Hoi An, June 3, 2014 – A workshop was held here today to discuss regional approaches to maximize the opportunities and address challenges for sustainable development of the Coastal Central Region.
The “Coastal Central Region Development Forum” was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and World Bank Country Director to Vietnam Victoria Kwakwa. Chairmen and vice chairmen from nine provinces, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, central government agencies, development partners and the business community actively participates in the discussions.
“The Coastal Central Region of Vietnam possesses a special geo-economical position of strategic importance to the country.” says Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in his opening speech. The regions has potential and strengths for development, the Deputy Prime Minister noted and called on participants to discuss how to bring their potentials into play to serve the region’s sustainable development.
Despite impressive socio-economic progress, the Central Region still faces many challenges. Participants, therefore, focused their discussion on (i) opportunities and challenges for sustainable development for the central region; (ii) connectivity through infrastructure development, (iii) water resources management and (iv) natural disaster resilience. Participants at the meeting discussed the Hoi An Statement describing concrete actions that Central Government and provinces will take to collaborate and coordinate better their activities to address the constraints to the development of the Central Coastal Region.
The World Bank Country Director Victoria Kwakwa highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in addressing the challenges. “The management of natural resources such as water, river basin, forest, infrastructure development and construction of hydro power plants are some examples of benefits from the inter provincial coordination and collaboration.”
