Decision No. 988-TTg approves the Comprehensive Plan for Economic and Social Development of Quang Ninh Province for the period 1996-2010.

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the approval of the Comprehensive Plan for Economic and Social Development of Quang Ninh Province for the period 1996-2010

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Considering the proposal of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province at Document No. 468-TT/UB dated March 5, 1996, and the opinion of the Minister of Planning and Investment at Document No. 5712-BKH/VPTD dated November 2, 1996,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approve the Comprehensive Plan for Economic and Social Development of Quang Ninh Province for the period 1996-2010 with the main contents as follows:

I. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

Exploit all potential and advantages regarding geographical location and natural resources to build Quang Ninh Province, develop rapidly, stably, sustainably in economy, culture, society, national defense, and security, achieve major goals on economic growth, social progress, and environmental protection; Make the province become an industrial, commercial, service, and tourism center, and one of the major "gateways" in the northern region to form together with some other provinces and cities a key economic zone to promote regional development and overall national development.

II. MAJOR DIRECTIONS AND MAIN TASKS FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Main directions for development:

Implement market-oriented economic development under socialist orientation, connect the development of the province with that of the Northern Key Economic Zone and the entire Red River Delta region, in line with the overall strategy for economic and social development of the country.

Build and develop a reasonable economic structure oriented towards exports, focusing on quality and efficiency; Promote the construction and development of industry, commerce, services, and tourism; construct, expand, and modernize existing seaports and build new ones to ensure regional and international exchanges. Develop agricultural, forestry, and fisheries production towards intensive farming and commodity production.

Economic development must be combined with cultural, social development, and consolidation of national defense and security on land, sea, and islands. Improve living standards and educational levels, ensure human resources for industrialization and modernization; build new rural areas and islands suitable for the socio-economic conditions of each area and island. Protect and improve the ecological environment, especially the landscape of Halong Bay.

2. Main tasks for development:

On industrial development:

Develop industry at high speed to ensure the development of other sectors of the provincial economy. Leverage traditions and existing capabilities to strongly develop leading industries: coal, machinery, building materials (especially cement). Renovate and expand existing industrial zones: Hon Gai, Bai Chay, Cam Pha, Uong Bi... while accelerating the construction of new industrial zones such as: Cai Lan, Hoang Bo, Uong Bi, Mao Ke, Chap Ke, and Dong Trieu industrial cluster. Develop the coastal economic belt from Halong to Mong Cai closely connected with the inner mountainous area to serve as a driving force for regional development. Mobilize various economic components to expand production and improve the quality of consumer goods and processed agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products to meet domestic demand and for export.

Regarding the development of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries:

Develop agriculture towards commodity production for consumption and export; effectively exploit the potential of agricultural land near industrial zones, coastal tourist areas, and islands to arrange appropriate crop and livestock seasons and intensive cultivation to increase productivity, yield, and quality of agricultural products, and expand markets. Develop animal husbandry towards industrialization to quickly increase its share in the value of agricultural output.

Develop the forestry sector towards social forestry, striving to reach a forest coverage rate of 55%-60% by 2010.

Develop the fisheries sector (including fishing, aquaculture, processing, and support services): Invest in technology and equipment to increase offshore fish catch volume. Expand aquaculture areas; build processing and support services facilities along the coast and on islands; develop Co To Island into one of the major fishing service centers in the Gulf of Tonkin. Fisheries development must be combined with the protection and development of fishery resources.

Regarding the development of trade, services, and tourism:

There should be plans to exploit advantages, create favorable investment and business environments to mobilize resources, particularly emphasizing the development of foreign economic activities towards diversification and expansion of relationships, focusing on exports, tourism, and investment cooperation to attract foreign capital, technology, and advanced management experience.

Leverage strengths and opportunities to strongly develop service sectors, especially maritime and tourism services. Based on the formation of Cai Lan Port, strengthen the provincial marine fleet.

Quickly establish two large trading centers in Halong and Mong Cai. In the near future, the Mong Cai area must be developed into an important border economic zone. Expand the network of trade and services to ensure supply of goods and services to the people, partly meeting the needs of the provincial and neighboring provinces' large tourist areas.

Strongly develop and improve the quality and effectiveness of tourism activities, prioritizing international tourism development. It is necessary to build several large hotels with 200-300 rooms to attract up to 1.2 to 1.3 million international tourists by 2010. Besides the Halong tourist area, fully exploit the tourism potential of coastal and island areas.

Modernize financial, banking, and insurance activities according to state policies to facilitate economic and tourism activities of the province, the region, and foreign investors. Ensure that the proportion of budget revenue and investment compared to GDP continues to increase.

Regarding infrastructure development:

The development of infrastructure is considered a decisive solution for the development of Quảng Ninh Province. Urgently build the Cái Lân Port in a synchronized and modern manner to accommodate large-tonnage ships entering and leaving the Port; invest in building and upgrading the Mũi Chùa, Vạn Gia, and Mũi Ngọc Ports. Study the construction of the Cô Tô Port with cargo handling capacity from 300,000 to 500,000 tons per year.

To fully leverage the potential and advantages of maritime transportation and port systems, it is necessary to have plans to equip means of transport and increase capacity as well as innovate cargo handling technology, reception of goods, and various services serving ports such as warehouses, wharfs, conveyance equipment, etc.

Develop the road transportation network to serve economic development, social welfare, and ensure national defense and security.

Pay attention to the road transportation system in mountainous border communes and islands. It is necessary to upgrade National Highway 18A, Route 10, construct the Haiphong - Quảng Ninh axis, and extend the Hanoi - Bai Chay axis to Mong Cai. Upgrade and improve Routes 18B and 4B; construct the Cu Lau Bridge, renovate the Pha Lai - Cái Lân railway line, and connect it with the Hanoi - Lao Cai railway line.

Study the construction of an airport in the Hạ Long - Bai Chay area.

Complete the water supply, drainage, power supply, urban traffic, and industrial zone networks; construct the Cao Van Reservoir, exploit the Dong Ho Dam, and construct the Dong Giang Dam. Construct the power transmission lines to serve economic and social development. Implement the construction of the Hoanh Bo Power Plant. During the process of economic and social development, particular attention must be paid to environmental protection, improvement, and beautification of urban areas, especially the Hạ Long - Bai Chay area.

Continue to modernize the telecommunications system, develop digital telephones to cover all communes in the province (both mainland and islands).

Regarding education, healthcare, culture, and society:

Improve the quality and effectiveness of the education and training system to meet the requirements for human resources in industrialization and modernization; develop health care networks, medical insurance, and medical treatment for the people, especially those in mountainous and island regions; implement population and family planning programs.

Expand and enhance the quality of radio and television systems, advanced and modern cultural activities with strong ethnic characteristics; improve physical facilities for sports. Continue to promote poverty reduction campaigns, properly address disadvantaged groups and families. Along with the development of multi-sector and multi-industry economies, the proportion of trained labor with employment must be increased, and the unemployment rate in urban areas must be reduced. Mobilize the people to actively participate in building civilized lifestyles and eliminating social evils.

III. MAJOR MEASURES

To ensure the implementation of the overall socio-economic planning for the period 1996-2010, the province must implement a comprehensive system of measures, including institutional and policy reforms combined with administrative reform, enhancing management capabilities, improving planning, strengthening macro and long-term research, developing projects and programs for development... to mobilize domestic and foreign resources to serve the renewal and socio-economic development.

The main directions and tasks of socio-economic development outlined in this planning must be reflected in short-term, medium-term plans, programs, and feasible projects.

The People's Committee of Quảng Ninh Province shall conduct research and propose to the Government (issues beyond its authority) effective policies on domestic capital mobilization, attracting external resources, expanding markets, developing human resources, advancing science and technology, constructing cities, and investing in industrial zones... By the fourth quarter of 1998, the province must conduct a review of the pilot application of policies at the Mong Cai border gate area according to Decision No. 675/TTg dated September 18, 1996, of the Prime Minister, and recommend adjustments and supplements to the Prime Minister for necessary regulations.

Article 2. The People's Committee of Quảng Ninh Province, as the main managing agency implementing the Planning, must immediately plan and take measures to strictly and urgently direct and organize the implementation to complete and exceed the socio-economic development goals and tasks set out in the Planning. Regularly monitor and promptly adjust the Planning to align with the overall development of the region and the country.

Central Ministries and sectors, within their functions and responsibilities, have the responsibility to coordinate and assist Quảng Ninh Province in the implementation of the Planning, particularly ensuring consistency between the provincial socio-economic development master plan and sectoral and field-specific plans, as well as the overall regional plan, while also being consistent with the long-term strategy and plan for national socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect from the date of signing.

Ministers, Heads of agencies equivalent to ministries, Heads of government agencies, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quảng Ninh Province, and relevant provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for enforcing this Decision.