose to the Central Party Secretariat to establish a National Academy of Political Studies named after Ho Chi Minh to train cadres for the entire Mekong Delta region.

- Health care and people's health care

Enhance the effectiveness of national target programs on health care, improve people's health; gradually reduce disease incidence, effectively prevent and control diseases. Promote socialization in health protection and care services.

Upgrade, expand, and complete existing hospital systems. Complete the construction of the new City General Hospital; build additional specialized hospitals, regional diagnostic and high-tech treatment centers; expand and upgrade the district and commune health systems according to national standards; strengthen medical personnel, especially doctors, in rural areas. On average, there will be 8.3 doctors per ten thousand people and 22.8 hospital beds per ten thousand people by 2010; 12 doctors per ten thousand people and 29.2 hospital beds per ten thousand people by 2020.

Continue to maintain extensive health education and mobilization activities. By 2020, the infant mortality rate under one year old should decrease below 2%, and maternal mortality due to childbirth should decrease to about 0.5 per thousand. Reduce malnutrition rates among children under five years old to below 20% by 2010 and below 10% by 2020. Increase family planning implementation rates among women of reproductive age to 92% by 2010 and 95% by 2020.

- Culture, information, physical education, and sports

Develop culture closely and synchronously with economic and social development; build well-rounded individuals. Create a new qualitative leap in the mass movement "All People United to Build a Civilized Lifestyle." Invest in upgrading, expanding, and constructing new cultural and information facilities that are diverse and modern, continuously enhancing cultural and information activities with higher quality. Vigorously develop the press and publishing industries, gradually modernize equipment, innovate propaganda methods and content, and serve local political tasks well.

Develop various forms of physical education and sports; train athletes of national and international caliber. Invest in building complete physical education and sports infrastructure, systems of fields and stadiums at the district, commune, ward, and community levels to meet the needs of exercise, recreation, and sports competitions for the people; complete projects in the City Sports Complex with national and international standards.

Construct the Western Capital Culture Center, the National Physical Education and Sports Center IV, and enhance the system of cultural centers, traditional houses, libraries, radio and television, physical education, and sports at the grassroots level.

Promote socialization to attract social resources and enrich cultural and sports activities among the people.

Strive to achieve 88% of civilized families, 80% of residential wards, and 75% of communes and wards reaching the civilized title by 2010; by 2020, the city aims to have 98% of civilized families, 95% of residential wards, and 97% of communes and wards reaching the civilized title.

- Eradicating poverty, creating employment opportunities, and policies for persons with meritorious service

Minimize the risk of re-poverty, reduce the number of poor households to 4.5 - 5% by 2010 and basically resolve the issue of poor households by 2020 (according to new criteria) through vocational training, career guidance, credit, improving the literacy level of the population, creating all conditions for people to have jobs, and addressing seasonal unemployment. Construct residential buildings, support residents to solve the problem of non-durable houses in urban areas, temporary houses in rural areas, and resettlement households, low-income households. Support poor communes in economic development. Ensure that each household has housing, with durable, semi-durable, and long-lasting houses accounting for at least 70% by 2010 and 75% or more by 2020.

By 2010, the proportion of stable employment labor force reaches 65%, and by 2020, it reaches 72%.

Properly address benefits for policy families and those who have contributed to the revolution to achieve a living standard equal to or above average compared to their community of residence.

4. Science and Technology

Vigorously apply science and technology to serve the economic and social development of the city. Support and encourage technological innovation; select advanced technologies from both domestic and international sources to suit local conditions. Attract investment in science and technology and high-quality workforce from other regions; strengthen scientific and technological cooperation with organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally to quickly form and develop a science and technology market, build a high-tech zone, and make Can Tho City a regional science and technology center.

5. Environment

Protect and improve the environment. Prioritize restoring water quality in rivers and canals, especially in urban areas; study reasonable underground water extraction methods, manage and treat pollution in agricultural and rural development. Prevent air pollution and control noise; protect and restore biodiversity. Build a strong environmental management system and promote socialization in environmental protection.

6. National Defense and Security

Closely combine economic and social development with consolidating the whole people's defense and building the people's security posture to ensure political stability and social order and safety in all situations. Consolidate and build regular military forces, gradually modernize them; build civilian defense and self-defense forces. Build a clean and strong public security force; enhance the effectiveness of preventive work and struggle against various types of crime, achieving a solid improvement in social order and safety.

IV. URBAN AND TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

- Region I: flood-affected area, including Vinh Thanh, Thot Not districts, part of Co Do district, and O Mon town, with a natural area of 94,390 hectares, population reaching 624,200 by 2020, density of 661 people/km². The average economic growth rate for the period 2006-2020 is expected to reach 11.9% per year. The economic structure is agriculture, forestry, fisheries - industry - services at 15.7% - 39.6% - 44.7%, with average GDP per capita reaching $2,757 by 2020.

- Region II: tidal influence area, including Binh Thuy, Ninh Kieu, Cai Rang districts, Phong Dien district, part of Co Do district, and O Mon town, with a natural area of 44,590 hectares, population reaching approximately 1,159,000 by 2020, density of 2,600 people/km². The economy will grow rapidly with an average growth rate of 19.3% per year for the period 2006-2020. The economic structure is agriculture, forestry, fisheries - industry - services at 0.7% - 57.4% - 41.9%, with average GDP per capita reaching $5,609 by 2020.

V. URBAN DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

- For the central urban area, leverage its role as the administrative, economic, cultural, scientific center, accelerate industrialization and modernization, vigorously develop services and industry, lead in developing knowledge-based economy and high-tech industries; form functional zones including:

+ Central urban area: Ninh Kieu - Binh Thuy;+ Port-industrial urban area: Cai Rang;

+ Industrial urban area: Binh Thuy - O Mon;

+ High-tech urban area: O Mon. Simultaneously, form and develop service-industrial urban area Thot Not and eco-urban ring area Binh Thuy - Phong Dien, serving as the basis for developing into inner-city districts after 2010.

- For the rural area, upgrade towns, establish new towns, develop diverse ecological agriculture and scientific and technical services in agricultural production, closely linked with product preservation, preliminary processing, processing, and consumption.

VI. ADJUSTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARIES.

During the 2006-2010 period, study adjustments to administrative boundaries and splitting of districts, towns, and villages; establish three new districts (Hung Phu, Thot Not, Phong Dien) and one new county. Organize administrative units at the district and county levels consisting of seven districts, three counties, and 104 village and town units, suitable for the characteristics and conditions of economic and social development of the locality.

After 2010, stabilize the scale of seven districts and three counties; continue to study adjustments to administrative boundaries and splitting some villages and towns according to the scale of each district and county.

VII. KEY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PRIORITY RESEARCH PROJECTS (Appendix attached).

VIII. MAJOR SOLUTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN

1. Solutions on capital sources

The demand for investment capital during the 2006-2020 period is very large. Investment capital is expected to come from local budget, central budget through ministries and sectors, from economic components outside the city, foreign direct investment, investment credit, and from the people and businesses within the city. Capital solutions include: implementing Decision No. 42/2006/QD-TTg dated February 16, 2006, of the Prime Minister on preferential financial mechanisms for the city. Coordinate and seek support from central ministries and sectors, link with state-owned enterprises. Implement policies to attract economic components to participate in investment development. Study the establishment of a city development investment fund, a specialized unit for investment promotion - trade - tourism under the People's Committee of the city.

2. Land policy

Implement the land use planning at the district and county level, with particular emphasis on detailed planning for urban land areas, industrial zones, commercial service centers, central areas of communes, and important residential clusters.

3. Human resource training policy and talent attraction

Rapidly adjust the population structure towards developing the urban population, prioritizing the reception of individuals with high technical expertise and academic qualifications. Support from the state budget for vocational training, for vocational school students, specialized technical training classes, and management, especially offering preferential policies for labor transitioning from agriculture.

4. Solutions to develop scientific and technological potential

Collect and widely disseminate information on science and technology, economic, and market information to workers. Recruit and provide incentives for staff in scientific and technical fields. Mobilize organizations and scientists both domestically and internationally to participate in activities and contribute to the city's scientific, technological, and environmental sectors. Link Institutes, Schools, Centers, and Scientists, link projects and programs at various levels within and outside the city. Invest in transferring foreign technology to the city, creating favorable conditions for enterprises to innovate technology, gradually enhancing the capabilities of scientific staff and technical specialists. Mobilize the establishment of a Science and Technology Development Fund with initial capital from the state budget and voluntary contributions from businesses and organizations to sponsor (non-refundable, refundable, low-interest loans) for organizations and individuals engaged in scientific and technological activities in the city.

5. Enhance administrative management capacity

Continue to vigorously implement the administrative reform program based on reviewing the functions, tasks, and authorities of departments, agencies, and districts of the city, creating mechanisms for coordination and enhancing the responsibility of related agencies in state management, primarily in the administrative procedure process. Train professional management skills for civil servants; standardize the cadre team suitable for each stage of development and specific conditions of the city. Implement grassroots democracy regulations, public information systems for citizens about state policies and local government policies to ensure strict enforcement of laws by state agencies and civil servants.

6. Cooperation for development

Cooperate with provinces and major cities across the country in investment production of goods, tourism, domestic consumption, and export. Cooperate with provinces in the supply region for agricultural products to large domestic markets and exports; for the city's processing industry. Cooperate in the investment production of production materials for the entire region.

Article 2. This planning serves as a guideline and foundation for the preparation, approval, and implementation of specialized planning and investment projects in the city according to regulations.

Article 3. The People's Committee of Can Tho City is tasked with implementing, coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to direct the preparation, approval, and implementation according to regulations based on the city's socio-economic development goals, tasks, and directions set out in the planning:

- Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment report.

- Socio-economic development planning for counties; planning of the urban system and residential points, construction planning, land use planning, sectoral development planning to ensure comprehensive and synchronized development.

- Study and formulate, issue according to authority or submit to competent state agencies for issuance of certain mechanisms and policies appropriate to state laws and development requirements of the city at each stage, aimed at attracting and mobilizing resources to implement the planning.

- Develop long-term, medium-term, and short-term plans; key development programs, specific projects for focused or phased priority allocation.

- Submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on timely adjustments and supplements to this planning in accordance with the socio-economic development situation of the city and the country at each stage of the planning.

Article 4. Direct relevant central ministries and sectors to support the People's Committee of Can Tho City in researching and establishing the aforementioned planning schemes; researching and building, and submitting to competent state agencies for promulgation certain mechanisms and policies suitable for the socio-economic development requirements of the city at each stage. Accelerate the progress of investment and implementation of large-scale projects with regional impact and importance to the city's development that have been decided upon for investment. Study and submit to authorized authorities for approval the adjustment and supplementation of industry development plans and investment plans for the projects mentioned in the Planning Scheme. Support the city in finding and allocating domestic and foreign investment capital to implement the Planning Scheme.

Article 5. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Heads of government agencies are responsible for implementing this Decision./.