Overview of the Conference

The Conference listened to briefing reports on the contents for comments by the consulting units as well as feedback on the Planning from delegates, experts, and scientists.

Breakthrough in vision

Evaluating the achievements of Binh Duong over the past time, according to Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien - former Director of the Viet Nam Institute of Economics, Binh Duong's miraculous development practices in recent times include 04 strategic breakthroughs in mindset and action: a breakthrough in vision, expressed in the logic of moving forward with modernization; an institutional breakthrough with the slogan "ask for the mechanism - don't ask for money"; development relying on big investors as a pillar, playing the role of "creating a portrait and guiding development"; and thoroughly implement the motto "developing according to the logic of progress".

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien said that this is the driving force that has had a decisive influence on the province's vision and choice of development structure over the past 25 years. He proposed that the prerequisite for the above 04 strategic breakthroughs is a smart government that knows how to "create modern development" in the true sense. The Planning Report needs to carefully summarize this practice and experience as one of the bases for future orientation.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien - former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics comments on the Planning

Proposing a breakthrough orientation in the future "Green - Digital - High Technology" according to soon global standards, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien said that Viet Nam has committed to a challenging development to the whole world in the spirit of "turning national challenges into development opportunities for society and businesses". Binh Duong must be like that, and more than that, with the spirit of getting ahead and leading.

In the coming period, this process is oriented to emphasize the focus of "changing the level and quality" of urban development, following the era trend that Binh Duong has chosen and is pursuing, which is smart – innovative, green, and digital urban development, rather than traditional urbanization - industrialization.

At the same time, Binh Duong must be a pioneer in building modern linking foundations, which is digital linking. Some of the breakthrough missions that need to be top-prioritized are building a large database and linked network systems, operating a smart management system, Silicon Valley-style Innovation Region, etc.

Mr. Mai The Trung - former Secretary of the Binh Duong Provincial Party Committee comments on the Planning

Contributing to the provincial Planning, Mr. Mai The Trung - former Secretary of the Binh Duong Provincial Party Committee said that the province needs to define the Planning as a guideline, a scientific basis to determine the vision, orientation, and conditions to develop Binh Duong in the future, preventing the "careless" management in building the planning, programs, and development plan. It will be the basis for considering, building, and training provincial officials. Regarding industrial development, it is necessary to harmoniously resolve the "beneficial" relationship between the Government and investors. The province needs to research the land fund in the South to arrange industrial zones and clusters in the area and relocate businesses outside the industrial zones and clusters from the South to the North of Binh Duong. Industrial zone development needs to be associated with urban and service development. Urban development with urban area forms requires specifying the advantages and disadvantages of each urban form to determine the appropriate urban development form.

Mr. Tran Du Lich – A member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Group comments on the Planning

Regarding industrial zone and cluster development, Mr. Tran Du Lich – A member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Group said that the existing industrial zones need to change their function to trade-service and urban development, especially those in Thuan An and Di An cities. Therefore, it is important to establish a set of specific criteria to guide the province in building a project to transform the structure and functions of existing industrial zones. These criteria should be consistent with the orientation of territorial space development and the development of the industrial-urban-service belt, as outlined in Resolution No. 24 of the Politburo on the development of the Southeast region.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Becamex IDC Corporation commented on traffic infrastructure planning

Commenting on infrastructure planning, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Becamex IDC Corporation said that Binh Duong has had quite good transportation infrastructure to serve the province's development such as My Phuoc - Tan Van Roa, National Highway 13, Ring Road 3 and 4, etc. Therefore, the province should effectively exploit those advantages in its traffic infrastructure planning. In the next phase, the province needs to put effort into relocating industrial zones and clusters to the North, while the Southern region focuses on urban and service development. Moreover, the province should form railway routes in the planning for transporting goods and pay attention to the development of eco-industrial zones and innovation.

Breakthrough in regional linkage institutions

Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau are known as a development quadrangle of the Southeast region with a favorable geographical location and the most developed, complete logistics in the region. However, encountering the requirements of development, Binh Duong province also faces many major bottlenecks. Thus, effective regional linkage will enable Binh Duong to solve bottlenecks in the development process in general and successfully implement the province's planning for 2030 and vision for 2050 in particular.

Regarding this issue, Associate Professor Dr. Do Phu Tran Tinh - Policy Development Institute of Viet Nam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, said that Binh Duong needs to connect traffic connection infrastructure, especially routes that connect to large port clusters in the region. Binh Duong is a locality with the best infrastructure in the Southeast region with many arterial roads that play an important role in the socio-economic development of the province as well as connecting with neighboring localities in the region, e.g., National Highway 13, My Phuoc - Tan Van Road, DT744 Road, DT741 Road. The volume of exported goods from industrial zones in Binh Duong to other countries is very large, yet the connection between main road traffic axes and major ports in the region such as the Cai Mep - Thi Vai international port cluster is still limited.

Binh Duong province's cooperation in developing industries with provinces and cities in the Southeast region is associated with the function of sharing between localities in the region according to comparative advantages and specific conditions of each locality in the region, based on science and practice. At the same time, it creates conditions for the process of changing functions and development models of agriculture, industrial zones and clusters, and services to reserve space for modern urban development in existing high-density areas.

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Dr. Nguyen Dinh Cung - former Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management Research comments on the Planning

According to Dr. Nguyen Dinh Cung - former Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management Research, to develop Binh Duong into a center and focal point based on regional connectivity, open development, and international connectivity, it is important and urgent to have "hard connections" in interregional connectivity, especially transport infrastructure connections, and "soft connections" to expand Binh Duong's development space. However, due to limited resources and time, we should consider prioritizing the implementation of infrastructure projects that connect the region, connecting Binh Duong with international gateway ports. It is to ensure the best connection with seaports, international airports, and other localities in the region, especially Ho Chi Minh City. The same goes for soft connection projects that Binh Duong can proactively implement with its own resources.

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Cung also stated that as the goals and orientations for socio-economic development in general and major sectors of Binh Duong are very high and aspirational, the problems that need to be solved and the challenges that have to be overcome are huge and different from the past development period. Hence, for many problems and bottlenecks that need to be resolved, not only are the dynamism, creativity, and resources of Binh Duong necessary, but also the coordination, sharing, and connection between localities in the region as well as effective support and outstanding new institutions from the Central Government.

"In fact, it is now the 4th year of the 10-year planning period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. Thus, as time and resources are limited, we need to carefully consider and choose the most practical and effective works, programs, and projects from the above development orientation to implement immediately; otherwise, a 10-year plan cannot be completed within 5-6 years." – Dr. Nguyen Dinh Cung emphasized.

Mr. Vo Van Minh – Chairman of the PPC concludes the Conference

At the conclusion of the conference, Mr. Vo Van Minh highly appreciated the enthusiastic and insightful comments of the delegates, experts, and scientists. He confirmed that the Provincial Planning Steering Committee will receive the comments and incorporate them into the Planning document, ensuring its completeness and high quality before submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.