Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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05HANOI2831 | 2005-10-26 07:46:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Hanoi |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002831 |
1. (SBU) Summary: Quang Ninh, the north easternmost province of Vietnam and a key gateway to China, has high levels of economic growth, thorny economic liberalization problems, some of the worst trafficking, smuggling and narcotics problems in the country, and substantial natural resources as well as the country's marquee tourist attraction, Halong Bay. The Ambassador met with the People's Committee on October 17 in Halong City to discuss Quang Ninh's economy, recent development, and plans for the future. The Committee Vice Chair said based on the average GDP growth over the last five years (12.6 percent), the GVN has set Quang Ninh's target for the next five years at 15-16 percent. The Committee needs to attract more foreign investment, development assistance, and joint ventures to meet this goal. They plan to increase transparency and speed in contracting and licensing, and thus create a more favorable investment climate in the Province. In addition, they are trying to combat corruption by making regulations simpler and more transparent. Also, past bias in favor of State- owned enterprises (SOEs) is less of a problem now that there are more private businesses in Quang Ninh. On border issues, the province is working with local authorities in China to combat cross-border drug-smuggling, trafficking-in- persons, transport of pirated goods, and the spread of disease, while speeding up transit time in preparation for increased trade following Vietnam's WTO accession. Quang Ninh is also trying to increase tourism by building better infrastructure and by protecting the environment around Ha Long Bay. Religious freedom, HIV/AIDS projects, disabled education projects, and other issues raised are reported septels. End Summary. 2. (SBU) At an October 17 dinner welcoming the Ambassador's October 17-19 visit to Quang Ninh Province, People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Nhu Thi Lien provided a brief overview of Quang Ninh's economic history, recent development, and plans for the future. She noted that this coastal province in Vietnam's extreme Northeast has unique advantages in the country's developing economy because of its long (and busy) borders with China, its close proximity to the industrial heartland around Hanoi, its extensive (and beautiful) natural harbors, and its rich deposits of coal. With this strong economic combination, the average GDP growth for the Province over the last five years was a whopping 12.6 percent according to official statistics. Lien explained that, based on this performance, the latest five-year plan proposed by the People's Committee had set the Province's target average GDP growth at 13 percent; however, the GVN, deciding to make Quang Ninh a focus Province in its development plans, actually set the goal at 15-16 percent average GDP growth. Lien noted that the province is already ranked 7th in overall attractiveness to investors compared with other provinces in Vietnam, however, to meet this higher target, the People's Committee must actively seek to attract even more foreign direct investment and development assistance from Japan, China, France, the United States, South Korea and others. The committee also wants to increase the number of international joint ventures operating in the province, beyond the 73 ventures currently in operation worth USD 500 million (including three projects underway with U.S. firms worth USD 20 million). Corruption, Development and the Encouragement of the Private Sector -------------------------- -------------------------- 3. (SBU) The Vice Chairwoman explained that the People's Committee's main program for attracting new investments is to reduce the number of bureaucratic obstacles facing new and current investors. Their goal is to increase transparency and speed in contracting and licensing, and thus create a more favorable investment climate in the Province. The Ambassador agreed that this is an important goal but noted that two other reforms are needed to make Quang Ninh more competitive for investment dollars, namely, a program to deal with low-level corruption and an end to official bias towards SOEs. Lien confirmed that corruption is a challenge, but noted that the Province is actively trying to combat the problem within the framework of the national anti-corruption campaign. The Committee also hopes that their efforts to simplify and publicize regulations will help diminish the possibilities for corruption in the system. Lien asserted that the Committee had already received some positive feedback from investors because of these efforts. On SOEs, she noted that while the local government used to be biased in favor of public companies, the number of private investors and private businesses operating in Quang Ninh is now much higher than it used to be, thus bias against them is necessarily less of a problem than it is elsewhere in Vietnam. The Ambassador encouraged the Committee to continue supporting private sector development because this will be the main engine of growth in Quang Ninh in the future. On the Border: Quang Ninh and Guangxi Cooperation -------------------------- -------------------------- 4. (SBU) Turning to border issues, the Ambassador asked if Quang Ninh is actively seeking greater investment and tourism from China and whether the Provincial Committee is working with its counterparts on the Chinese side to combat cross-border drug-smuggling, trafficking-in-persons, transport of pirated goods, and the spread of diseases like avian influenza and HIV/AIDS. The Vice Chairwoman stated that the Committee is working primarily with the central government in Hanoi and with international NGOs to address these problems, but are also in regular contact with officials in Guangxi Province and are trying to improve coordination on cross-border issue with them. Lien stated that the Provincial Government's main effort to increase economic links with China is focused on trying to speed up transit times at the Mong Cai border site in preparation for an increase in trade activity across the border following Vietnam's WTO accession. As for tourism, she affirmed that Chinese constituted at least fifty percent of the tourists coming to the province in recent years, and noted that Quang Ninh is trying to increase tourism in general by building better infrastructure and by taking some measures to protect the environment around Ha Long Bay. 5. (SBU) Comment: Quang Ninh offers a glimpse of successful development in Vietnam at the provincial level. The People's Committee's focus on speed and ease of doing business directly addresses one of the largest obstacles that foreign investors face in Vietnam. In addition, Quang Ninh enjoys special status as a border development zone that allows it to circumvent some national restrictions, such as the law against gambling. Chinese funded and patronized hotel-casinos near the border contribute a steady stream of hard currency into the Quang Ninh economy. At the same time, the Province also has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the country (just under 600 cases per 100,000 people), a figure indicative of the potential costs that rapid growth and development can also bring, as well as the risks involved in developing the economy through the tourist and entertainment industries. The extent to which the GVN and Quang Ninh officials are able to balance the benefits and drawbacks to rapid growth in this Province could serve as a model for other reform efforts at the provincial level. While its reforms are more complex, the national government could learn some lessons on how to create an attractive business environment from Quang Ninh. BOARDMAN |