Aiming at the development of the region's industrial sector, the southern provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Tay Ninh and Lam Dong, as well as HCM City, have issued resolutions to enhance co-operation and classify industrial production areas across the region, said provinces authorities.

The resolution of the southern provinces concentrates on developing key industrial sectors, including oil and gas exploitation, electrical production, fertiliser, information technology, machinery, agricultural and forestry products processing and food processing.

The provinces will strengthen industrial processing tones and restrict the construction of labour-intensive factories in urban areas.

To avoid unequal and overlapping development between the provinces in the region, each province will focus on development of key sectors.

For example, HCM City will prioritise such sectors as machinery, metalworking, electronics, information technology, and chemicals. Ba Ria-Vung Tau will focus on oil exploitation and processing, steel rolling, and refining and energy and construction materials production.

Dong Nai Province will promote agricultural products processing, minerals exploitation, textiles, footwear and support services for industry.

The southern provinces have targeted an annual average industrial growth rate of 17.5% by 2010.

The provinces' industrial production value regularly accounts for 50% of the country's total. In 2005, the region's export turnover also accounted for over 80% of the nation's total exports.

The Prime Minister recently issued a decision setting for an action plan for socio-economic development of the southern key economic region through 2010, along with orientations for 2020.

Under the plan, the region's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 would be at least 2.5 times that of 2000, and by 2020 2.3-2.5 times that of 2010.

Export value should increase at twice the rate of GDP growth, and State budget revenues should rise from 16 to 18% per year.

The region will strive to keep unemployment at less than 5% and renew 20-25% of its technology per year. Meanwhile, the ratio of skilled workers must be over 50% in 2010 and over 70% by 2020, and investment capital for the 2006-2010 period should double the previous five-years figure.

(Source: Viet Nam News)