Gia Lai creates a new vision for the region's growth pole

Binh Dinh and Gia Lai - 2 lands with heroic historical, cultural and revolutionary traditions, abundant human resources, and a diverse foundation of industry, agriculture , trade and services.

In addition, the new province also has a relatively complete infrastructure system with 2 airports, seaports and international border gates, and cross-regional and cross-national traffic axes...

After the merger, Gia Lai province, with its dual advantages of forests, seas, plateaus and coasts, is shaping a strategic development space of "sea-forest" stature, opening up enormous potential.

This historic combination will open up huge development space, creating favorable conditions to enhance competitiveness, promote intra-provincial and regional linkages, thereby contributing significantly to the overall growth of the South Central - Central Highlands region and the whole country.

At the ceremony to announce the National Assembly ’s resolutions on administrative unit arrangement, Provincial Party Secretary Ho Quoc Dung emphasized: “The new Gia Lai is not only a merger of administrative boundaries but also the crystallization of two lands rich in historical, cultural and revolutionary traditions. This is the time for the entire Party, government and people of the province to act together resolutely and unanimously for a prosperous, harmonious and modern future.”

July 1, 2025 marks a historic turning point with the merger of Binh Dinh and Gia Lai provinces, opening a new era of development for the new Gia Lai province.

In just a short time of implementing a two-level local government, the province has recorded important socio-economic milestones: The strategic vision of the East-West axis, connecting "the sea to the great forest" is gradually being realized through the development of a synchronous transport infrastructure network including seaports, airports, highways and border gates.

The province has launched a series of strategic infrastructure projects such as the Quy Nhon-Pleiku Expressway, upgrading Phu Cat Airport, adjusting the planning of Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, etc.; closely coordinating with central ministries and branches to promote the progress of key national projects, especially the Quy Nhon-Pleiku Expressway and high-speed railway.

Upgrading Phu Cat Airport, adjusting the planning of Nhon Hoi Economic Zone associated with logistics and expanding the connection of Quy Nhon Port as well as developing Le Thanh International Border Gate Economic Zone are important strategic steps.

In the new context, Gia Lai province is deeply aware of the increasing pressure from regional competition, requiring green-digital transformation and strong infrastructure connectivity. To realize a meaningful “transformation”, the key factor lies not only in administrative consolidation but also in creating a model of close regional connectivity, with the East-West axis as the core foundation.

This model is clearly planned with specific roles for two regions: the coastal region, with the core being the former Quy Nhon city area, will play the role of a center for marine economy, logistics and international tourism; meanwhile, the highland region, with the core being the former Pleiku city area, will be a center for high-tech agricultural development, renewable energy and distinctive cultural-ecological tourism.

To realize this vision, Gia Lai focuses on five pillars of breakthrough and sustainable action:

In terms of administration and management, the focus is on a plan to unify the working methods of the two previous administrative apparatuses.

This includes focusing on capacity building for staff as well as improving the technological infrastructure in the highland region. At the same time, a consistent guidance system on administrative procedures will continue to be completed and issued. The goal is to minimize the costs incurred for people and businesses, thereby creating a smooth and transparent investment environment.

Regarding infrastructure and logistics connectivity, the province prioritizes synchronizing the Quy Nhon Port/Phu My port area-Phu Cat airport-Quy Nhon-Pleiku expressway-Le Thanh border gate axis and thoroughly resolving bottlenecks on National Highway 19.

More importantly, the strategy prioritizes strong investment in “fishbone” connecting routes, linking the main corridor with specialized production areas and localities in the highlands. The overarching goal is to ensure equitable economic spillover, avoiding the situation where large infrastructure projects only serve the exploitation of raw resources and transport them to ports.

In order for the highlands to not simply be a source of raw materials, Gia Lai will implement special preferential policies to encourage deep processing factories of agricultural and forestry products to be located here. The goal is for economic values to be created and retained right in the raw material area, promoting local economic development.

In parallel, an “Integrated Land Use Planning Map” will be developed to closely manage and minimize potential conflicts, especially between high-tech agricultural development and renewable energy projects.

Instead of developing two equally competitive urban areas, Gia Lai identifies each place with a separate role to maximize its strengths.

The former Quy Nhon city area will assume the role of the economic and comprehensive service center of the entire province. The former Pleiku city area will be the core of specialized development for the highlands, focusing on exploiting the strengths of high-tech agriculture and unique cultural tourism.

A talent attraction program with appropriate policies and incentives will be built specifically for the highland region. Most importantly, all human resource policies are linked to the root goal of sustainable poverty reduction, with special attention to the development of ethnic minorities.

In the process of tourism development, Gia Lai always puts the principle of respecting and preserving indigenous culture first. All tourism development projects must go through a consultation process and receive consensus from the community, artisans and village elders, ensuring that the original cultural identity is not lost. From there, two separate but connected tourism product lines will be developed: "Sea tourism - Historical heritage" in the East of the province and "Cultural - ecological experience tourism" in the West of the province.

This combination promises to create a rich, diverse and respectful journey of experience for each locality.

"The province's strategy is not a mechanical merger but a substantive linkage model, respecting and promoting the specific strengths of the two coastal and highland sub-regions," Secretary Ho Nghia Dung emphasized.