Part 1: Beginning of the breakthrough journey
Binh Duong began its 25-year journey with a chosen path, which was to accelerate industrialization and modernization with the fundamental thought of "rolling out flowered mats to call for investment", "rolling out red carpets to attract talented people”. This was the breakthrough policy, laying the foundation for the province to enter a strong breakthrough period in socio-economic development.
From the will of the Party, the heart of the people
25 years ago, Song Be province (which was emerged from some other provinces such as Phuoc Long, Binh Long, Thu Dau Mot) was large, sparsely populated, and faced many difficulties in the development process. In the face of the situation, the Government calculated the division of Song Be province to open up development space. This was also the will of the Party in line with the people's heart as this policy has created a premise for Binh Duong to step by step rise up and make breakthroughs in socio-economic development, constantly improving the lives of people.
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Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park I (Thuan An City), one of the first industrial parks in Binh Duong, creates a strong impetus for the local process of industrialization and modernization
At the 10th session (from October 15 to November 12, 1996), the 9th National Assembly issued the Resolution on the division and adjustment of the boundaries of localities, including Song Be province. Under the Politburo’s Directive No.03-CT/TW and the National Assembly's Resolution on the division of the province, on November 26, 1996, Song Be provincial Party Standing Committee issued the Resolution No. 13/NQ-TU on dividing Song Be into 2 provinces Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc. On January 1, 1997, Binh Duong province was established, entering the period of construction and development, with an area of 2,718.50 square kilometers, with 4 administrative units, including Thu Dau Mot town, Thuan An, Tan Uyen and Ben Cat districts.
Talking about the event of splitting Song Be province to establish two provinces of Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc 25 years ago, comrade Nguyen Minh Triet, former Secretary of Song Be provincial Party Committee, former Politburo member, former State President shared: "At that time, I also "reasoned" a bit that China is so big but has only 30 provinces, our country is small but already had 60 provinces, should we separate or not? However, through the exchange, it was found that when being separated, the area was compact, helping traveling convenient. Compared to the local conditions at that time, the separation was convenient for doing business and directing, so he agreed to separate and implemented this task very quickly. We deliberated and set up a map for division, which was approved by the Government. In early 1997, Song Be was split into two provinces, Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc…”.
And comrade Nguyen Minh Duc, former Secretary of Binh Duong provincial Party Committee said: "In the last period of Song Be province, I worked as Chairman of provincial People's Committee, Mr. Sau Phong (comrade Nguyen Minh Triet) was Secretary of provincial Party Committee. After the 5th Song Be provincial Party Congress, just a few months later, the Government raised the issue of splitting the province in order to follow the progress of the industrialization and modernization in line with that period. The Politburo decided the division, so we agreed and strictly abide by it…”.
Along with the division of Song Be province, on December 12, 1996, the Politburo issued the Decision No. 118-QDNS/TW to establish Binh Duong provincial Party Committee and appoint an interim Party Committee, consisting of 37 comrades. Provincial Party Standing Committee had 11 comrades with Nguyen Minh Duc appointed as Secretary of provincial Party Committee, Phan Van Duong as Permanent Vice-Secretary of provincial Party Committee and Ho Minh Phuong as Vice-Secretary of provincial Party Committee, Chairman of provincial People's Committee.
Following the Song Be source
Binh Duong provincial Party Committee urgently stabilized its organization, assigned comrades in the Executive Committee, and promptly re-arranged the contingent of cadres, ensuring its leadership role in all aspects of economy - society, national defense - security, right after there was the Politburo's decision for establishing the Executive Board of interim Party Committee...
Comrade Nguyen Minh Duc said: "Once the apparatus was formed, the province quickly carried out re-planning work in which there were immediate steps, 5-10 year transition steps. At that time, the Government highly appreciated this plan because of its national and international stature. This development trend was very favorable. In the process of implementing the local tasks, the province was drastic within the Standing Committee and the Executive Committee, especially emphasized the principle of democratic centralism in leadership, direction and administration. All works had unity from the Party, government, Fatherland Front and mass organizations…”.
When entering a new stage of construction and development, Binh Duong has basic advantages, which is the light from the Resolution of the 8th Party Congress, with socio-economic mechanisms and policies gradually improving; the cause of national industrialization and modernization obtaining initial results; the multi-sector economy developed in the right direction; infrastructure facilities invested in the direction of modernity...Especially, Binh Duong also has a favorable geographical position in the southern key economic region... In addition to advantages, the local Party, government and people have faced many challenges such as a low starting point in many aspects compared to other localities, limited human resources...
However, with the strong will, high determination, the thought of enterprising, the spirit of solidarity and unity, the local Party, government and people have made great efforts to overcome obstacles and achieve many important achievements in various fields in the early period of embarking on the process of construction and development. The initial achievements have confirmed the appropriate renewal policy of the Party, the development path chosen by the local Party, government and people as well as laying a solid foundation for Binh Duong to begin making a breakthrough, rising up in the process of industrialization and modernization…(to be continued)
In just one year (1997) of implementing the Resolution of the Executive Board of interim Party Committee, the province continued reaching economic growth at a high speed and developed relatively comprehensively. In comparison with 1996, the province's gross domestic product increased by 17.5%; industrial production value by 42%; agricultural production value by 4.4%; value of services - tourism by 10.4%; export turnover by 41%; budget State revenue by 29%. The average income per capita of the local people was about VND5.8million- VND 6 million. In particular, the local economic structure shifted positively towards industry - service - agriculture, with the corresponding proportion of 50% - 27% - 23%.
Reported by Thanh Son-Translated by Kim Tin
