Son La province has implemented numerous socio-economic development solutions and achieved many successes, becoming a bright spot and a new growth engine for the Northwest region.

A VTV Times reporter had a conversation with Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong.ButVice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La Provincearound this story.

A VTV Times reporter presents the Onair - Business publication to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La province. Photo: Duy Trung

In 2024, Son La province set the following targets: Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth of 7.5%; GRDP per capita: VND 55.5 million. In the economic structure, industry and construction accounted for 26.5%; services 41.7%, agriculture, forestry and fisheries 25.0%, product taxes less product subsidies 6.7%. Total social investment capital was VND 26,000 billion. The value of goods participating in exports reached USD 196.1 million, local budget revenue was VND 4,450 billion, urbanization rate was 18%, total tourist arrivals reached 4,800 thousand, and tourism revenue reached VND 5,500 billion,…

ButOver the years, Son La has built upon the achievements, successes, and lessons learned from the 2015-2020 term as its foundation. From the very beginning of the 2015-2020 term, the Son La Provincial Party Committee issued numerous resolutions to implement socio-economic, national defense and security, and Party building tasks in the province. Simultaneously, it directly led and guided the successful implementation of the 28 targets set by the Provincial Party Committee for the term. Based on these socio-economic targets, Son La has focused on overcoming internal difficulties and seizing every opportunity to build a province that develops in a green, rapid, and sustainable direction.

Son La province has consistently maintained positive growth targets, specifically: 2.2% in 2021; 8.7% in 2022; 0.75% in 2023; and 0.67% in the first six months of 2024. Notably, in the first nine months of 2024, with the development of industry, trade, and services, the growth rate reached 7.26%. Thus, the expectation for all three years (2021, 2022, and 2023) is 4.8%./This year, plus 2024, as well as the end of the term in 2025, will ensure that Son La province achieves its set growth targets.

In addition, GDP per capita in 2023 increased to 51.7 million VND/person/year, aiming for 55.5 million VND/person/year in 2024 and striving to reach 60 million VND/person/year by the end of the term. Besides these targets, Son La province is also implementing national target programs including the sustainable poverty reduction program, the new rural development program, Resolution 88, etc., to promote the synchronous socio-economic development of all regions in the province, especially prioritizing particularly disadvantaged areas, mountainous border regions, and ethnic minority areas.

In particular, Son La province focuses on investing in infrastructure, supporting production development, and especially creating a favorable environment for the development of districts, communes, and areas facing extreme difficulties, as well as border communes. The driving force behind this implementation is the mechanisms, policies, and innovative approaches that the province has resolutely strived to achieve in recent times.

In particular, Son La province focuses on investing in infrastructure and supporting the development of agricultural production.

In 2024, Son La set and steadfastly pursued the following economic growth targets: maintaining agricultural growth at 24.58%; maintaining industrial and construction growth at approximately 27%; maintaining service growth at approximately 41.6%; and maintaining product taxes at approximately 6.8-6.9%... The goal was to maintain economic stability, achieve positive growth, and sustainably reduce poverty at a rate of 3.5% per year.

In particular, Son La province aims to eliminate all impoverished districts and strives to reduce the poverty rate to below double digits by the end of the term. Specifically: currently at 14.41%, it will be over 10% by the end of 2024 and below 10% by 2025.

PV: So, in order to achieve the socio-economic targets for 2024, what solutions has Son La province been implementing, sir?

- To achieve the socio-economic goals for 2024, from the beginning of the year, the Provincial People's Committee has focused on directing specific tasks and solutions, synchronized with the overall goal, such as promoting restructuring, enhancing internal capacity, resilience and adaptability of economic sectors; and promoting a green economy and a circular economy that is environmentally friendly.

Simultaneously, the province is accelerating the construction of socio-economic infrastructure in a synchronized manner, strengthening the application of science and technology and digital transformation; developing information infrastructure and scientific and technological databases in a modern and synchronized direction; investing in improving the capacity and efficiency of the Startup and Innovation Center; supporting and connecting programs, projects, and innovative startup businesses to operate effectively. Emphasis is placed on promoting administrative reform, improving the investment and business environment, enhancing competitiveness, and removing difficulties and obstacles for people and businesses; improving the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), the Provincial Public Administration and Governance Effectiveness Index (PAPI), and the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX); creating favorable conditions for attracting investment and mobilizing resources to implement the Plan. In addition, Son La Implement strict resource management, protect the environment, proactively take measures to prevent and mitigate natural disasters, and respond to climate change…

PV: TAccording to the planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Son La province will develop according to "4 economic zones, two growth poles, and six development corridors". Could you please share more specific details on this matter?

In the economic structure, industry and construction account for 26.5%; services 41.7%, and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 25.0%.

- Son La organizes its socio-economic development space according to the model of "four economic zones, two growth poles, and six development corridors" to promote intra-regional linkages, territorial division of labor and cooperation, ensuring that the potential, strengths, comparative advantages, and competitiveness of each locality in the province, in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region, and neighboring provinces are maximized, complementing each other, and developing together.

Leveraging Son La province's strengths as the central hub of the Northwest sub-region, and guided by its development framework, the province has identified four distinct, mutually supportive economic zones: the urban area and National Highway 6 encompassing Son La city, Mai Son district, and Thuan Chau district. This area boasts a dense population; Son La city has a central urban area; Thuan Chau district has significant forest and hydropower resources; and Mai Son district has the Na San port, offering advantages for high-tech agricultural development. These dynamic development zones play a crucial role in the province's economic growth.

By 2050, Son La aims to become a development hub in the Northwest region; with a synchronously and modernly developed infrastructure system; and an economic foundation strong enough to compete with other provinces in the region and the country. The urban system will develop strategically, with a focus on forming large cities connected to urban green belts, acting as drivers for socio-economic development and territorial balance, based on strongly exploiting the advantages of the high mountainous areas, the Da River reservoir area, and the Moc Chau plateau for agricultural and tourism development.

The Moc Chau plateau and surrounding areas, encompassing Moc Chau, Van Ho, and Yen Chau districts, boast beautiful scenery, fertile land, a cool climate, a dense population, and a substantial infrastructure. The Moc Chau tourist area is identified as the province's main driving force and a counterweight to the development of Son La city center.

The reservoir and river basin of the Da River, located in the districts of Quynh Nhai, Muong La, Bac Yen, and Phu Yen, is a densely populated area with fertile land, rich in minerals and resources such as forests, hydropower, and groundwater; it boasts a picturesque climate and scenery, making it favorable for multi-sector development, aquaculture, and specialized agriculture.

The highland border areas of Song Ma and Sop Cop districts are the frontline in the national defense and security strategy; firmly protecting the territory and sovereignty of the country…; serving as a region for protecting the ecological environment, preserving forests, planting and developing forests; and exploiting minerals and construction materials…

PV: In recent times, Son La's tourism sector has experienced strong growth in terms of visitor numbers, revenue, and investment. Could you please tell us about the ripple effects of tourism on trade, other related industries, and the province's socio-economic goals?

- Son La province focuses on developing tourism and agriculture in conjunction with the National Target Program for building new rural areas. Developing tourism and agriculture is identified as a driving force to promote sustainable rural development. At the same time, new rural areas serve as a foundation to support the diverse, high-quality, and stable development of tourist destinations. Son La clearly recognizes that effective agricultural tourism development will contribute to achieving two goals simultaneously: developing tourism into a key economic sector and achieving the national goal of sustainable rural development.

Currently, Son La province has nearly 30 locations offering agricultural and rural tourism activities. The majority are operating under community-based tourism models and eco-tourism garden experiences. In the future, Son La province will continue to implement policies supporting tourism development in conjunction with rural development to encourage, motivate, and provide practical support to organizations and individuals wishing to invest in the development of eco-tourism and agricultural tourism products throughout the province. Simultaneously, the province will intensify promotional activities to highlight tourism resources, potential, advantages, tourism products, ethnic cultural identity, and local products, while ensuring security and safety in tourism activities. Furthermore, it will improve the quality of human resources involved in agricultural development linked to tourism development.

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