Economic development of region along Saigon river

Last part: Green river lies by green city

Binh Duong’s trade-service sector has always reached the annual growth of 20%-30%. But, according to experts, the sector’s potential is still very great. And the added values from tourism is also very great, not only bringing the locality many sources of income, but also creating jobs for those living along Saigon river.

Potential from the river

According to Huynh Van Minh, Head of provincial Planning Institute, waterway traffic at the route of Saigon river in Binh Duong has not been developed in accordance with its potential yet. So far, the rate of goods transportation by waterway herein has only reached 2%. If being cleared, Saigon river can help transport goods to all provinces in the Mekong Delta region, opening trade opportunities by waterway in the future and Binh Duong will be one of the southern region’s socio-economic hubs.

Good exploitation to Saigon river’s potential aims to promote the province’s sustainable economic development

Binh Duong is now one of the country’s goods distribution and production hubs and the position of the locality will be enhanced when it becomes a first-class city. Along with HCM city, Binh Duong will play a role as the southern region’s big financial center. The province’s trade-service sector will also further fly.

Saigon river together with orchards in Thuan An town will be one of the province’s highlights in absorbing tourists. The birth of great groups, namely Lotte Mart, Aeon, Metro, Nguyen Kim…in the province shows that the local trade-service potential is very great. If waterway traffic is tapped well, Binh Duong will create great opportunities for socio-economic development.

HCM city has opened a pilot tour along Saigon river with Thanh Da-Thu Thiem-Lai Thieu-Thu Dau Mot-Ben Duoc route. This is a big opportunity for Binh Duong to promote the local tourism sector. If having good coordination with HCM city, Binh Duong will develop ecotourism, orchards together with traditional craft villages along Saigon river into tourism products imbruing the local cultural identities.

Towards a green city

Nguyen Hong Nguyen, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that provincial leaders have been very drastic in environmental protection. Especially, minimizing environmental pollution on Saigon river was one of first actions by provincial leaders in the local orientation for economic development along Saigon river, in which Thuan An town and Thu Dau Mot city are seen a center for the development.

Meanwhile, Do Thanh Su, Vice-Chairman of Thuan An town’s People’s Committee suggested that the province needed to mobilize resources to build some key works along Saigon river. Provincial People’s Committee’s Decision No.45 on supporting farmers to raise their productivity of orchards will conclude in 2016. As planned, the province will map out a new action program to further restore and develop the Lai Thieu orchard area in a bid to promote the local tourism sector. Preserving and developing orchards has not only helped the local tourism sector create a breakthrough, but also brought great opportunities to trade-service sector.

Towards a green city, according to Mr.Minh, Binh Duong needs to pay attention to embellishing scenery, building works along Saigon river, quickly increasing Thuan An town’s fruit trees-growing area, minimizing pollution on Saigon river…Saigon river together with orchards is a “green” lung of Binh Duong city in the future.

Reported by P.Hieu-K.Vinh-Translated by K.T