HCM City plans to develop Can Gio District into an urban ecotourism area. — Photoo sggp.org.net

The development of the marine economy is a top priority for HCM City as it aims to keep pace with other countries and exploit the potential of sea activities.

Vo Van Hoan, deputy chairman of city's People Committee, said that the city should identify a strategic direction to develop its marine economy and connect marine urban areas with global and regional economies.

One focus will be on Can Gio District, which will be tied to preservation of the environment and ecotourism.

Located 50 km from the city’s centre, Can Gio is the only district of HCM City bordering the sea, with a coastal length of 23 km. The district covers more than 71,300 hectares, 70 per cent of which is taken by mangrove forests and waterways.

Nguyen Duc Hien, deputy head of the Central Economics Committee, noted at the meeting that Viet Nam has a 3,600 km long coastline. Twenty-eight coastal cities and provinces had attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) accounting for 58.2 per cent of total FDI in the country.

Their import and export value reached 36.6 per cent of the country's total import-export turnover, and the number of businesses accounted for 58 per cent of the total number of enterprises.

These localities played an important role in economic development of the country.

"HCM City is considered the largest economic centre in the country, but the city’s ocean economy has not been developed in accordance with its potential," Hien added.

The Party Central Committee’s Resolution 36, passed in 2018, targets that by 2030 the marine economy will contribute about 10 per cent of the national GDP and 65-70 per cent of economic growth of 28 coastal provinces and cities.

The resolution envisages that by 2045 Viet Nam will become a powerful, prosperous and secure maritime country with sustainable development.— VNS