The spirit and experience of August Revolution remain intact in the past 72 years. In Binh Duong Province, local Party Committee, authority, and the people in the construction and development process have promoted and made use of such spirit and experience to create unity and unified power to boost sustainable industrialization, modernization and urbanization of the province.
Developmental chances caught up
In the first years of 1990s, the former Song Be Province which is now Binh Duong Province was still a province of poverty based mainly on agriculture with relatively low ratio of industries and services. In the light of reforms initiated by CPV, local Party Committee and authority have caught up the chances to engage in the reforms.
New appearance of Binh Duong New City is seen from high above. Photo: X. Thi
Starting by decisive reforms detailed by unbinding policies of industrialization and modernization and favorable geographic position bordering Ho Chi Minh City – a locomotive location of economic development of the nation, Binh Duong Province has focused on construction of infrastructure to promote industrial development namely by National Highway No. 13, Song Than Industrial Park, etc. Concurrently, upholding the success of investors, the provincial authority has led the administrative reforms and one-stop shop model in daring moves of reforms.
Being required by the new development, the provincial authority on promoting the lessons learned and reforming guidance of the Party has offered the best conditions for economic components to access land-use and production investment. Thereon, the local authority has constructed industrial parks and clusters to attract domestic and foreign investments including Binh Duong Industrial Park, Song Than Industrial Park 2, Dong An, Viet Huong, Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks and other industrial clusters founded for industrial development and contribution to economic structure transition of the province.
The establishment of industrial parks and clusters helped promote strong socio-economic development, especially in industrial production, lifting Song Be to hot growing rate nationwide. By right orientation, economic structure of the province has been transited to industry-construction and services with gradual reduction of agriculture, forestry, and aqua-cultivation while maintaining growth of all economic aspects and fields. The economic orientation of the province matched the industrialization process of the nation.
To a modern urban area
Since being separated from Song Be province in 1997, over 20 years of construction and development, Binh Duong has made great progress until today. From an agricultural province, Binh Duong has become a locality with rapid industrialization and urbanization, leading the nation in attracting investment. Inheriting and promoting the results achieved, the today’s Party Committee, authority and people of Binh Duong continue to carry out the renovation process and are determined to overcome difficulties and challenges to mobilize synergy to develop. Consequently, in the past years, the province's economy has always enjoyed high and stable growth. Economic targets are several times higher than in 1997.
By mid-2017, the province has 28 industrial zones and 8 industrial clusters; There are over 28,000 operating enterprises, of which more than 25,000 are domestic enterprises. Binh Duong is continuing to be a bright spot in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). In the first half of 2017, the province has attracted an additional US$ 1.671 billion in FDI, reaching 119.4% of the plan in 2017. The province has 2,939 FDI enterprises with a total registered capital of US$ 27.43 billion. As a result, the province's economy always achieves high growth rate compared to the region and the whole country with an average annual increase of 13%. The economic structure continues to shift towards increasing the proportion of industry and services. The urban development of the province continues to have a strong development when Thuan An Town and Di An Town are recognized as type III urban areas while Thu Dau Mot city has been qualified for grade I urban area. Urban infrastructure continues to be upgraded. Works for commercial activities and services are built in spacious and modern manners. Big shopping centers and supermarkets are being built and put into operation such as Aeon Mall, Lotte Mart, Becamex Trade Center, Big C, and Co.opmart. High-quality forms of business, shopping, entertainment, catering to the needs of the people.
Along with economic development, the work of ensuring social security has always been concerned by the province. Many solutions to ensure social security has been quickly, promptly and efficiently deployed, creating a high consensus in society. The poverty rate of the province decreases over the years. Educational career has been developed in size and diversity of kind of schools from kindergartens, primary schools to colleges and universities. People's health care has gained remarkable achievements. Culture, sports, and tourism development are quite comprehensive, meeting the needs of enjoying cultural life and spirit of the people.
Under the proper leadership of the Party, bringing into full play of the valuable lessons learned of the August Revolution and catching up the chances, creating consensus, Binh Duong has today taken firm steps to develop. The road has opened, the Party, authorities and people are united to soon make Binh Duong a modern civilized city in the future.
Reported by Cao Son – Translated by Vi Bao
