Dong Nai plays important role in linking SKEZ

​The SKEZ is considered as the economic locomotivein economic development. Over the past 10 years, the economy has grown steadily and is 1.5 times higher than the national average. Dong Nai is one of the five provinces/cities that have the largest revenue, export, and foreign investment attraction in the country.

Dong Nai is a traffic hub of the Southern Key Economic Zone (SKEZ)

*Great contribution to State budget

The SKEZ comprises of eight provinces and cities namely Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An and Tien Giang provinces. Although its area accounts for only 8% and the population of 17% of the country, production accounts for more than 40% of GDP and value of export turnover accounts for about 40% of total export turnover of the country. The SKEZ contributes greatly to the state budget and attracts more than 50% of Vietnam's total FDI investment.

The SKEZ always achieves the annual GRDP growth rate, 1-3% higher than the national average. With stable economic development and good growth, its contribution to the regional budget accounts for 35% of the total state budget revenue. For example, the top 5 provinces and cities that lead the country in annual budget revenue are Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung said: “Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau are among the provinces and cities in the top group of the country in terms of budget revenue. The above provinces and cities play a very important role in the economic development of the country”. Average state budget per year of Ho Chi Minh City is over VND 330 trillion; Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau are over VND 50 trillion.

The per capita income of the provinces in SKEZ is also higher than the whole country. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the current per capita income in the Southeast is USD 5,289/person, 2 times higher than the national average. In Dong Nai by early 2020, per capita income has reached 5,300 USD/person.

The Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway

*The country’s economic engine

The SKEZ is considered to be the economic locomotivein national socio-economic development. According to Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, the total GRDP of SKEZ accounts for more than 45% of the national GDP. SKEZ comprises of 8 provinces but the GRDPs of 4 localities namely Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau account for nearly 88% of the GRDP of the whole region. It is also the region with the most developed industry and services in the country and has a much higher FDI attraction than other regions.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung assessed that the SKEZ is the country’s economic engine, so it will be prioritized by the Government to implement projects on transport infrastructure and other regions to create a ‘breakthrough’ in socio-economic development. Only when economic locomotive is strong, will other regions be dragged along for development.

Dong Nai is considered the traffic gateway of SKEZ because it concentrates most major traffic infrastructure projects such as: Long Thanh International Airport, HCMC- Long Thanh- Dau Giay, Ben Luc- Long Thanh, Dau Giay- Phan Thiet, Dau Giay- Lien Khuong, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressways, Ring Road No. 3, 4 and etc. However, the SKEZ still faces some difficulties, the economic growth shows signs of slowing down, the industry has not had new products with high levels of 'brain matter' and high technology; Among the 35 main products of the region, of which 28 are traditional products with low added value but high processing rate; Many newly established enterprises but with low registered capital; Traffic infrastructure has not met development needs, etc.

In 2019, Dong Nai was selected by the Government as the venue for the Southern Key Economic Zone Conference and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized: “The SKEZ plays a leading role in the country’s economic development, so the Government will have specific policies for this region to clarify resources; Meanwhile, focus on solving the difficulties and obstacles that are hindering the development of the region, creating open space to promote regional connectivity”.

Vi Quan